Joe Tschamler employee of the year,
advises retirees to make right choices
Joe Tschamler, a 25-year
employee in the Personnel
' Department, was nominated from
four departments of city govern
ment and chosen as Employee of
_the Year, In his job as benefit's
J coordinator he has assisted nearly
^-every retiring city employee to
> make the right choices for their
! future.
Since joining the city in 1972,
i Joe has spent most of his career
i with the Personnel Department.
I He is known for his caring and
| compassionate personality!
< Throughout his long tenure, he
! has always been an advocate for
1 employees.
In October 1993, Joe was
j awarded the "I Got Caught"
i award and has been nominated
j again for that award. This award is
j given to employees who get caught
! giving outstanding customer ser
I vice. Once, he was visiting a retiree
? who was unable to come into the
! office. When he arrived at her
J home, she had locked herself out.
j Joe managed to open a side win
< dow and crawl in to open a door.
I Many city retirees depend upon
' him for more than making sure
. their retirement benefits are intact.
! He has been known to complete
j tax forms and offer advice on
? everything from investing for
, retirement to gardening.
"With Joe, it is very hard to
? narrow your comments to a short
! statement, said recent retiree
I
, i^?????
Aleene Carter. She goes on to say,
"I know he means a lot to me. I
trust and value his opinion as well
as most employees within city gov
ernment." Another retiree, S.
Douglas Carroll, said, "When I
was involved in processing my dis
ability retirement, I was amazed
with the substantial work that Joe
did on my behalf to facilitate the
glitches which arose ... At one
time, I counted 37 tension points
in the total process, and because of
Joe's professionalism and knowl
edge, I had no surprises waiting
for me."
Tschamler interacts with
employees of every city depart
ment, including public safety.
Lieutenant Mike Culler of the
Winston-Salem Police said, "Joe
consistently demonstrates his ded
ication to each and every one of us
as he gives advice and assistance
when on? of us calls on him ... Joe
is always friendly and courteous,
even when questions are not easy,
or the answers are not welcome
information."
Linda Fisher, a payroll assis
tant in the Sanitation Division,
points out that when she doesn't
know answers to employee ques
tions, she calls on Tschamler for
help. "Although I know he has a
heavy workload, he is unfailingly
courteous and friendly. He does
not pass the buck, and when he
says he will handle something, I
can consider it done."
Throughout the year,
Tschamler conducts informative
retirement seminars. During these
meetings, he provides follow-up
assistance to the participants,
demonstrating his interest in long
term benefit to employees.
City personnel director Bill
Hill says "Joe is the Wise Sage! He
is 'Mr. Dependable', a team player,
a hard worker, a teacher ... my
right hand and my left; he is a
friend to all, never meets a
stranger and a joy to know."
Jo0 Ttehamlor
Frlwtdi from various cMm joined Iho him (loft to right/ Tim Murchiton and Owon Murchiion, of
Southern Pines; Oreentboro City Councilman Yvonne J. Johnson; Robert Scott and Froncene Scott, of
| Chicago; Judge Patrice Hinnant; and Walter Davenport,
1 JUDGES
from page At
current system is organized by
judicial district; however, the legis
lature is currently examining
whether the circuit system could
feasibly take its place.
Under the judicial district, a
county would have its own district
court judges, magistrates, and dis
trict attorneys. However, under
the circuit system, several counties
could be grouped together, and
only one circuit court judge, one
circuit attorney, and one magis
trate would serve a group of coun
ties. "Professional groups have the
responsibility to make this infor
mation public. We are not waiting
for the legislature to take a posi
tion," Johnson said. Members of
the organization are discussing
their views on the two alternatives
so they can educate the public.
"This issue is quite debatable
and controversial, because it
would reconfigure the judicial dis
trict," she said. In the report there
are many suggested benefits of the
change; however, Hinnant says.
"We want to think that it's justice,
but politics are involved as well."
At this point the proposal is only
in its beginning stages, but the
group plans to follow up as
changes develop.
Another goal of the organiza
tion is to promote economic devel
opment in East Greensboro.
When the bond issue was success
ful last year, money became avail
able to develop the East Market
Street Corridor and create busi
nesses where the black business
district once was. The South East
Greensboro Development
(SEEDS) seeks to revitalize this
area, and many of the members of
the Guilford County Association
of Black Lawyers have joined
hands with SEEDS to help make
critical decisions about the devel
opment.
In addition, the association
participates in Project Homestead,
which will provide affordable
housing and commercial develop
ment in East Greensboro. "If we
can all work together, we can do
some meaningful things in East
Greensbbro," Johnson said.
?
Johnson, a solo practitioner of
civil and criminal litigation, has
also taught law at North Carolina
Central University, and Duke
University. He strongly encour
ages the members of the organiza
tion to serve as educators for the
public, to make them aware of
their rights.
Camille Payton, secretary,
works with Gray, Newell and
Johnson. L.L.P, and she considers
the Association of Black Lawyers
to be a "fine organization that
caters to the character and profes
sionalism of lawyers in Guilford
County." She enjoys some of the
service projects, such as donating
toys and food to the needy, espe
cially during the holiday season.
Other officers of the associa
tion include Charles Backmon,
vice president, and Steve Allen,
treasurer. Johnson said he plans to
keep his eye on the purpose
throughout his term.
"We have a responsibility as
older professionals to lend a hand
to younger people who are trying
to find their way. People helped
us," he said.
i
Rosa Johnson, junior, majoring in
arts management and sociology.
SALEM
COLLEGE
Adult Degree Program
Making Futures
Brighter
Wednesday, January 7 at 6 p.m.
Thursday, January 8 at 10 a.m.
Main Hall
V Flexible scheduling V SA.T. not required
V Financial aid available \ For mm and women 23 and older
V Coune credit for work experience
V Tkke your firit coune free when registering for two
ee an undergraduate
For information, cail the
Office of Continuing Studies
910-721-2669
To be there for the people around us. To help the sick.
To provide a sense of safety and security for those in need.
To give a boost to those who are down.
?v ?? *
? ?
? ?
We know the realities that affect some of us can have a lasting effect on
?
.
all of us. Which is why the employees of Wachovia work so hard to
help by supporting programs like the United Way of Forsyth County.
This year we gave not only with our time, but also from our hearts by
PEBBflSBBlH contributing over $1,000,(TOO. While
J 1 ,000,000 /
750 000 this was part of a continued trend of
500,000 '
<,, g, q; increased giving by many, we know
" - " 1 ?-1 m
there is more to be done. That to really change lives in our community,
we must all work together year after year. And that way, we can really
make a difference in this place we call home.
.
\pcnoviv
- "gtShed. !
?1997 Wachovia Corporation
c