by Krista Pino
Daily Lobo
The UNM Staff Council established its first weeklong celebration to be held through Saturday.
The Employee Health Promotion Program will give away smoothies in the Johnson Gym kitchen today from 12-1 p.m. for UNM staff members as part of the celebration.
Theresa Everling, a member of the reward and recognition committee, said the weeklong celebration is a good idea.
"We have lots of good staff at UNM, and they need to be appreciated as much as possible," Everling said.
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Staff council administrative assistant Karin Retskin organized the celebration with $500.
She said she wanted to be as resourceful as possible after the council approved the ideas for the celebration in June. She began planning immediately.
Working backward, she planned the staff picnic first. She said the picnic is the crown of the events.
Committee member Kathy Meadows said she has been pleased and surprised with department and staff support during the event.
"It gives the staff council some visibility because we represent all staff," Meadows said. "Our goal is to improve visibility on campus and celebrate staff."
The week's events began Monday with an art exhibit featuring the diverse talents of UNM staff members.
Retskin said the exhibit was one way she planned to extend the festivities of the annual staff picnic, which will be at the Rio Grande Zoo on Saturday.
The week continued with an address by UNM President Louis Caldera at the monthly council meeting Tuesday and a book drive Wednesday.
For Friday's brown bag special, the Department of Parking and Transportation will run a staff event shuttle to pick up members at three locations and deliver them to the Department of Continuing Education. Guest speaker Anne Mayer from Employee and Organizational Development will discuss balancing work and life issues.
The art exhibit will remain on display in Masley Gallery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until the end of the staff week celebration. Three pieces will receive the Viewer's Choice award. As people walk through the show, they can vote for their favorite submission. Ann Armendariz, a UNM staff member, helped review the pieces.
"It's fabulous," Armendariz said. "I helped review all the art, and it was a pleasure to have their art hung in a gallery for five days."
