Every One Matters

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Thu, 01/24/2008 - 09:49 — Shelley Logan

It's time again for Southwest Airlines annual Employee Message to the Field events, and this year's Message is sure to be another informative and exciting event! The Message tour will kick off this year in Chicago, and our CEO, Gary Kelly, and President, Colleen Barrett, will visit a total of five Southwest cities before the grand finale in Dallas.

Southwest Airlines Message to the Field is kind of like the President's State of the Union address. It's a time for our Leaders to review the past year; state our goals for the upcoming year; and answer questions from Employees across the country. We hold these events in six cities, and typically have anywhere from 500 to 3,000 Employees attending.

As soon as we receive the dates for each of the Messages, our Team is responsible for many of the behind-the-scenes details. We reserve a venue in each city; coordinate shuttle service for our Employees; secure group rates for hotels; and work with our talented Graphic Design and Creative Services Department on posters to publicize the event to our 33,000+ Employees. No Southwest Airlines event would be complete without fabulous prizes, so we also work with our Pass Bureau Friends to collect several travel packages to give away to this year's lucky winners. The grand prize is the coveted trip to Seattle to pick up a brand-new Boeing 737!

The theme of this year's Message is "Every One Matters." It's important for us to remember how important each individual can be to the bottom line of our Company...whether we're talking about an individual Employee, a singular Customer, a solitary bag, just one minute, or even a single penny.

Our enthusiastic Culture Ambassadors will attend every Message and will be encouraging all Employees to "Get Hooked" into the famous Southwest Culture. In addition, our OnBoarding Team will host luncheons for our New Hires to celebrate the newest additions to our Southwest Family.

2008 is sure to be another exciting year for the LUV Airline, and what better way to kick it all off than with our annual Message? We're looking forward to seeing all of our hardworking and fun-LUVing Employees at a Message to the Field one day very soon!

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Comments

Once again, Shelley is being too modest about her contributions. She is doing the advance work for the Chicago and Baltimore Messages, and she has put a lot of miles on airplanes and burned a lot of extra hours at work making sure all goes as planned. Many of you know how hard it is to plan a party or an office event for those you work with. Imagine if you had to go find an auditorium in a city a thousand miles away, and then you had to coordinate all the volunteers, ensure that shuttle busses would be on hand to take folks from the airport to the event.. Then on the day of the event, you would spend every moment taking care of last minute needs like we need more tape or a power strip. I really have only covered the surface of what Shelley and her Corworkers do.

Brian Lusk — Thu, 01/24/2008 - 16:25

What a huge undertaking. but I'm sure it is well worth the effort to get your message to the people.

Scot — Thu, 01/24/2008 - 17:14

What exactly is a Culture Embassador?

Carl — Thu, 01/24/2008 - 21:11

as for message to the field are retirees welcome

or would you rather we not do so

thank you

still a swa family member

billy m phillips — Fri, 01/25/2008 - 05:20

Hey,

How about those who are about to become part of the family?

I am just waiting on the background check from what I am told. I would really like to attend and not have to wait a full year for it to return. When I was at the People Dept. the other day, I was reading the magazine (Luvlines?), and it had the dates and locations. I am at BWI and if I recall right, it is scheduled for February. And for some reason I am thinking the 22nd at a local school.

Well, if that is the date, I hope to be a part of the family by then and not in Dallas for training. It sounds like a great event to be at.

Chris Riley — Fri, 01/25/2008 - 07:14

I would like to say thank you to everyone at Southwest Airlines.
Whenever I fly anywhere, Southwest is the only airline. The people are very nice and I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.

Jeanne' DeLine — Sun, 01/27/2008 - 20:06

About three months ago my wife was diagnosed with cancer. We decided if everything looked good we would take a vacation. Well so far everything looks good. So I invited my entire family to come with us for a four day trip. Leaving our airport your staff couldn't be more helpful. However on the way back, the plane boarded early and I was told to check the strollers at the next gate. I went to the next gate and they sent me to the next desk. My family of 12 had already been boarded(including my twins). I asked your front desk if they could help and their response was get back in line. No sympathy, No eye contact, just get in line. Your flight crew was excellant but your desk people need to be little more sympathetic.

jmccarrin — Mon, 01/28/2008 - 17:28

Brian - thank you for the kind note! It's definitely a Team effort, and we LUV doing it!

Carl - Our Culture Ambassadors are our newest addition to my Team, and are responsible for keeping the SWA Culture alive and well in each of our work groups. See my post from May titled "The Ambassadors of Culture!" for more details, and keep your eyes peeled for another blog soon with an update on what all of these hardworking and talented folks have been up to!

Billy - SWA Retirees are most definitely welcome, and we'd love to have you join us! Unfortunately, the fabulous prizes are only for our Active Employees, but we'd love to have you join the FUN!

Chris - we would LUV to have you join us at the BWI Message! As soon as you clear background, check SWALife for all of the details. Also, find out about the LUV at First Bite Luncheon, too! Welcome to the Family!

Shelley Logan — Mon, 01/28/2008 - 17:38

Just a note to our New Hires who are still in a pool or are still waiting to clear a background check: Messages to the Field are events that are really intended for our Active SWA Employees. (In fact, we require everyone to bring his/her SWA ID badge to each event!). So...if you're an active Employee at the time of the Message to the Field in your city, we would LUV to have you join us. If you're still waiting on a start date, we'll see you at next year's Message (or just as soon as you officially start working with us!). So sorry for any confusion...we're looking forward to having all of you on our Team one day soon!

Shelley Logan — Thu, 01/31/2008 - 01:24

Awesome! I just got clearance!!!!!!!

I hope to see you next week in Baltimore. Although, I am not sure if I will have my badge by then because I am filling out the papers on Monday for the badges and the event is on Wednesday. We will see. I have my SW ID number, so do you think that will do? The person who hired me said she could not recall if they checked ids, but wasnÃ

Chris Riley — Fri, 02/01/2008 - 07:05

Congrats Chris!
I hope you enjoy your new job.

Joe Friedmann — Sat, 02/02/2008 - 18:08

southwest airlines rules

charles ratcliff — Sat, 02/02/2008 - 19:39

When and if will SW start service Minneapolis????

Dave Miller — Sun, 02/03/2008 - 01:39

Thanks Joe-

I am excited! My start date is Next Friday the 8th. I am an Operations Agent. I also bought and watched series #1 of "Airline". Interesting is all I can say. I do not know how the Customer Service Agents do it. More power to them, Thanks for what you do.

Is there anyone in Baltimore going to the message on Wednesday? I have to go as someone's guest since I was told that I will not have my badge until Friday.

Chris Riley — Sun, 02/03/2008 - 02:48

Chris,
Do you have to go to Dallas for training or will it be all at BWI?
Joe

Joe Friedmann — Sun, 02/03/2008 - 20:42

I spend a few weeks at BWI training, then I go to Dallas for more in depth training. Once I complete the training in Dallas, then I return for more on the job training shadowing someone until both myself and the person I am shadowing think I am ready. I think it is a great idea that you train for a short period of time prior so that you know what questions to ask in Dallas.

Chris Riley — Mon, 02/04/2008 - 14:00

Hi Chris!! Welcome OnBoard! Do you have a "host" yet? I work in the Southwest Marketing Department at BWI. Please feel free to call our office at 410.691.2717 and ask for me. I would be happy to be your host! I am new to SWA myself - your enthusiam is AWESOME!

Marina Hardy - Marketing Manager — Mon, 02/04/2008 - 21:34

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