Gaithersburg Announces First Quarter FY 2009 Employee, Team Awards

At the Mayor and Council meeting on Monday, October 6 Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz and City Manager Angel Jones presented the Employee of the Quarter Awards for the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2009 to Pam Truxal, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture and Officer John Duke, Police Department.  The Team of the Quarter Award was presented to the Summer Camp Team.

The City’s Employee Recognition Committee, made up of peers from each department, reviews nominations for Employee and/or Team of the Quarter.  A maximum of two individual and two team awards may be presented in each quarter, with the winners then entered into nomination for the annual Employee and Team of the Year Awards at year’s end.

Pam Truxal, Recreation Coordinator III, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, was nominated for exceptional performance in the development of two innovative programs that promote wellness for older individuals.  Senior Pin Busters, an informal eight-week bowling league for seniors, now has nearly twenty participants while Retro Fitness fosters strength and conditioning using nostalgic childhood activities and games set to music. In addition, Truxal introduced several low impact activities at the Senior Fun & Fit Fest this past May, she supervises various youth sports programs and clinics, and coordinates the very successful adult coed softball program.

Truxal’s energy is contagious and participants in her programs praise her program management.  Highly respected by co-workers, participants and coaches, she consistently         continueg

reflects the high standards of a City employee and fosters the principles of CHARACTER COUNTS! in all of her programs.

John Duke, Police Officer III, Police Department, was nominated for exceptional performance in gathering and relaying information that resulted in three arrests and numerous weapons being taken off the streets. His actions helped avert what could have been a very dangerous situation.

In late July, a woman came to the Gaithersburg Police Station to report that her nephew had become involved with another teenager who had brought an assault rifle to her home. She had been to other police agencies but her concerns were dismissed. Officer Duke did a thorough event report and notified the Montgomery County Police Department Firearm’s unit.  The woman returned to the City’s police station a few days later with additional information about her nephew and the same associate being involved in bomb making, purchasing illegal guns and stealing from a County police station.  Once again Officer Duke alerted the proper investigative units.

Two search warrants were performed during which large amounts of bomb making materials and several assault rifles were recovered. Information indicated that the two suspects may have been planning action against a private school in Washington, D.C.  Additional information revealed maps of Camp David and the presidential motorcade routes as well as a false Central Intelligence Agency identification.

The Summer Camp Team comprised of     continueg

Kimmie Alcorn, Devon Buchanan, Monique Comstock, Siobhan Halmos, Dave Ludington, and Rachel Tailby, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, was nominated for exceptional performance in planning, organizing, and implementing the City's Summer Camp program.

Gaithersburg residents look to the City to provide quality summer camp programs that are fun and safe for children.  Meeting the needs, ages, disabilities, and interests of over 1,000 campers each summer takes months of planning and a sincere desire to provide the best experience possible.

As individuals the team strives to provide excellent programs; they also take time to assist each other in accomplishing collective goals. From sharing part-time staff to coordinating the use of operating supplies and City vehicles, every effort is made to make the most efficient use of resources.

The team coordinates trips and activities at eleven camp sites and three summer school sites for 1,000 participants. This includes supervising 170 part-time staff and 100 volunteer counselors-in-training during a camp day that begins before sites open at 7:30 a.m. and doesn’t end until every camper is picked up at 6 p.m. In between, the staff is prepared to deal with a wide variety of problems, parent concerns and any number of unforeseen circumstances.

The organizational skills, conscientiousness and dedication of all the team members helps ensure that the summer camp experience in the City of Gaithersburg is as positive and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved.