Local McDonalds employees to serve at 2010 Olympics

By Lori McKay - The Weekly News
When Grace Rodgers' boss asked to speak to her in the boardroom last month, she thought she was going to be fired. Instead, the company asked her to represent them at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.
"I was shocked and overwhelmed," said the 47-year-old Windmill Road McDonald's employee from north-end Dartmouth. "The first thing I did was come down and tell everyone I wasn't fired.?Everyone was excited for me."
Rodgers was selected from 77,000 Canadian McDonald's employees to represent the restaurant at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
"I was so surprised when I found out - going to the Games is what most people dream of," said Rodgers, who has worked at McDonald's for about 15 years. "I take great pride in working at McDonald's and am honoured to represent my local restaurant and country as a member of the Olympic Champion Crew."
This will be Rodgers second time on an airplane. Seven years ago, McDonald's sent her to work at the Orange County Convention Centre in?Florida.
"It was the first time I'd ever been on a plane, seen palm trees or even a gecko," she said from the restaurant last week.
Rodgers, who is the breakfast supervisor, talks comfortably with her customers, and knows many of them on a first-name basis.
"We have a great clientele. It's just like one big family here with all the regulars."
In fact, she said many of her customers followed her when she moved from the Nantucket location a few years ago, with breakfast sales increasing 21 per cent at the Windmill Road restaurant since her arrival.
Rodgers will be working at any one of the three on-site McDonald's restaurants in the athletes villages (in Vancouver and Whistler) and the main media centre.
Members of the Olympic Champion Crew receive a round-trip flight to Vancouver and on-site accommodation. They will also be attending select Olympic events and will participate in recreational, sightseeing and cultural activities.
"We work five days a week, six hours a day and get paid for eight. The rest of the time is mine to do as I choose," said Rodgers.
When asked if there was anything special she wanted to do while there, she said her son recommended she check out Chef Gordon Ramsay's restaurant. She's also looking forward to experiencing the west coast and meeting other McDonald's staff from across Canada.
At home, Rodgers enjoys watching a variety of sports, but knows nothing can compare to experiencing the Games live.
There are four other local McDonald's Olympic Champion Crew members heading to the 2010 Vancouver Games: James Bailey from the Kempt Road McDonald's restaurant; Bryan MacLennan from the Quinpool Road restaurant; Melissa Perrin from the Lacewood Drive restaurant; and Krista Rhynold from the Elmsdale restaurant.
Rodgers said she hasn't met any of the other local employees going, but hopes to get together with them before the trip.
lmckay@hfxnews.ca