Kindness as Contagious as Covid
Sherry Leason
Senior Buyer/Fiscal - CDA
Something is very heavy on my mind.
Our world is saturated in agitation, irritability, and anger. I believe what we demonstrate in our words and actions is symptomatic of what is in our heart. Many hearts are demonstrating pain.
There is no doubt that serious issues exist in our world today. But friends, negativity is not part of the solution. If everyone is yelling, no one is listening.
I propose you and I do something different. I propose you and I spread kindness that will become as contagious as Covid.
Gratitude is powerful! No matter what challenges I’m facing I can identify things I’m thankful for. You can too. When your heart glows with gratitude, your heart naturally overflows with contagious kindness that effects the people around you. Negativity cannot coexist with gratitude and kindness.
Additionally, research at the Mayo Clinic shows kindness in our lives has innumerable positive effects on physical and mental health.
Looking in the mirror I say, ‘you’re just one little blonde kid! How could you possibly make a difference?’ Ok. I’m not a kid anymore, humor me.
Individually you and I may feel helpless to make a difference. Together we can create a ripple effect, a grand gesture of kindness as contagious as Covid.
Several years ago, I experienced my own perfect storm. My husband Chuck suddenly died at age 42. Due to a series of events, we had no health insurance or life insurance, and our provider was gone.
What kept me going was looking into the eyes of my children. They were 13 and 11. I had no idea what to do but I couldn’t give up.
My first mountain was the medical debt.
Some friends sponsored the kids and I into a medical share program to provide health coverage. Chuck’s bills were not submissible. We were not members when he got sick. They posted our story in their monthly newsletter. If members wanted to help, they would be in touch. My mind was numb. I didn’t really think much about it.
Meanwhile the kids and I drove to Minnesota for a family memorial service for Chuck. We returned home 3 weeks later to a huge pile of mail. There were 525 cards and letters from people all over the country. Every envelope contained cash, checks or money orders.
These people were all part of the medical share program. They didn’t know us. We didn’t know them. Their gifts were not conditioned by common opinion, race, religion, cultural beliefs or voting status. They simply wanted to be kind.
Individually, their gifts were small gestures. Collectively, it was the grandest gesture I have ever experienced. Chuck’s medical bills were paid in full.
Do you see how working together, we can accomplish what we can’t do alone?
Submitted by George Nuesse
Program Specialist Good Neighbor Authority
Logging was due to Douglas-fir tussock moth defoliation and mortality at Sage Hen Reservoir northwest of Boise as part of the Boise National Forest Sage Hen Integrated Restoration Project (Emmett Ranger District),
 Before treatment.
 After tree removal.
Joel Clark, Team Program Manager / Hydrologist in Coeur d'Alene, tells IDL Insider that his family adopted Amos after having him as their foster son since August of 2019. He is now 4. The family celebrated by taking their kids on a road trip to visit family and our nation’s capitol.
 Congrats to Michelle Hermann, Human Resource Specialist, SR. Here is Bentley Storey Hermann, born 1/28/22 at 5:36pm. 7 lbs 6.3 oz - 19.25 length
By Vikki Snider
Safety Officer/Human Resources – CDA
Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility, but did you know that every IDL office has a Safety Coordinator? Some offices may also have a Section Coordinator. These employees accept this responsibility in addition to their regular jobs to help ensure the safety of their office and its employees.
They are responsible for making sure the first aid kits are stocked and the AEDs are working. They also conduct monthly checks of fire extinguishers, track area wide non-fire program trainings, and act as a contact point for safety concerns at their office, to name just a few of their responsibilities.
Your Safety Coordinator has accepted this important assignment because they care about the safety of you and your working environment. Please take a moment to thank yours for his or her efforts! A list of all Safety Coordinators can be found on the Safety Program intranet site. You can report any safety concerns specific to your office to your Safety Coordinator or submit your concern to safety@idl.idaho.gov.
The Safety Committee is another group of IDL employees working behind the scenes for your safety. We meet monthly and work diligently to help ensure that IDL provides its employees a safe working environment. While several safety-related projects have come from the Safety Committee, we are also responsible for developing necessary safety policies, procedures, and guidelines to bring continuity throughout IDL.
Most recently, we identified safety issue trends, such as icy and dark parking lots and lack of safety support for our front office staff. We proposed recommendations to the executive staff, and you are seeing those results.
IDL now provides ice cleats to all permanent staff and has prioritized facilities maintenance approvals to install parking lot lights where needed. This is the third year that ice cleats were provided and we have distributed 175 pairs since 2019. This has resulted in a significant reduction of slips on ice with zero reported falls for the 2021/2022 winter season!
The Safety Committee also recommended the return of the phone “help button” and asked that it be placed as a high priority for our front office staff safety. The help button will be programmed and available in the very near future! If you are interested in being a member of the Safety Committee, please send a letter of interest to safety@idl.idaho.gov.
Visit the Safety Program intranet site to see a list of committee members and Safety Coordinators and be sure to thank them for all their efforts to keep you safe! https://teamwork.idl.idaho.gov/IDL/Programs/Safety/Pages/default.aspx
 Tammy Armstrong and Tim Cox restocking a first aid kit in the Boise staff office.
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