Hello Friends,
Welcome to March 2022 and all that comes with it. March 4 is National Employee Appreciation Day. I am proud and humbled to work alongside the best professional care giving team in the state. Each person on the AWARE team plays a role in helping us bring our mission to life. AWARE’s Unconditional Care Principles inspire the services we provide to each person who comes to us for care. It takes a team, like the one we have, to take on and stick with the hardest challenges. I am so grateful to work with over 700 people who are committed to helping people live independent lives.
I wish there was a way for all of us to be in one place on March 4 to celebrate together, but that isn’t realistic with the work we do and the fact that we are spread across Montana. To all AWARE team members: Thank you for everything you do each day. I know it isn’t always easy, but I hope you find that it is always worth it. You are valued and appreciated. You are making a difference.
In February, we offered everyone on the AWARE team the opportunity to participate in an anonymous employee engagement survey. This survey is a critical tool used to help us evolve, improve, and move forward as an organization. It is important to me and the rest of the leadership team that every employee has a voice and the opportunity to provide feedback. We don’t offer the survey simply for show, it means something. As one can imagine, it is fun to read the positive feedback. Candidly, it isn’t nearly as fun or easy to read the constructive criticism, but that feedback is necessary for us to improve. The survey is set to close later this week. I look forward to analyzing the results and working with AWARE’s Corporate Congress delegates, leadership team, and Board of Directors to implement changes for the future.
As we look to the future, I think I speak for all of us when I say we are eager to welcome the first day of spring later this month. Longer days and warmer temperatures do a lot of good for the mind and body. Spring presents us the opportunity to be more active and to get more fresh air. In the work we do – that makes a difference for both the people we serve and the people doing the work. Spring also symbolizes growth and new beginnings. One of our Unconditional Care Principles is ‘we are agents of change,’ which feels very relevant as we head into the new season. Regardless of what services we are providing, we are constantly working to create conditions that make change a possibility for the people we are serving. We are constant learners and teachers, and we view each interaction as an opportunity for growth.
Finally, it’s time to mark your calendars! As a result of a Corporate Congress bill, our first annual AWARE Day is scheduled for April 27, 2022, designed to build awareness of the work we do and to celebrate our clients and employees. Keep an eye on your inbox as we will share more details about this event soon, and I hope you will make a point to help us celebrate that day. Lastly, I am happy to share that after a hiatus due to the pandemic, our golf tournament is back! Save the date for September 28, 2022. The AWARE golf tournament will take place at the Missoula Country Club. We hope you will join us for a fun day on the course. We will share registration information in the coming months.
I look forward to the excitement and change that the coming months will bring.
Warm regards,
Matt Bugni – AWARE CEO