Buzzing with Activity: A Normal Lunch Hour at PGAV Destinations

 

 – By Diane Lochner, vice president

 

Our office is always buzzing with activity. PGAV’s location, unique culture, personalities, and volunteer and professional development opportunities lead to a lot going on even over the lunch hour. One particular day last month made me take notice more than usual.

Our community outreach arm, PGAVIA (Volunteers in Action), created a series of activities related to saving pollinators – bees and butterflies in particular.

During National Pollinator Week and on this day, a group was in our lunch room to hear guest speakers from our own world-renowned Saint Louis Zoo and Greenscape to learn about pollinators and plantings to help create pollinator-friendly gardens in our own backyards. Afterwards, PGAVers participated in a rousing pollinator relay for great prizes and lots of laughs.

Now the buzzing was not just about pollinator week. I noticed even more activity. A group of five PGAVers were headed out to try world famous Gerard Craft’s Porano restaurant for lunch. Another couple of coworkers we training for the next Stair Climbing competition to raise money for the American Lung Association.The regular group was having lunch and laughter on our building’s outdoor terrace, enjoying a not -too-hot St. Louis day. I was catching up on PGAV social media, posting and Tweeting great information about our projects and our people. Most noticeably was the group of PGAVers who had recently presented a variety of information to students of the Alberti Program at Washington University. The Alberti Program in Partnership with PGAV Destinations exposes young people to the design fields, many of whom would not have the opportunity without this program. Others in the office were taking conference calls and meetings over the lunch hour with our many clients in varied time zones. And many were taking the time to converse about projects and use the time to strategize and suggest solutions to our highly creative and complex projects. A few were working on or researching their PGAV GO projects – our professional development program in which we all receive funds each year to grow professionally.

It reminded me of how proud I am of who we are, who we are made of, and our diverse personalities and skill sets. Our growth and volunteer opportunities are extensive and exciting. We take advantage of and contribute to our community. We enjoy each other and what we can accomplish together.

Just another lunch hour at PGAV Destinations.