(Editor's note: Per directions of GCIU Pres. and Graphic Communicator editor-in-chief George Tedeschi, this is the third in a series to introduce members to their International headquarters staff.)

Photo by Dennis B. Doris Jr.

Ernestine "Tina" McPherson

Receptionist Ernestine "Tina" McPherson takes her responsibilities very seriously when dealing with both GCIU members or outsiders. And her friendly "Good morning (or afternoon). GCIU. How can I help you?" greets the scores of callers to GCIU International headquarters every day.

"I am the first contact these people have with the GCIU when they phone in or come in to visit officers and I feel I have to try to help them in every way I can,"the six-year employee said. "In many ways, I represent the GCIU to those who call."

Tina unabashedly said she "loves the job" of receptionist and switchboard person situated at the ninth floor entrance to the offices of the GCIU president and vice presidents. "I enjoy the interaction with people who call or visit and I try to stay abreast of everything that is going on so I can help them or direct them the best I can," she says. She noted that the overwhelming majority of telephone calls are from friendly courteous people trying to get an answer to a question.

But over her six years manning the switchboard at International headquarters, she has handled many calls from irate callers who try to blame the person on the other end of the line for their problems. Tina tries to defuse the anger by listening to the caller's complaint before transferring it to the appropriate staffer.

"I am a good listener, and I can detect when a person is angry. So, I take the time to listen so that I know exactly who can help them with the problem. After all, I'm here to serve the membership, and I can't do that if I let a caller's anger or rudeness distract me from helping them," she said.

She came to the GCIU after working for the American Association of Retired Persons. She left that job because of a difficult pregnancy. After she gave birth to her pride and joy, her daughter Imani, now 11, she was a stay-at-home parent for four years before signing on with the GCIU.

Tina remembers her first days working for the union and the comraderie that explains why she intends to stay: "When I came here, there was such a feeling of 'family' that I wanted to be a part of it. Ever since I came here, I have had good feelings about all the people here at headquarters. Everyone here is always pleasant and always willing to help one another."

In addition to her duties at the GCIU switchboard, where she screens calls and tries to answer any general questions or steers the caller to the GCIU staffer who can answer any specific question, Tina has responsibility for one of the two incoming fax machines and notifying fax recipients that a message has arrived for them.

She also has filing responsibilities for the officers on the ninth floor and other duties to keep her busy.

And in keeping with her appreciation of the rest of the GCIU staff as "family," whenever anyone needs help, she tries to do whatever she can to pitch in and get the job done, be it helping with special projects or helping other staffers when work gets stacked up.

"I feel that everybody in the office is a friend and like to help out my friends with whatever has to be done," she said.

She credits her pleasant, outgoing, and helpful demeanor to her upbringing. "My mother told me it was good to help others," she recalled. Her mother also emphasized that good manners were a necessary part of success in society and in the workplace.

"My mother always told us that good manners would get us far in life. She taught us that good manners and being nice to people don't cost anything and they make life so much better," Tina remembered.

She is Washington-born, a rarity in a city populated mostly by people from somewhere else who came to the center of government to work. She went through her elementary education and high school in the Washington, D.C., area.

Outside the job, Tina, a single parent, spends a lot of time with her daughter, Imani, and her family, including her mother, Lorraine, her twin brother Earl and two sisters, Michelle and Vickie.

"We have always been a close-knit family. My mother taught us to always be there for one another," she recalled.

Her interests include reading on many topics including her African American heritage self-help topics. She is also an outdooorswoman and athlete.

She loves to go fishing and hunting. And she plays basketball and even football. Tina and her daughter enjoy hunting and fishing together – they fish in the ocean near Newport News, Va., and hunt turkey and other small game outside Lynchburg, Va.

In addition, music is a big part of her life. "I love music – peaceful music – I am a spiritual person, and music makes you feel very spiritual," she said.

And for those who telephone the GCIU to request help or information, the friendly, musical voice that greets them and tries to assist them is evidence of Tina's caring for the members she enjoys helping.