Welcome, December!
- Angela Garrison
- Dec 12, 2023
- 4 min read
This month, we focus on hope and joy. We are officially in the holiday season. Our teams have worked hard all year. Our working parents have struggled with all the illnesses the season brings with it, taking care of sick kids and balancing their professional careers. You are not alone, we see you and we appreciate you so very much.
Check out our fun December logo (file attached). Feel free to use on your communication pieces this month, especially those addressing holidays and changes to office hours.
Be sure to update your calendars with important dates and participate in our contest on Team GSF Connect. Hey, Team, 2023 is coming to a close and we have a brand new year right around the corner.
We are officially in 'Year End' mode at Corporate. Properties are focused on Security Deposit Recs and cleaning up all the admin from to ensure a clean start in 2024. Even though we are busy, we want to make some time for FUN & CONTESTS! Head on over to the Team Fun group on Team GSF Connect today for your chance to win. To help with the holiday shopping, we are giving away 20 $50 Target giftcards and all before the 24th! We have one designated contest day this month (12/15) but stay tuned to Team GSF Connect for conests on the fly in December for your chance to win!
12/2: International Day for Abolition of Slavery. Did you know modern slavery is on the rise? Learn more about this subject here.
12/5: Day of the Ninja. Is your little one in Karate? Throughout December, we invite you to share pictures of them on Team GSF Connect and don't forget to include their shirt size! All little Ninjas will receive a special GSF tshirt made just for them in January!
12/6: Time Cards are Due!
Saint Nicholas Day. St. Nick gets his own day. Click here to learn more.
12/7: Start of Hanukkah. Want to learn more about this Jewish holiday? Click here.
Pearl Harbor Day. Here is a link to the National Parks where you can learn more.
12/8: Immaculate Conception. 8 things to know about the Immaculate Conception.
Bodhi Day. What is Bodhi Day? Click here to learn more.
12/12: Pay Day!
12/13: Saint Lucia’s Day. What is St. Lucy's Day? Click here to learn more.
Geminid Meteor Shower. Don't miss the best shooting stars. Click here.
12/15: National Ugly Sweater Day Contest Day! Post pictures of yourself to the Team Fun group on Team GSF Connect. All participants will be entered into a drawing for one of TEN $50 Target gift cards!
12/16: National Wreaths Across America Day. More than 2 million wreaths will be placed on this day. Here is a link where you can learn more.
12/20: Tune into Team GSF Connect for a special recorded interview with GSF Properties Inc. CEO, Levon Baladjanian.
12/21: Time cards are due!
Winter Solstice. This link is for the KIDS! Learn more about Winter Solistice here.
12/25: Christmas Day || All Offices are Closed. Be sure to communicate in advance with customers and vendors about the special schedule this month. Include a special sign on your office door with a QR code linking to your website.
12/26: Kwanzaa Begins (through January 1st). Want to learn more about this time for families and communities to come together to remember the past and to celebrate African American culture? Click here.
12/27: Pay Day!
12/31: Annual Security Deposit Listings are Due! Did you see the email from Dan McCoy sent on December 8th? Click here to access the attachments.
1/1/2024: New Year's Day || All Offices are Closed. Happy New Year!! Be sure to communicate in advance with customers and vendors about the special schedule this month. Include a special sign on your office door with a QR code linking to your website.
Ideas Dump for December
Ornament exchange
Bingo https://teambuilding.com/blog/online-team-building-bingo
Hot Cocoa Bar or Cider at your complex
Christmas Goodie Bar at your complex
https://book.teambuilding.com/ultimate-holiday-game-show or https://book.teambuilding.com/holiday-feud
Team Recipe Book
Folks tend to have strong sentimental feelings about holiday meals. Swapping beloved Christmas recipes can be a way for teammates to bond. To create a team recipe book, ask each teammate to submit at least one favorite holiday recipe. For extra insight, ask participants to include a few lines explaining what the recipe means to them. Then, organize the recipes into book form using a program like Canva, In Design, or Google Drive, and send the anthology to your officemates.
Pro tip: Encourage teammates to try the different recipes and reach out to the contributing chef.
Winter Office Olympics
Winter Office Olympics is a seasonal team competition consisting of a series of physical challenges.
Here are some game ideas:
Reindeer relays: in this relay race, runners hand off a red foam nose instead of passing a baton.
Ice fishing: A timed game where players submerge their hands into buckets of ice water to collect rubber balls.
Speed skating: contestants place empty tissue boxes over their shoes and race down the hallway.
Igloo Building: Using empty cardboard boxes, teams erect igloos. Judges award points based on construction speed, structural integrity, and architectural style.
Santa’s Sack Race: Entrants step into black garbage bags and race to cross the finish line.
To hold Winter Office Olympics, first find a spacious place to play the games, then split the group into teams. Be sure to keep score and award medals to winners.
Comments