All-Employee Picnic Set for June 8 on Chapin Lawn

The college’s annual All-Employee Picnic will be held earlier than usual this summer—on Monday, June 8, on Chapin Lawn—to allow more faculty and staff members to take part in the fun.

Where feasible, offices will close during picnic hours, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., so that as many employees as possible can attend. In the event of rain, the picnic will be held in the Campus Center. 

Of course, the event—a Smith tradition for the past five years—might not be a draw for everyone. For those employees still on the fence, here are five reasons not to attend this year’s picnic:

1. You don’t like having fun: Fun is definitely on the agenda, so if you are enjoyment-averse, this is not the place for you. The picnic is a chance to connect with fellow employees, enjoy some seasonal lunchtime fare and (hopefully) soak up some early summer sunshine.
2. You’re on a special diet that prohibits delicious food: Be warned that the picnic menu, catered by Dining Services and Smithsonian Caterers, has been expanded this year to include chicken barbeque and hot dogs, along with summer salads and locavore ice cream from Maple Valley Creamery in Hadley. This year, tents and tables will be set up on the lawn to make outdoor dining more enjoyable.
3. You are an expert on Smith trivia but prefer to keep that talent hidden: In that case, you should avoid the trivia contest at the picnic and other tests of skill, including guess-how-many-Hershey’s-Kisses-are-in-a-jar. You will forgo prizes for winners, such as a sturdy canvas laptop bag and a book of Smith architectural history.
4. You’re not enthusiastic about supporting local charities: This year’s picnic will host a collection drive for travel-sized toiletries and other items for families served by Jessie’s House homeless shelter and support program in Amherst. Jessie’s House is part of the Homelessness Prevention Initiative of the Center for Human Development. For a list of suggested items, check the sidebar.
5. You prefer to stay at your desk while others are out in the sunshine: Smith is full of dedicated employees—which is the reason for having a picnic. But if you’d rather spend your lunch hour working ….

To volunteer for a 30-minute shift at the picnic, email Kathy San Antonio, ksananto@smith.edu.

Fun on the lawn at last year's All-Employee Picnic.