Building a strong and vital community means committing to actions that support healthy relationships, move us forward in positive directions, and are aligned with our mission. One of our important responsibilities is to be active stewards of this place where we live and work.
We are fortunate at Gustavus to have a campus that is beautiful in all seasons of the year. In fact, we can take pride in having clean and well-maintained facilities and grounds. I am particularly grateful for our staff whose primary responsibilities include regularly cleaning and maintaining our buildings and our outdoor spaces. As members of a thriving community, we all have a duty to do our part to promote institutional and environmental sustainability on our campus, and we all can contribute to keeping our campus pristine and attractive.
Many of you know and have worked with Ken Westphal, who is currently serving as our interim Vice President for Finance, Treasurer, and CFO. What you may not know is that early in the morning when he walks to the administration building, Ken goes out of his way to pick up stray pieces of litter. I know that many of you have also adopted this daily habit. What a wonderful example this is for our community, taking just a moment amid the hustle and bustle of the day to literally make our campus a better place.
Small actions can reap big rewards. What would happen if each of us picks up at one piece of litter every day (indoors or outdoors), and deposits it in the nearest trash, composting, or recycling receptacle? What would happen if every day, each of us took a second to go the extra mile, to identify a small problem and take care of it? Think about this as you go about your work this week.
Each of us is responsible for making Gustavus a great place to live and work, and each of us is empowered to do the little things necessary to make it happen. Whether you’re picking up an empty pop can, helping someone carry a package, or pushing in a chair in the cafeteria, view it as an act of caring for our community.
Until next week, keep up the good work, Gusties!
With respect,
Becky