Newspapers / Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter / June 1, 1988, edition 1 / Page 6
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SDoris Piedmont made their day Washington, DC will be the site of the seventh annual World Airline Road Race (WARR) to be held on October 8. Hosted by USAir, the WARR is the world’s largest travel- related athletic event and is anticipated to draw over 5,000 participants this fall. The 5K and lOK race courses will tour Washington, DCs Potomac parks with many historical landmarks and monuments as a backdrop. A full weekend of activities is planned including a t-shirt swap party and an awards banquet. For additional infor mation contact PI Flight Attendant Lynda Bouchard, CLT, or World Airline Road Race, P.O. Box 45003, Atlanta, GA 30320, Phone 301/977-0891. * ♦ * The team of Danny Driscoll and Bill McNelley, both CLT, reeled in 10 bass weighing a total of 18 pounds, 15 ounces to win first place and a $400 cash prize at the Catawba Bass Anglers Club bass tournament in May. Held on Lake Wylie near Charlotte, the tournament at tracted 25 boats of competitors who caught more than 180 pounds of fish. Second place winners were Charlie Burrell and John McCraney, both CLT, who brought In fish weighing a total of 15 pounds. Mike Dailey, CLT, took the big fish cash prize of $250 with a 5 pound, 3 ounce largcmouth bass. The next tournament to be sponsored by the Catawba Bass Anglers will be held sometime in October. For more information, contact Butch Aughtry, CLT-00. * * Sixty-two two-person teams competed in the 1988 spring Best-Ball Golf Tburnament held at Pine Tl-ee Golf Club in Kernersville in May. Defending champions, Marty Griffin, INT, and Tbm Polito, CLT, were successful in defending their first-place title. They tied the tourna ment record with a 62 which included a 28 on the front nine on the last day of the tournament and went on to de feat Gray Logan, INT, and Chris Logan, GSO, on the 4th hole in a sudden death play-off * « The Seventh Annual Air BVl Interline Regatta will be held at Tortola, British Virgin Islands, October 4-13. One or more four-person crews from any airline are eligible. There must be a minimum of one airline employee on each boat. Proficient sailing skills are not required of crew members. Interested individuals may leave a mes sage for John Bisson at CLT-Crew Room or C-200, INT. * ♦ * Piedmont Ski Club members Lee Fife and Christi Burden, both CLT, placed first place in the men's and women's divisions, respectively, at the ski races held at Lake Tkhoe, NV, in February. Paul Nix and Sam Leffler, both CLT, took second and third places, respectively, in the men's division, and Becca "Vern" Ramsburger and Karen “Lil Bit" Rawls, both CLT, placed second and third, respectively, in the women’s division. Piedmont Ski Club trips scheduled for 1988-89 in clude the following: Snowmass, CO/December 3-9 Call Mt. Chalet Hotel at 303/923-3900 for accommodations. Keystone, CO/January 8-13 NAASF ski racing trip. Call Janice Kolhoff, BWl-pilot scheduler, for more information. Winter Park, CO/February 2 7-March 3 Call Karla Caldwell at the Vintage Hotel at 800/472-7017 for reservations. The Vintage Hotel also offers 50 percent discounts to Piedmont employees during the summer months. Additional information on the trips will be provided as available. « * » The second annual Piedmont Tennis Tournament, held at Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort May 13-15, drew 64 players from around the Piedmont system. In the men’s open doubles, Mike Gambino, DTW, and Jeff Gambino, CLT, won the top award. Carlene Marion, INT, defeated Lisa Gunn, MIA, to take first place in the women’s open singles. Cathy Fulk, CLT, and Nancy Sol tis, BWI, won the women’s open doubles. Billy Marion, INT, defeated Bob McAlphin, INT, to win the trophy for the men’s 45 and older singles division. The team of Larry Drury, CLT, and Jose Saenz, MIA, cap tured the men’s 45 and older doubles trophy. The hus band and wife team of Carlene and Billy Marion won the mixed open doubles. Ji Fbr a couple celebrating their 52nd an niversary, this Piedmont flight was the high point of their trip. Here is the rea son why: This letter Is to compliment you on the extraor dinary service provided to my parents on their 52nd wedding anniversary by one of your flight attendants. . .She (flight attendant) brought them the tray table covers from first class, a first-class meal, and a bottle of champagne. After she poured their champagne, she held up a glass, announced to the cabin that my parents were celebrating 52 years of marriage, and asked the rest of the pas sengers to Join in a toast. . .Piedmont made their day. Mfiny travelers who are handicapped choose Piedmont, and they often write to praise our employees. Following are two such exEimples: "Thank you” to the many considerate flight at tendants, conscientious pilots, and those Incredi ble departure service agents in Pensacola and Orlando whose efforts to help us make our flights will forever be appreciated. A special “thank you” to Leonard Smith, (PNS station manager), and Steve Ellis (PNS supervisor). These gentlemen listened to my plea for help to transport my daughter to Orlando to attend the special school for deaf- blind children. . .Now, after two years, my seven- year-old “little Helen Keller” has Anally learned to “sign” two-word sentences, has many self-help skills, walks with self-esteem through the airport, and sits patiently in her seat during the flights. God bless you. Piedmont, for helping me get an education for my child—an opportunity she would not have had without the outstanding efforts of your special employees. * « * My mother and stepfather were to return home on your Flight 66. Both are handicapped. . .While boarding the airplane (at MCO) with assistance, my mother passed out. . .She was taken to Orlando General Hospital. . .Throughout the remainder of the evening, 1 was in contact several times with Rusty Abshire (MCO). I understand he stayed with my mother while she was in the emergency room until she was admitted. Then Rusty took my stepfather to the Holiday Inn Airport where he was given a room for the night and vouchers for supper and breakfast. Friday. I was in contact with Mike Hall several times as he was checking on the con dition of my mother, her expected release, and the next available flight out. He also arranged for Dave Rogers to pick up my stepfather at the hotel, then to pick up my mother at the hospital, and deliver them both to the airport where they were made comfortable until that evening when they were successfully boarded. I am sure there were many more employees involved, but we did not get their names. They, too, are to be commended. My par ents were alone and in a strange city, but together all of your employees at the Orlando Airport made a very frightening situation less frightening. We can never repay the kindness they received. When passengers need help, our em ployees are there to offer assistance as these letters indicate: (On the way to the airport in a taxi) we ended up with a blowout at high speed on the elevated free way. . .The blue sedan pulled in front of us and one Mr Anthony Garcia (EWR) emerged dressed in his blue Piedmont coveralls offering assistance. . . Anthony. . .proceeded to chauffeur us to the air port in grand style where we made our plane and had an enjoyable flight to Richmond. He refused any type of compensation and spoke highly of Piedmont and the future opportunity the company had with the USAir acquisition. * * * Because of a severe series of thunderstorms we left late. . .The personnel of Piedmont, at the ticket counter and departure gate in Houston, the stewardess on the evening plane and the person nel in Charlotte acted with a professionalism mixed with realism and what seemed to be genu ine concern that is seldom heard of these days. * * ♦ 1 was enroute to Albuquerque, NM from New Bern, NC on a Piedmont flight filled with high school children that had its departure delayed while waiting for the children to make a connec tion from another flight. Our late departure caused me to miss my connecting flight, which would have caused me to miss my business appointment the following day and negate the purpose of my trip. Nan Bowen (DFW) greeted me as I exited my Piedmont flight, quickly reviewed the other airline (schedules), established a reservation, whisked me off to a waiting van, escorted me to the appropriate gate, then swiftly returned to the Piedmont flight to retrieve my checked baggage and returned with it. I travel in excess of 300,000 miles per year, and never have 1 experienced such concern for a trav eler by any other airline. » * * I am currently sitting on PI Flight #77 from Bos ton to Greensboro. Catching this flight saves me and an associate four valuable hours. We are only here because ground attendant/ticket agent Ms. Leslie Palter (BOS) did an exemplary job. She first recognized our need to make the flight. With effort above the norm, she efficiently coordi nated the ticket changes, communicated with gate personnel. . .and personally hand-carried a sensi tive baggage parcel to confirm loading. Passengers who are traveling due to ill ness or the death of a loved one frequently write to thank employees for showing they care. Here are a few examples: 1 bought a ticket at 5:30 p.m. . .for a flight the next day at 3 p.m. An hour after 1 bought the ticket (no change type), I was informed my father might not make it through the night. I phoned the Piedmont Customer Service at 7 p.m. After a brief explanation, they had me rebooked on a flight at 7:30 p.m. . .1 barely made the plane, but the gate had been informed and no paperwork was re quired. I arrived at my father’s bedside at 10 p.m. He was still conscious and we had a chance to talk. Soon after that he slipped into a coma. The next morning he died, and 1 was beside him. Had your people not helped me, I would have arrived after his death. Words cannot express my thanks to Piedmont for helping me to be with him in his final hours. * * « Just before 1 boarded the plane, I called the hos pital for a status report. At that time, I found out that (my brother) had died. Needless to say, the flight to Grand Rapids was the worst in my life. . . Through my tears I heard the tray next to my seat go down. When 1 could finally look up, 1 discovered that a flight attendant had left me two cold com presses for my eyes. They felt so good! As 1 con tinued to cry, the same attendant came by and touched my shoulder and asked if he could do anything to help. . .Just minutes before we landed, he came back to me again. This time, he handed me a folded note. On it, he had written some in spiring words. . .The kindness and sensitivity of your flight attendant was overwhelming. Without me even saying a word to anyone, he knew just what to say and do. His caring attitude toward a complete stranger was so wonderful. * * ♦ My mother had just had a massive stroke in Cal ifornia and she was not expected to live. Through the efforts of your employees (reservations), I was able to see and talk to her before she slipped into her final coma. Those few hours would not have been possible without their understanding, knowl edge, and thoughtfulness. Often, it’s the little things employees do for passengers that count, as these letters indicate: My five-year-old son was given the opportunity to visit the cockpit and was able to see and use the controls of the airplane, including a brief message to me over the P.A. system. 1 wish to thank the pilot and co-pilot (Captain Pat Curtis and First Officer Douglas Stutesman, both BWI) for giv ing my son an experience he will never forget. * * « Upon boarding this morning’s flight in T)Eunpa, I was greeted by your friendly captain (Don O’Con nor, CLT). . .A few minutes later he passed through the cabin speaking, “Good morning. How are you?” to each passenger This was a new im pressive and refreshing experience for me. Your captain was an excellent ambassador for your fine airline. Frequently, employees write letters complimenting other employees. The fol lowing letter is one such example: This letter is just to recognize the great people Piedmont has working for us, and to thank Tkmmy Smith (flight attendant, CLT) and Rebecca Rob erts (flight attendant, MIA) for going way be yond the call of duty. (Our flight was delayed over three hours.). . .When we got to CLT we picked up 120 passengers going to ORF at 1:20 a.m. Tkmmy and Rebecca were pass riding in uniform to ORF. They insisted on getting up and helping us. . .Tklk about angels from heaven! people pieosers Congratulations to David Rath, sales (BUF), who was the number one people pleaser for the month of April with six compliments. Donna Feldman, customer service (INT), came in second with four compliments. Several departments also received a large number of compliments for the month, including food services with 25, pricing with six, marketing with five, and refund accounting with four. Piedmonitor • June 1988
Piedmont Aviation Employee Newsletter
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June 1, 1988, edition 1
6
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