SECC kickoff, Statehouse Market, DNR raise funds — and tons of fun — on Robert D. Orr Plaza
posted by SPD Communications on September 23, 2019 in Market
What if we told you there was a place where dunk tanks dwell with food trucks and pies are meant to be eaten – OR (occasionally) tossed in peoples’ faces?
And in that same place, wildlife experts would share their knowledge and love of the Hoosier State’s great outdoors, and you could hear all about it while sipping fine roasted coffee and snacking on freshly-popped popcorn! Oh, and there would be representatives of nearly 40 – 40!!! – charities sharing information about how they’re working each and every day to make life better for Indiana residents!
Sound too good to be true? Hardly!
There is indeed such a place, state employees, and the best part is that YOU can be part of it all THIS THURSDAY on Robert D. Orr Plaza!
The Indiana State Employees Community Campaign (SECC) kicks off at 11 a.m. Sept. 26 smackdab in the middle of the Statehouse Market. All of the usual amazing food, drinks, and fine artisan goods will be there, but this week’s market is extra special in that it’s the first step toward reaching this year’s SECC goal of $1.6 million raised for charity!
Did we mention YOU’RE INVITED?
This year’s Kickoff Party is held in coordination with the Statehouse Market and DNR Wildlife Science Day. Your formal invitation to be part of this year’s event is right here, but there’s no need to RSVP. Just come visit and be part of the festivities!
Opening remarks from this year’s SECC coordinators start at 11:30 a.m. You’ll definitely want to hear from this esteemed group of speakers as they’ll announce this year’s weekly charities of choice! As an added bonus, you can learn more about each of those nonprofit institutions by visiting their booths or tables on the plaza.
The ever-popular dunk tank will also be open at that time, allowing you to drop agency leaders into a waiting pool of water by showing off your throwing skills. If those skills don’t result in a bullseye, you can always pay to run up and push the button to drop and douse your intended target as well.
There’s no shame in that; it’s for a great cause!
Check out the list below to find out when your favorite agency head will be appearing in the tank.
11:45 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – Department of Revenue Commissioner Adam Krupp
12:10 to 12:30 p.m. – Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Commissioner Steve Sturgill
12:35 to 12:55 p.m. – Department of Administration Director of Facilities Mike Mundy
It costs only $5 for three throws. Oh, and that guaranteed dunk we mentioned? It’s only $10 – and if there’s a better way to spend 10 bucks, we haven’t found it.
If baked goods meeting faces is more your thing, you’ll be in luck as well: the pie-in-the-face event will allow you to (gently) shove a pie in the maw of your favorite agency head/SECC coordinator. Here’s the schedule of good sports willing to take whipped cream-covered confections square in the face in the name of charity:
11:45 a.m. to noon – State Personnel Department Director Britni Saunders and Office of Administrative Law Proceedings Director Matt Brown
Noon to 12:15 p.m. – Indiana Bond Bank Executive Director Mark Wuellner and Department of Natural Resources Deputy Director Chris Smith
12:15 to 12:30 p.m. – Economic Development Corporation Chief Operating Officer Chris Cotterill and Luke Bosso, Senior Operations Director for the Office of Gov. Eric Holcomb
12:30 to 12:45 p.m. – Bureau of Motor Vehicles Chief Operating Officer Kevin Garvey
A tasty pastry should never go to waste, so it’s fortunate that with so many treats destined for the smiling mugs of your fellow public servants that you’ll have opportunities to buy some for, you know, actual snacking during the second-to-last Statehouse Market of 2019.
There are plenty of other amazing treats and healthy goods alongside a fleet of the finest food trucks, so if it’s the yummiest of all grub you’re after, you’re covered there too.
As always, the Statehouse Market will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
As an added bonus, some food truck operators and vendors have pledged to make a donation to the Indiana SECC. You can read about that below, and check booths and trucks for special signs indicating an SECC-related promotion this Thursday.
Check out this week’s lineup (subject to change) below:
Vendors:
Chef Bricker’s Brickhouse Vinaigrettes
Gluten Free Creations – Gluten Free Creations owner Lydia Armstrong pledged a portion of the day’s proceeds to the Indiana SECC.
Food Trucks:
The Legendary Kitchen – Ted Davidson, owner of The Legendary Kitchen, pledged to donate golf passes to The Legends Golf Club in support of the Indiana SECC.
Rolling Asian Delight – Peiming Sun, owner of Rolling Asian Delight, pledged to make a one-time donation to Indiana SECC.
Last but far from least is a DNR crew that will provide short “flash talk” presentations inside IGC-S and live demonstrations on the plaza.
Indiana DNR furbearer biologist Geriann Albers said the Wildlife Sciences Division will also be bringing their mascot, Herbie the Hellbender, to the plaza for selfies! In case you were wondering, the hellbender is a salamander native to Indiana – not an ‘80s hair metal band. It’s also not nearly as scary as it sounds.
Feel free to hobnob with Herbie in all his amphibious (and not at all slimy) glory while learning about some of the woodland critters that call Indiana home – and how we can protect them and preserve their habitats.
Our theme this year is “Together We Serve.” We believe that mantra captures the true essence of state employment because, after all, we all serve best when we serve together. And we need everyone’s help to reach this new benchmark.
The path to $1.6 million starts (literally) right outside your office door this week. Won’t you join us and help make a difference in the lives of our fellow Hoosiers?
We can’t wait to see you there!