Angel returns to Bay Pines perch

Hospital officials say that next year a diversity committee will recommend a tree-topper.

By MELIA BOWIE
© St. Petersburg Times,
published December 7, 2001

The controversial Christmas angel that was plucked from her perch atop Bay Pines VA Medical Center's annual holiday tree is back on top again.

The white, auburn-haired seraph made her comeback on Thursday after a meeting between Bay Pines director Thomas Weaver and union leader Yancy L. Dorn. She was displaced after several employees cited diversity concerns.

"It went real well," Dorn said of the talk with Weaver, who was out of town during much of the uproar. "I imposed on him that three people do not run the entire medical center."

Tensions had developed earlier this week when word spread among the complex's 2,100 employees to remove or delay setting up their angels after the traditional tree-topper in the hospital's main lobby was replaced by a faceless, gold figurine.

The move came after several African-American employees had questioned management's continued use of a white angel, said equal employment opportunity manager Joan Harris on Wednesday.

"If they had come before the tree went up with the angel on it, then maybe something could have been done," Dorn said. But removing it elicited upset among many staffers, volunteers and veterans.

The decision further aggravated some who were upset about a remodeling project that would have displaced vending machines and provided a prayer room for the hospital's dozen Muslim employees. Plans for the first-floor prayer room now have been canceled, Christman said. A prayer room exists on the third floor but is in the patient care area.

Now the group will share space inside an inter-denominational worship room that can be partitioned off from others if desired, Christman said.

Next year, said Dorn, he and Weaver agreed that a committee examining workplace diversity will be responsible for making a recommendation on what kind of tree-toppers the hospital will use.

However, "we've still got to meet with a lot of people who weren't present at that morning meeting." said hospital spokesman Larry Christman. "I doubt any decision will be made until well after this Christmas."

Until then, "a lot of (people) are saying thank you. We got the angel back," Dorn said.

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