download PDF version - CECOM - U.S. Army

People
Julie Bridges; Valerie Meverden; and Donna Bryant
The team decided to execute the task
given them in several ways.
First, they decided that staging holidaythemed
luncheons for their fellow testers,
might be a good idea, especially if door
prizes and employee recognition awards
were to be handed out during those events.
As a result the team has produced Fourth
of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and
Christmas luncheons, some catered, and
some pot luck.
The GLEAM Team also manages to recognize
major events – birthdays, weddings,
the birth of children, the deaths of family
members – with the appropriate cake,
cards, gifts, or floral remembrances.
“These things helped to bring the Test Cell
together,” Bryant commented.
She recounted the effect the gift of flowers
sent recently to the funeral of a test operator’s
mother.
“It brought him to tears,” she said. “It
shows people we’re a family here.”
The team quickly expanded its efforts to
the greater CTSF and Fort Hood community.
“We did Test Team fundraisers to support
Communities in Schools, the annual cancer
drive, Ride 2 Recovery, and homeless
shelters in (the neighboring communities
of) Copperas Cove and Killeen,” Meverden
said.
“We’ve also organized two team-building
sessions for everyone in the Test Cell,”
Meverden said, “and there’s another one
coming up soon.”
The GLEAM Team funds all of its activities
with donations, bakes sales, breakfast
taco sales, and luncheon tickets.
And who helps the three GLEAM Teamers
with all of their efforts? Meverden
answered:
“We recruit help when we can, or when
we really need it. But most of the time it’s
just us.”
What do the team members get for their
efforts, apart from lots of extracurricular
hours?
“For me,” Meverden said, “it’s the satisfaction
of knowing you’re playing a part
in making life better for the people here in
the Test Cell.”
“It’s just good knowing we’re helping to
keep us together as a family at the CTSF,”
Bryant said.
SPRING 2013 | THE LINK 23