Door2Door Riders
Lyman & Ruth Zimmerman
By Scott Fleming
Office Manager
If you are lost and need directions, Medford resident Lyman Zimmerman might be the guy to call. This seventy-one year old Door2Door rider's navigational skills don't stop at planet Earth. No siree, he could get you to the moon. Literally. Throughout the 60s and 70s Lyman helped develop the guidance systems used for the Apollo lunar landing modules. Far out!
Today, Lyman still knows where he's going and how to get there, and we are his choice for transportation. "We think it's a gift," Lyman's wife, Ruth, says of us. "Very, very dependable."
Lyman and Ruth are not just along for the ride either; they share their insights about our service by participating on the Riders' Advisory Committee.
When I asked Lyman about ways to improve our service he said, "More GPS units on the vans!" Coming from a man who helped navigate trips to the moon, we shouldn't be surprised. |
Kinsey Award Winner:
Reed Cochran
By Penny Cole
Door2Door Driver
Our quarterly Kinsey Award for the employee who best reflects SCM's values and commitment to our ridership is Executive Director Reed Cochran. Reed came to SCM in June 2005, when we were struggling and the staff was very uncertain of our future. With her determination and expertise, Reed turned the agency around. Reed has helped SCM raise money through grants, appeals, and fundraisers. Seeing a gap in the services we provide, she created and found funding for Paul's Ride which allows people to visit their friends and family in the hospital or nursing home. In June, 2009 SCM hosted Taste of Somerville, which Reed and the SCM's Board of Directors coordinated with the Somerville Chamber of Commerce.
SCM has had its share of ups and downs through the years, but since Reed became a part of our team everything has been looking up. Three cheers for Reed!
Kinsey Award recipients are selected by a committee of SCM drivers and office staff. |
| Give to Door2Door Transportation (by SCM) |
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SCM Community Transportation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation that gratefully accepts your tax deductible contributions. You can donate via Network for Good or simply mail us your donation at the below address.
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2010 is Customer Service Year By Reed Cochran
Executive Director
Door2Door is ringing in the decade with a resolution you should know about.
2010 will be a year of polishing our customer service skills. With participation at every level in our organization, we're taking a hard look at everything we do. Our goal: To make sure that SCM provides the most stellar experience it can for each and every rider. As a first step in this exciting initiative, we have expanded our reservations hours. As of February 15, you can call us from 9 am until 5 pm on any business day to book your trips or get more information about our services. That's four additional hours each day that a skilled representative will be available live in our office.
This was an easy decision to make, and it is just a start. Have some ideas? Please call me at (617) 625-1191 x24. |
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Be With the One You Love:
Paul's Ride Door2Door's Paul's Ride is available- free of charge- to area seniors and persons with disabilities who wish to visit a loved one in the hospital or nursing home. To book a ride, just give us a call at (617) 625-1191.
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Door2Door and the Arts 
In December, fifty-five Door2Door riders attended five holiday-themed events as part of our Door2Door and the Arts program.
Here's a shot of Frank Hazel awaiting the opening curtain of The Black Nativity, as presented by the National Center of Afro-American Artists. The other events were Handel's Messiah by the Cambridge Community Chorus, the Christmas Revels at Harvard's Sanders Theater, and both Nutcracker and Urban Nutcraker!
We are grateful to our funder, the Tufts Health Plan Foundation, for its recognition that the arts can be a vital part of the well-being equation as we grow older. Arlington resident Regina Caines writes: "Thanks for a very entertaining evening at the Black Nativity. We found both the event and the travel accommodations very enjoyable and convenient and a wonderful relief from the difficulties of driving at night, parking and exposure to inclement weather. We will look forward to joining you again in the spring." Stay tuned for our spring calendar! |
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Riders' Adisory Committee Update
By Joe Marcucci
Door2Door Customer Service Champion
Door2Door held its second Riders' Advisory Committee meeting on December 2, but it was the first meeting for me as Door2Door's customer service champion. My job: to translate the ideas and concerns of riders into positive steps by our company.
So, on this chilly afternoon, ten loyal riders convened to share their opinions and ideas with us. I wasn't sure what to expect.
First off, what a lively atmosphere! Here was a group of individuals ready and willing to come out on a cold day to provide some input. And provide input they did - with intelligence, grace, and humor.
Praise was offered: SCM is a lifesaver! I've ridden the vans for five years and never had a problem! Drivers are attentive. Reservationists are great!
And questions were asked: Can we get more time to grocery shop? Can the drivers wear standard uniforms, for a more professional appearance?
I've got my marching orders. With the Riders' Advisory Committee, we are making sure that our customers have a voice in the way we do business.
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