DFTA Honors ReServists at Farewell Party
Front: ReServists DJ Mazer, Patricia Friend, Joan Barnett; Back: DFTA staff Sabrina Ramos, Maeve Rullo, Scott Mason, Marlon Guerrero
The Department for the Aging held a farewell party in honor of five ReServists who successfully completed a six-month project. The party held June 2, 2009, honored the work of these ReServists and concluded this particular collaboration between ReServe and DFTA, which demonstrated exactly the type of experience that is possible for both ReServists and partner organizations. DFTA, a partner of ReServe since 2007, has been served by more than 50 ReServists among various roles.
ReServists Joan Barnett, Patricia Friend, Vickie Kess, DJ Mazer, and Carolyn Williams were hired to help with a major change being planned for one of DFTA’s important services, home delivered meals.
Beginning in February, the department needed to transition all clients in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan to new meal providers. Knowing that a shift of this proportion could have its share of challenges, Bureau of Senior Centers Assistant Commissioner Scott Mason along with his staff realized that ReServists could be of great use in fielding the many phone calls to 311 that the transition was sure to illicit from clients.
By the time the transition began, staff members Maeve Rullo, Marlon Guerrero and Sabrina Ramos had the ReServists trained and ready to work the phones. As anticipated, calls came in and the team of ReServists responded by arranging for proper meal delivery, troubleshooting when a delivery was missed, and assisting in advocating for seniors who needed help communicating with their new service providers.
At the farewell party where three of the five ReServists were present, the DFTA team commended the patience, empathy and excellent customer service that each of the ReServists demonstrated and showed their gratitude by presenting each of them with a bouquet.
Ramos, who is the director of operations and special projects and worked closely with the team on a daily basis, said, “The ReServists were able to jump right in and not only perform their jobs, but also become part of the office culture right away. Their ability to fit right in was not only beneficial in helping them to more effectively complete tasks, but was also an impressive show of openness and genuine warmth.”
When asked to share their own remarks, Ms. Friend, Ms. Barnett, and Ms. Mazer each expressed the sincere pleasure they experienced being part of the project and working with such a supportive staff.
Friend pointed out that through this experience she learned about the valuable services that DFTA offers and is comforted by the fact that, should the time come, “DFTA will be there for me when I need them.”
Tags: DFTA