LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cook-off benefitted hospital Editor, the Leader-News:

This past Saturday, Nov. 15, the Firehouse Bar & Grill hosted the 3G Fall Festival Soup and Spaghetti Cook-off. The organizers of this event were members of the Third Generation (3G) of the citizens of El Campo and the event was led by Wade Graham.

The money raised by this event went to the El Campo Medical Foundation and despite the cold weather and strong winds the people from El Campo came out to support this worthy cause.

The existence of the El Campo Medical Foundation is to support El Campo Memorial Hospital with funds to purchase medical equipment and/or to provide funds for other needs. A hospital in a small rural community is of utmost importance not only for the citizens of the community, but for the growth of the city and it is so refreshing to know that the citizens of El Campo recognize this and support their rural hospital.

The board of directors, the medical staff and the employees of El Campo Memorial Hospital would like to thank Wade Graham, his staff and all those who participated in this fundraiser. By the way, the participants of the spaghetti and soup cook-off prepared a delicious meal! El Campo is very fortunate to have such caring and supporting people.

Thanks to all those who participated and who either came out or sent donations to support this event. Your support of El Campo Memorial Hospital is truly appreciated.
Steve Gularte
Chief Executive Officer
El Campo Memorial Hospital

Be kind to your fellow workers Editor, the Leader-News:

What makes an employee want to go to work every day? If you ask most people they will say out of necessity, they cannot afford not to go to work. If you are one of the lucky ones, you enjoy going to work because it is something that you truly enjoy and take pride in. So what happens when you enjoy your job but the conditions that surround you leave little to be enjoyed?

It is important to listen to people. Employers, it is important to listen to your employees. They are the ones who make you and your company money. Whether it is their smile, their ability to relate to others, their ability to sell something, their motivational skills; what ever it is, you hired them for a reason.

No matter where you work, there is always going to be someone or something that leaves little to be desired. Appreciation goes a long way. Whether you work in a retail store, a hospital, a nursing home or a car dealership, there is usually something that could run a lot more smoothly if someone would speak up and do something about it instead of dodging the issue.

Is it out of fear that most people remain quiet? Most likely. Is being quiet going to make a change come about? No. Sometimes you have to voice how you feel not just for yourself but also for others who may be going through the same thing. Or maybe someone has come to you in frustration and although this scenario doesn't involve you, you still want to help in whatever way you can. After all, God puts people in your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

If you walk into a nursing home, retail store or hospital, there is a possibility that it is understaffed. How do you think these people feel being overworked and most likely underpaid? How would you feel if you went to your job every day and gave 110 percent but your boss always had a reason why you couldn't receive a raise. It's not on their list of important matters at this time. How would you feel if you worked overtime or shorthanded and you didn't get compensated for it? So whom do you go to when you have problems like this and your employer does nothing about it? First of all it is against the law to not be paid for hours you have worked. You did your job and you should be compensated. I have seen employers give gift cards or chamber bucks to employees for a job well done or for exceeding job expectations and this is a wonderful incentive and motivational tool.

If your employer is cheating you of the time you have worked, you need to call Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Just like your employer is getting paid, so should you.

A smile doesn't make someone a nice person. People will smile in your face and stab you in the back before you even see it coming. An employer is supposed to listen to the needs of its employees and do something about it, not punish them for doing their job.
Sheila A. Johnson

Veterans Day programs a hit Editor, the Leader-News:

Congratulations to the elementary schools for fantastic Veterans Day programs. My husband and I were so impressed by the discipline, the precision of the speaking parts, the singing and the actions performed to the songs (at least I did not see any mistakes). We could understand every word in the songs and speeches. That is unusual even in adult programs. We left in such a patriotic mood after each program. The emotion of such patriotism made us teary-eyed.

Anyone who heard the programs has great reason to be proud to be an American. If we have doubts about our youth not loving and knowing about our country, these programs should have erased them. May they continue to be great patriots into adulthood. Thank you teachers for your dedication in working with these students. The choice of songs was superb. Thank you students for learning this information and relating it to us as citizens. It makes us proud to be Americans!

My thoughts were that it would have been great to have had these programs filmed and shown on national television. A big thanks to you veterans giving a part of your life to the service of your country. You are the heroes! You made it possible for us to have these programs and being able to attend them. God bless the USA.
Dottie Collins

It's important to see Ike's aftermath Editor, the Leader-News:

Again, I encourage each of you to GO, take your families to Galveston, across on the Ferry to Bolivar Peninsula, Crystal Beach, etc. and see where the "bomb" went off! You can sit and watch all day on TV, but unless you see it for yourself, words cannot give a clear picture. Our school kids need to be bussed down there to view history in the making. The landscape, ecosystems, etc. have forever been changed. We talked to a man that lost his home on Bolivar, he works for the Galveston bridge system. He said that on Bolivar before the storm there were about 6,800 homes, now there are about 1,600 damaged homes; many condemned now.

Our forever-friend Mike will be moving to the Fire Station there probably today. The food served in Galveston at the Broadway Church of Christ comes to right over 28,000 meals. All those meals were served by volunteers, and cooked in eight roasters under a small tent! Jane, I and Kathy helped yesterday, and people were so appreciative and grateful and voiced how we would be missed.

I'll be the first to admit that I am very concerned about Mike going to Bolivar. It is a ghost town. But, Hilltop Rescue teams are coming in starting on the 21st and he is committed to being there. They are coming from all over the USA. Please go to www.hilltoprescue. org to get the full story.

One of Hilltop's mottos is: Hilltop Rescue. Give us a week. Change a life. Come join us. Jane and I and Kathy will be going from time to time, but it will be concentrating on still being there for Mike and what his needs are. The entire scope of the devastation kept me awake last night, and to know that we just saw a little of it. We talked to a police officer in Galveston and he said: It's just not home anymore. I think that just about says it all. Thanks so much for all your prayers and support. Please contact us if you can help!
Judy Peter, 979-578-1600
Jane Smith, 979-332-2577

Altar Society appreciates the help Editor, the Leader-News:

St. Procopius Altar Society offices wish to thank all the ladies who baked, gave a monetary donation or helped in any way with the bake sale on Nov. 15. To the people who came out and supported us, even though it was awfully cold. Due to their support, our bake sale was a huge success.

Thanks to El Campo Leader-News and Mid-Coast Cablevision for advertising our sale. To Richard Sablatura for allowing us in having our bake sale at his grocery store.

God Bless each and everyone of you.
St. Procopius Altar Society Officers
Adel Leal, president