INTER-OFFICE MEMO

Right after my 18th birthday, I quit college - Rosemont College. And of course, a boy was involved. My parents were less than pleased, and on my first day home I needed to secure a job by order of my father. That's when I met my first boss, Mr. Horace C. Rush. Mr. Horace Rush hired me as a travel counselor at the American Automobile Club. Prior to this I had no significant job experience other than part-time sales work at the Bamberger's Department store. But I did have an avid love of travel. Fresh off a phenomenal trip to the British Isles, and being a recent college dropout, I knew the travel business was for me! I also desperately needed a job if I hoped to return to college. Mr. Rush was a man of many talents but his real gift was the ability to give people in his charge confidence and unconditional support. He helped all his employees become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the job. Before office emails became the norm, people of my vintage will recall the use of these small rectangular pads with the title, "Inter-office Memo". Like the current use of office emails, receiving an Inter-office Memo usually meant more work, or worse, a critiqué of your work. To ease the tension of office stress, Mr. Rush would often send out extremely humorous memos which punctuated our office with fits of uncontrollable laughter! This man set the bar for what I would want and expect of all my future bosses. Under Mr. Rush's tutelage, I worked my way up to assistant office manager. And during those years I was able to both travel and complete my education. It broke my heart to leave the Auto Club for my first teaching job, but Mr. Rush and I remained life long friends until he passed away. His generosity of the heart remains with me. He was an important part of my young adulthood and significantly impacted my life. One of my sweetest and funniest memories of him was his sending telegrams to each of my hotels while I was on an overseas trip. The telegrams took the form of the Inter-office Memo. Each one stating a humorous quip with the proviso, "Have Fun. Return home. Your work is waiting for you!" I still have those telegrams❤️ And because of the working climate he fostered, I remain friends with each of my Auto Club co-workers from more than fifty years ago!