Cookie Thursday 8/24/23- 8th annual back-to-school ice cream social

For the last eight years, the closest Thursday before school starts is the ice cream social.

This event depends on audience participation to bring in toppings and ice cream.

Today there were at most 6 participants.

Yesterday someone texted me to ask if ice cream was still needed. I replied yes, and they asked if they should bring two.

I replied please do. Knowing that there would be at least 2 ice cream containers that I did not purchase made my night. .

There 4 half gallon ice creams, 3 bought and 1 homemade.

A tupperware container of homemade whipped cream.

A package of gummy bears.

1 container of freeze dried marshmallows. I honestly thought these were taken off the market because I’ve been looking for them for years.

1 container of sprinkles.

A jar of fudge topping.

A jar of caramel topping.

2 packages of bowls.

And 2 boxes of spoons.

That is it.

Missing was the fruit and the fake whipped cream. And the nuts.

And no ice cream scoops. I stopped supplying these after the third one was liberated and not by me.

There were sign up sheets two weeks ago at the OR core desk, the lounge board, the ambulatory care desk, and the endoscopy desk. I mentioned it at this month’s staff meeting.

A reminder sign was put up on Monday in the same places, including the door to the lounge.

And this was the input of audience participation. I brought the homemade ice cream and the sprinkles.

In contrast, in 2017 there were 7 different half gallons of ice cream, from different stores, 8 different syrups, 2 containers of sprinkles, two packages of different ice cream cones, marshino cherries, chopped nuts, wet walnuts, a container of canned whipped cream.

And 5 ice cream scoops.

To say I am upset is not quite right.

I am more disappointed in those who ate bowls of ice cream and who always eat the cookies with maybe a thanks, in those who can’t be bothered to engage in a department wide social event.

“I didn’t know” will be the response if asked. After ignoring the signs and the repeated reminders.

Never mind that this is the eight year of the ice cream social.

I think this has a lot more to say about staff engagement. Especially after the pandemic and with the influx of new team members.

How do you rally the troops when no one cares enough to be rallied, or to put their phones down long enough to pay attention?