Ok…the other day I complained about driving an empty bandwagon. Well, the day after, when I was headed to dance, I got a call from our HR director saying she had a friend who was going to stop by and look at our lobby and see what he could do to help. He is a carpet and tile guy. He came while I was gone, but he saw my samples and is going back to his place to look into some of his own samples. He said he was going to come back shortly and show us his ideas! I know when he was there he was shown my tile ideas, so maybe, just maybe, he has a HUGE heart and will come back and say, “I want to do all of your flooring…carpet and tile.” Oh! Wouldn’t that be the greatest thing!? Actually I would be stoked if he said “I would like to lay one tile for free.” I can hardly wait for him to come back.

Today I also sent out an email asking for painting volunteers for October 11th. I sent it just before I left so keep your fingers crossed with me that my inbox will be over flowing with volunteers. Or better yet, that someone will say, “So and so, a professional painter, would like to donate his time, skills, and effort to this mini makeover.” OK….I am using the Secret….An email tomorrow will say they are donating time and paint! That HAS to work right? If it doesn’t, I am going to complain again. That seemed to work out just nicely!

Sometimes I feel like I am really doing a great thing at Heritage. Other days, not so much. Even though I am just the administrative services coordinator (AKA operator AKA everyone’s secretary AKA supervisor over the receptionists) I have been asked to do a lot more than my job description lately. We just recently finished our musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Just a few weeks before it was showtime I was asked to help with advertising. Not really because I am good at it…mostly because the people who were supposed to be doing it had gotten to busy and not done as much as needed. I pulled through and got some great sponsors. Even though not all purchased ad space, I got two different companies to each donate dinner (pizza and a full catered meal), free passes to local places (including 4 all day lift tickets to Sundance), and our whole lobby area of furniture! Not to pat myself on the back for all of this but I am a little bummed about the reaction I received. After all of this hard work and kicking my butt to go above and beyond what most of the other advertisement people did, I don’t feel appreciated for what was brought in. I don’t need a “Crissa Day” where everyone tells me how great I am and all about the great things I did, but it is nice to get something more than a “Thanks”. I am not talking about a gift, or even a pat on the back….I am talking about support and encouragement.

You see, Heather Osmond, owner of Osmond Designs, offered to donate lobby furniture to Heritage. Her only conditions we were would need to paint and restain our wood. This way she didn’t bring great things into an area that has chunks of paint taken off the marshmallow feeling walls and 80′s color wood and then have her name on it. After she came and agreed to help, I have felt like no one is willing to help back this project, make it succeed, and in turn beautify and enhance Heritage’s first impression on others. I am still the only one getting paint chips, looking for lighting, looking at carpeting and tiles, and picking out the right stain color. The big guys upstairs, who have the final say over everything, are on the side of just paying someone to paint, sand, and stain…however, only if it fits in the budget. Whatever happened to saving money, encouraging teamwork and service, and bonding together and being unified in helping a great cause?! If we pay someone to do all the work why couldn’t we just buy all of our furniture and allow Osmond Designs to put our donation to a company who would appreciate it more? I would love to see the bosses upstairs jump into the band wagon with Heather and I and create a beautiful space for others to enjoy. I am kind of pulling a cart by myself. Even the maintenance guys think I am over ambitious and give me a “I’ll believe it when I see it” attitude.

Now maybe I am over-reacting. Maybe I am hoping for too much or hoping for too much too quickly. Maybe this is only because they have been so involved with the play that they haven’t been able to focus on other things. Whatever the reason has been for not riding in the band wagon, I hope it changes…soon. I would love to not do this project alone. I would love for others to feel like they helped give a great gift to Heritage and those that will enjoy the area. I want to share the feeling of accomplishment and joy with others. We are supposed to have a meeting this week to determine where to go and what time frame we can realistically get changes made in. At least, I was told we would have one…now the trick will be actually getting all the bosses together to discuss it. Hopefully I can help others see the vision and believe in it. Hopefully the little band wagon will be full of bosses, other companies, co-workers, and maintenance men.

If plan A fails, wish me luck in finding a few companies to donate paint, carpet, tile, wood stain, etc. and I’ll get to work by myself to see this plan through. Not only does Heritage need this major face lift and boost in the first impression we make on people, but I can’t handle working in an area that feels like a senior citizen’s dental office!