Annual staff BBQ promotes sustainable socialization, employee engagement

Two-hundred fifty staff members enjoy their lunch at the West campus Staff Appreciation BBQ Wednesday, March 2.

By Peter Northfelt |
March 13, 2017

On behalf of Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, ASU Staff Council hosts annual staff barbecues on four ASU campuses. The barbecues set aside time for staff to get to know each other and learn about resources.

The event began when Crow asked that a barbecue be held to honor staff achievements. The first barbecue outgrew the original Old Main area, and since 2011 it is the largest zero waste event each year.

This year’s barbecues drew more than 3,800 attendees, including:

Downtown Phoenix campus: 435
Polytechnic campus: 175
Tempe campus: 3,000
West campus: 250

“The picnic allows us to appreciate staff for their achievements,” said Stephen Potter, Staff Council president. “We also take this time to educate staff on the many opportunities Staff Council and ASU provide to staff year-round.”

The event not only celebrates staff, but educates them about landfill waste diversion. Katie Schumacher, Zero Waste program coordinator, said despite the large attendance, the 2017 events diverted 94.3 percent of all event waste from a landfill.

“This event was one of the first large-scale university events to incorporate zero waste,” she said.

Vendors, like MidFirst Bank and BC Graphics, provided information. Resources like ASU Employee Wellness, ASU Police Department and Zero Waste at ASU were also in attendance. One group that is always proud to be part of the experience is the ASU Retirees Association (ASURA).

“Not many ASU staff are aware of the ASURA and what it does,” said Barry McNeil, ASURA president. “These barbecues give us an incredible opportunity to alert people to the lasting legacy of Sun Devils.”

Senior business manager Maria Pompa gets her plate for the West campus Staff Appreciation BBQ on March 2.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
Polytechnic business operations manager Cindy Jauch (left) and Susan Borgers, engineering academic advisor, talk to representatives from ASU's Staff Council booth at the Polytechnic Staff Appreciation BBQ.

Photo by Anya Magnuson/ASU Now
SkySong's Bob Videan puts some barbecued meat on his plate at the ASU Staff Appreciation BBQ luncheon on the Sun Devil Fitness Field at the Tempe campus

Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU Now
President Michael Crow mingles with university employees during the luncheon. Three thousand staff members from the Tempe campus and SkySong enjoyed the complimentary meal, live jazz performed by the Reid Riddiough Quartet, a silent auction, vendors and some carnival games.

Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU Now
President Michael Crow and Provost Mark Searle stop by tables to greet staff and faculty on the Downtown Phoenix campus at the Staff Appreciation BBQ.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
The Reid Riddiough Quartet plays during the Downtown Phoenix Staff Appreciation BBQ.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
Sparky poses for a selfie with staff during the West campus BBQ.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
ASU Police Department officer Becky Garcia talks about self-defense classes with administrative assistants Lauren Balconi (left) and Leanna Walker (right) during the Downtown Phoenix campus BBQ.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now
Sparky poses for pictures with some of his fans at the BBQ luncheon in Tempe, at the Sun Devil Fitness Field. The program was coordinated with Zero Waste with the goal to beat last year's landfill diversion rate of nearly 100 percent by sorting recyclable and compostable refuse.

Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU Now
Zero Waste ambassador Jason Vera, a junior in mechanical engineering, guides people in where to dispose their plates, food scraps and plastic at the Tempe BBQ. Zero Waste was able to divert 94.3 percent of the trash from the landfill.

Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU Now
Sparky offers another flower to West campus Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College instructional design specialist for Fulton Rachel Lawrenz.

Photo by Deanna Dent/ASU Now