2005 Meritorious Service

Speech presented by Jim Butler at June 7, 2005 CFSC Awards banquet

The Meritorious Service award is given to the support person behind the front line workers. They work tirelessly keeping a low profile and relatively unknown to anyone outside their office. Yet what they do can so affect the outcomes for the office and the program. The Council rightly recognizes the supreme contribution these award winners illustrate.

Following our committee’s tradition, I removed myself from the voting so that I could be a tiebreaker. If I had voted, we wouldn’t have had to keep score because my vote would have been over the top. However, it was a close race with five different people having the best score on the five different essay questions.

I’ve known this lady for 24 years and I’ve only been in child support for 22. When I left the State I did a quick survey of what I had done to put on my resume. I’m pretty proud that a third of the ACSES programs had my name on them. But this person beat my performance in every category. Pauline needs to be careful because I’ll steal her in a heartbeat to come work for my company. Unfortunately, she is so danged loyal and loves the work at where she’s at. She is Colorado’s gain and the nation’s loss. How’s that for a support staff making an impression.

The nomination reads beautifully. I can’t read it all but let me read one paragraph:

“Many times she must present a view point that is not just at odds with the popular view, but may be at odds with the viewpoint of those who have positional authority over her. Yet, her challenge is always made with respect, consideration and finesse. Her genuine concern for what is best for the Child Support Program is obvious whenever she speaks in these situations, which makes it very easy for those with dissenting opinions to acquiesce to what she has presented. Often, she is compelled to deliver unpleasant news about issues that can not be resolved, and this too is done with great consideration and respect.”

The 2005 CFSC Award for Meritorious Service goes to...
Darletta Evans, State Office