Rice employees to celebrate service, see new gift options

Rice employees to celebrate service, see new gift options

Rice employees marking their anniversaries with the university at the service award luncheon Feb. 2 will notice a change in the annual program.

Rather than receive a predetermined gift at the luncheon, honorees who in 2004 marked 10 or more years of benefit-eligible service or those who retired will have the opportunity to select their own service awards.

While employees celebrating five years at Rice will receive an ink pen at the luncheon, awardees with 10 through 20 years of service will receive a portfolio containing a certificate of recognition, a congratulatory letter from the president and a catalog of gifts from The Michael C. Fina Company from which to select their gift. Employees who have served 25 years or longer will also receive an engraved key chain along with the portfolio items presented in a special gift box. Retirees will receive the key chain and portfolio items in a wooden keepsake box to mark the occasion.

The portfolio will contain full instructions on ordering service awards. Gifts may be ordered online, over the phone or by U.S. mail, and employees can request that gifts be shipped to any address of their choosing.

This year, the service award lunch will be served as a seated meal rather than a buffet. Honorees are encouraged to arrive early to Grand Hall, Rice Memorial Center. Doors will open at 11 a.m. so people may be seated and begin to be served by 11:30 a.m.

For more information about the service award program or ordering gifts, contact Scott Helsinger, employee relations coordinator, at 713-348-4760 or <helsinge@rice.edu> or Colleen Dutton, director of employee relations, at 713-348-4755 or <cdutton@rice.edu>.