Institution of modern version of this department honoring um, employ he excellence that is what do i is called the William Hammond after him and everyone knows two john is he gets a lot of credit thats why planting ive had not shattered talking and the and mr. Ma mcclaren planting tens and tens of thousands of trees 80 thousand and about one hundred and 40 thousand trees they were missionaries that was the people their staff the gardens and the maintenance working that are responsible for shaping this thats why we honor you always call to National Recognition and parks month the importance of the parks this is a big deal it is so give yourselves a a round of applause clapping. today is also a very pin unit moment we lost a cooper city of people in our parks family were super important to us i want to take a moment before todays our employees and dont want to take the spotlight from incredible individuals revengefully the awards but important housekeeping to take care of question know this is commissioner larry commissioner griffin last week, we lost one of our own paul and im going to have president buell and courtney say a few words but like to Say Something about commissioner griffin there are people to honor commissioner griffin that dont always come to those things. Um, and a lot of you have your own deeply personal stories about commissioner griffin and paul. Commissioner griffin in addition to being um, a labor leader a community leader, and person i really got to know him knew him a long time but during the Parks Commission and the was so proud of being a commissioner and honestly done a bunch of important things but parks matter to him and this Commission Matter to him and as i said in his memory 90 percent is showing up and commissioner griffin always, always showed up. And this is a big loss a little hard and awkward celebrating this will end you think being a big party of our incredible people that you worked for this department but lets take a brief moment of monthtomonth and president buell to say a few words about commissioner griffin and then unintelligible . Thanks thank you ill be very brief. I do knew larry for over 40 years and knew him which was active in the community and not seen in a number of years while postponed to is this commission and any wildlife k45r9d i said i was come to a favorite vent for people that had had hard work that make us a lot of good i take the credit you guys do the work and having said that, about larry i said to my wife i said the sad part weighing to be saying good job to a wonderful man and the mentioned he was a sweet man and gentle man she said with those skills he had that all and with that if you would. Thank you president buell thank you mr. Ginsburg and it is easy to recognize the work that people in the Public Commission like Larry Griffin not easy youre assembly front line field working its what we all are and paul what a brother a friend and the also passed away it is something that strikes a anchored in all of us when you talk about paul clearing throat somebody like behind how larry was a positive person to be around i call my friend for several decades huge loss for the department and the union and for the family and the people that grew up in the richmond ill really, really proud. Thank you. All right. I want to bring up one more special guest, you know. Happier and more joysus note for anyone that works for the Recreation Park Commission. Yeah. clapping . Ive been in with job a long, long, long time now. And denny has been my mentor and coach. And actually is really the one responsible unintelligible pretty big laughter and um, denny has had such an incredible distinguished criteria career a heros spending a lot of time in the community and end up getting into the parks because are the recognition in a navy for awhile and ended up running the Parks Department in virginia and his wife kate and daughter emily and their friends to california and denny has been quietly confident ruben this department ever since and shared pubically and fighting obtain or an illness and disease out for a month and a half now. And guess what hes back so denny please come up and denny never hold the spotlight clapping. thank you philip ill try to keep this brief because as phil said tonight what were doing this about people but about you this is so important ive never missed one of those and not missing this but a couple of comments to the great your understanding im going to use a kind of a low word so hang with me here use the word privilege and the reason im saying that because our department and each of you as our Department City workers have the privilege of maintaining sustaining and covering and managing the most beautiful Public Open Space in the entire city and county of San Francisco and you do it so so well. And every time im out looking at the great work and also brings tears to my heart because of the great job the privilege has a second aspect to it as well. The privilege is also mine and philis and everyone by the way, we have the privilege of thanking you have honoring and appreciating the work you do so well, for the city all san franciscans laughter there it is and it is real procure for h or pleasure for me. So one of my favorite sayings she said smiling gratitude didnt mean much so i want you to know that all of us appreciate our grateful recognized the wonderful work for all of us just it is just breathe taking it really is to thank you and my gratitude is not silent frequent and bows trust so thank you, thank you it is just awesome clapping . All right. So we have a number of special guests will all get introduced. But have a chief special guest and introduce here is one of the last years auditorcontroller treasurer Tax Collector our supervisor. yelling . The honor and privilege to introduce this young lady i work with her brother back in the 90s laughter she brought the new park a icon everything thinks go her and lets welcome mayor london breed. clapping thank you, cynthia i didnt this she was talking about me when they said young lady shes not my favorite person first of all, ill say i know a lot of lose in this department with peter robbing paul and larry for those of you who worked with paul and in the commission and others gotten to know larry we are fortunate to have them be a part of this rec park family i appreciate the fake their acknowledged but incredibly happy to see denny here joining us you, you know, how hard he worked clapping. this department is a special place was interesting you are hearing about the stories about the narrative about had people are saying. And like any other major city we have our problems we have challenges and the spotlight has been shoind on the city like never before on the on the other hand, mentioned as one of the safety cities and tech people and on the one hand, now that is having a bit of an opt effect were here today because we know different. We know what our rec park system is we know what it represents and we know new just a did now but the globe pandemic a big part of why we are able to get through a very difficult time and it was not by magic like that because of all of you and the people that we are honoring here today who view as had their peers work with them every single day made the decision those are the people that deserve to be nominated and honored and recognized for going above and beyond and making sure that they were doing all the great work that needed to be done to make sure our parks and open space have the best anywhere in the world clapping. you guys knows kurt played on those fields and walking through those doors and being a seeing the shop open and the people eating this is a Public Public golf course where International Tournament have been played and people are coming to San Francisco and oftentimes experiencing the best of your ability of San Francisco because of our park system. And we may not always see all of you out theyre doing what you do and taken care of of the parks from the office and allocation of the people and the work and nittygritty and you go and get a manicure i know i get one but the work you do the digging in the soil and the planting of trees and earlier this year one of the biggest storms weve experienced because i can look at her ive been in the city any that whole life and people with first aid i would because the gaspeders and people that work for rec park will handle the problems in the city so when we say, you know. Appreciation not be silent is that what you said . I show up for this department because all of you did such an extraordinarily job a privilege to be part of rec park and come to the parks and explore the parks and discover something knew so the folks are honored and want to say congratulations and there is a bar that is open and some informed who took the bill for that phil didnt like to spend any modern and courtney, you know. The mason local and plumbers it is nice of you guys i hope an annual tradition but weve had that 15 years when we celebrate we also not only recognition people but we also provide substance and build food and the beer and alcohol and whenever and whatever you choose but a way to show our appreciation for all the hard work that so many of you dont day to day and thank you, for being a shinning work to be an incredible Public Servant and thank you, for sticking with rec park day to day doing light work that is important and what makes our city shine thank you for the visitors and thank you for joining us coming in here behind me a great to be here and celebrity all of you and look at how far we have faces challenges but coming back stronger and the parks are an example. So thank you so much for thank you for being here. clapping. i know the mayor has to run so before she does we want to get a photo of recipients i want to say have any fellow commissioners here with joe the Vice President of our Commission President buell and the humble larry xhoublt clapping. i i would be remiss if i didnt say we have corporate commissioner tom here and tom clapping. worked for the department on the commission for 16 years and now on the sanitation and streets commission a new one on me congratulations commissioner and with that, i will be fully i would be remiss the victory has many parents but one of the parents of this victory is summaries a lot work clapping. and with that, do a photo and back to the program a photo with the program and phil . Ashley will work. I want you to join me in welcoming a former supervisor a former state legislator and form attorney david chiu. Good afternoon, everyone. clapping . Yeah. Thank you, ms. Courtney ive been in politics enough to know before you guys and the bar ill be brief the first thing attaining commissioner griffin pretty face for throwing a party at 3 oclock on a work day and as a City Attorney no drinking on the job. Theyre off youll off officially paralleling in front of that camera and just a serious note youre here in apart to think about a paul and larry one thing about larry when i was on the board of supervisors and offers on the let the record show enforcement there are words in the City Ordinances that protect workers because of the work of brother Larry Griffin clapping. so i want to say brother larry and paul thank you. I know youre looking down with us and really im going to be brief like the mayor one of the elected officers i have lots of aurmths with critics about what is happening and many arguments but what we end an argument that ill say the following you cant respond to the following we have the best embodying damn parks in the United States because of Recreation Park Commission and if we have the great parks because of great leadership commissioner griffin. Our managers because of your honor, subsections heros people that do the work today in and out and the people were recognizing this is William Hammond the award winner right here clapping. with that, go to the bar and buy a drink it drink is on labor thank you, labor have a wonderful afternoon. Thank you. I think we want to introduce our commissioners. No one more special guest forgot jeff he owns the joint as a commissioner to have that and it is [off mic. ] i want to Say Something obviously we are celebrating labor but also to have labors leadership fighting for parks and fighting on park issues means the world to us larry means the world to us and to all the other labor leaders you be representing our workers but also representing something bigger youre representing quality of life for San Francisco youre fighting for Market Street and Economic Development and for jobs but are fighting for things that all the things that parks do for you our city and one in Orange County i couldnt be procedure to be part of this when larry yelled at me its all good because i so value and appreciate the role that labor plays. And commissioner mazzola thank you, 2024 incredible leadership as a commissioner. clapping . Thank you, you protrude boy phil. Welcome any in the house i have to say oneer my favorite events we are honoring workers and the ones behind the scenes doing the work evidenced every single day and those are the people that make at park go and number one, in all the paper throughout the United States without them this wouldnt have been possible without without them that is awesome we live in the town but have workers that work like you guys do so thank you, clapping. i want to thank the labors courtney and david clapping. without this is done many years ago and opened that up thank you to them was a great idea and spread the water of all the workers so thank you, guys. clapping. um, on a lighter note i know on a sad note combeebs for years and beforehand the Labor Movement and in the district two awesome gentlemen gave a lot to the park i wish they were be here we love you guys phil and enjoy our everything and congratulations to everybody else. All right. Time to get the park. I think ill introduce the commissioners get up there and present this award and if i can figure out the order Vice President anderson it first so Vice President and present the first awards. Thank you. clapping. i want to say hello, everybody how are you . . yelling i know youre more than all right. You guys are the real daily wouldnt have done it without you guys some of you like to play in the dirt i like that i like playing in the dirt a lot of fun you, you guys get paid not fair not doing this for free i need a drink later is that all right. Carls is not here, yes if youre friends with carls please raise your right hand is that the whole room that is going on above and beyond with his work for as a senior roofer for our department so larry was had union is that one who would that . Huh . All right. Any other locals in the house yeah. Right on director bohe im local 59 is or some place or others understand the standard of work as a mentor for others helped and shined the parks and directed the Center Policies and camp matter especially to make sure they said the great roundabout of parkland during the rains stopped to search for gorp and has a friendly smile on his faces a interpretation asset and so lets do a big snap for carls right on clapping. would someone like to accept the award on carls on behalf. Thank you, mary vin. Take a bunch of selfies. A picture . laughter got to take another picture clapping. for carlos. Yes, sir. All right. Thank you so much. Okay. So i were this right or wrong to show you guys how much i love you im taking that off. Okay. So george. Yeah. yelling . clapping they say a palm tree on his shirt i know otherwise george is going to into the third year of western edition my neighborhood when i moved yes, thats why im here. So. Okay. laughter [off mic. ] okay. He understand the collection in the daily things that transpire has a calm and the collected composure and leads with pst and staff demonstrating strong leadership skills and wellness for the staff not to put on the previous carlos you have that work ready to go and so is western edition george i messed up do you want me to do that over again . No. Catch them on the street and celebrate. Okay. The western edition and fellow gardeners will say shout out to georgie a shout out. Now you have to make a its okay. Wow. clapping this is so much fun another roofer hey. Okay. Marvin demonstrates professionalism clapping. what does that mean . Hi. You have a report while maintaining the park facilities to make sure theyre save for all people. And with the peers and management and e pissing the department values he collected work and above and beyond by raping the interior above the pool and communicating to coworkers throughout the project and take on jobs and projects and strategic and planning preparation and safety protocols thank you, marvin clapping. all right. This one marvin counts. Thats why it is not [off mic. ] all right. multiple voices . Im almost done here whoops a little bit about marvin on the other side with the work in the rain and still at camp matter and worked corroboratively with the urban forestry for the clubhouses and james boyle come on up clapping. yelling . Okay. clapping i can tell you guys hate this carpet here do you have a nickname. No, no. Vals could. Okay. You exemplify the standards of special skills and dedication of all work and you maintain the flowers with the gorgeous structure one had the and 45 years old. One hundred and 45 how many years. About 10. It takes quite a beating for the climate selfemployed and out brings the Community Together with his work to find 0 longevity and dont limit yourselves and go above and beyond to identify the causes and demonstrate limbless courtesy and your teammates say when you take on a task will be the highest quality and care. Thank you. Thank you. So much. clapping yelling . Oh, yeah. Thank you. Speech. Hold on guys. Thank you philip you phil. Thank you, everyone. For listening and see you back later at the bar. All right. The next commissioner will entertain us and thank and distribute awards she show up at Commission Meetings with nona and others for the commission ab and holidays with a Musical Instrument and always ill to show up the new event. clapping thank you, president buell and today she show up with her husband and dog. Okay. So im going to ask taylor . [off mic. ] laughter . Come on up. Yeah. yelling . David comes to work everyday like. Guys with determination and makes the parks safe and kwlaen and enjoyable for all of us and while working at balboa befriended the pickup who now takes a trip for within a few weeks of taking charge the christophers helped with the irrigation system and got the park up unintelligible . clapping yelling . Can you tell us about the promenade i must take this [off mic. ] during the withers storms honed her chainsaw skills and other crew members for the park and it is true team player. Thank you, kato and all citizens clapping. yelling . All right. Here we go. unintelligible . Here we go. Wonderful gardeners and at this time, i want to ask um, bryan flynn. Yeah. clapping. yelling . Is he bryan flynn no bryans not here oh, who knows bryan really well. yelling . Okay. So bryan flynn is under the weather it says he appreciates useing and next talk about bryan anyway yeah, and maybe this called name is frankie as a gardener in the pa state 5 bryan is seen as a valuable asset to his team and incredible mentor, and um, and for all the apprehend sisters and professional and knowledgeable and kyme hes an exemplar gardener who had to share with anyone interested in learning about gardening. Fellow folks seek out his skills and support and the initiate on a volunteer Group Project training apprentices on things that need prudently and sharing the understanding of how to use and sharpen chainsaws laughter . This more that bryan interpretation effort in creating habitat for humanity and promoting california narrative species his work equals exemplified by Buena Vista Park created a great. Or beautiful at the open practice terrace clapping. and communications and a calm manner. And the general manager. Give it up for bryan clapping. can we take a picture for bryan. Yeah. For bryan. Give it up for bryan. You have [off mic. ] laughter. there we go. Okay. We have um i want to invite leo garcia up here clapping. yelling . So im going to open my commissioners on Vice President anderson has a special relationship with val. I know her dad a true leader wow. Showing her unwavering support for her colleagues and in late 2022 [off mic. ] you were thrusting thrust into the role of supervisor. clapping is it true he kept a cool head . Yeah. And led by example supporting each of our other gardeners colleagues. And encouraged fellow colleagues to show up for one at a maybe comforting during what could have been a chaotic period faced a supervisors and got respect from our colleagues clapping. yelling . Photo op. Yeah. All right. clapping yelling . And to present the last award to the commissioner would i think should run for mayor every time he has to show up for everything we ask him to do joe. clapping the last time i saw many of you was at the all staff meeting at the county fair building in january. Was a few days before the super bowl a our manager commissioner griffin told you to bet on my beloved elks and any time you can get pacific the under dog you have to go that way how many of you put anyone on the super bowl . How many of you were 0 foolish enough to bet on phils elks . My call Service Wanted the first pick for free. And our next honoree is enrique madonna clapping. yelling . He is here today for sure. And enrique one of our great gardeners in San Francisco is having a beautiful and enjoy hes dependable when it comes to completing the task at hand but relied on to raise the spirit of those working long side him and with his high standards and patience when it comes to challenges he is an supervision to his crew. And as a mentor he coaches his colleagues on the correct approach for a physically demanding job to stay safe and remain efficient everyday, etc. Reck has skill as a positive demanner an incredible asset to his colleagues the citizens of San Francisco and congratulations to enrique madonna clapping. yelling . Were speakers. Good job. multiple voices . Right now . Our next honor another guarder from our Great Department sanchez any. yelling . Her commitment to her colleagues and the environment and friendly attitude make a great banish for San Francisco parks. She has chop and helps the colleagues narrative to the departmental protocol for the department he individually Led Volunteer groups and for the horticulture and our utilized to the community she is going out of her way and including demonstrating how to use new equipment safely and efficiently and leads the volunteer groups and makes sure she brings on painters and shay a terrific role model to the applies and delays patience for parks and congratulations shane far well. clearing throat . yelling . Okay. Our next honor is danny yelling . clapping danny is the National Resources specialist and brought her dpeeven he knowledge about the krefrm to the rec park and start the work just a few months before the pandemic and despite the outbuildings that tie presents remained dedicated to the diversity of the areas and taney has a passionate for preserving plant and welfare and protecting endespaired species cooperated a program been the tuition and the gorp nursery to encourage the native plant grow through to have local generics and lucky to have danny as part of the rec and park family congratulations to danny clapping. yelling . Am i up. Okay. Cool. All right. Communitybased organization danny. Our next honor ron perez. clapping yelling . Thank you. Ron has been an excellent technician with an electrical problem occurs he has a sufficient solution and gone above and beyond with his working accomplishing more than asked and a underscore rent tools he not only replaced them and at balance itself but the life in the garden storage area from installing new service and lighting throughout the park system ron is dedicated and poster of his colleagues. Ron is an asset to the department and the citizens of San Francisco congratulations ron perez clapping. yelling . Thanks. Okay. Congratulations ron. And next up our heaviest operators supervisor keri clapping. yelling . Thank you. Dennis is swift when alledgedly concerns and the issues and truly values the challenge. And made sure that everyone around him feels heard and supportive and the sclofb support a safe environment for all and during the winter storms dennis went the extra mile assisting the Forestry Team day and night from tree fulfills and removing trees off buildings and to make sure the parks are safe for everyday use and hes responsive and resilient and that makes him a true asset for the Recreation Park CommissionDepartment Ladies and gentlemen dennis s clapping. yelling . Congratulations denny. Thank you joe. Lets give a round of applause for the auditorcontroller treasurer Tax Collector and joe i might have a [off mic. ] and how about joe . All right. One more award and then the bar is not closed whatever but one more award and then celebrate. And this is a very, very special award it is for People Choice is award thats all that ill say about that. And ill tell you all about that our first female superintendent of chart in park history times clapping. can you use this one . clapping hi, everyone and good afternoon so happy to be here denny i thought honored to talk about the awards today but first tell you about me, im halley and as phil said im child daycare of the yard at rec park and wouldnt couldnt be more proud to work with the men and women in the yard and maintain automobile the facilities in park in cage martha era true pleasure working with them everyday and tell you about the awards. According to the folklore sometimes in the year 2011 on a cold morning a gaspeder discovered an austrian tree grew and that was older than the gnarleder herself and this alone gardener who forever be accommodation from that day forward the stump had been award to a resilient quarantined or gaspeder last years winner was Randy Vasquez who will now come forward to this years winner which is all about resilience and hard work so randy do you want to up, up here. clapping and yelling . Im you pretty sure can i get a a round of applause. yelling . laughter. thank you. laughter . One more big a round of applause for all the awardees and for rec park commissioners and for all the sponsors of this event congratulates everyone and happy natural Recreation Park Commission parks month keep that up were on the right track right