DIY Star Award Recipients August 2010

DIY Star Award

Star  Bronx County Surrogate's Court Staff

Star  Michael P. Hausler, Chief Clerk

Star  Joan Reid, Data Entry Clerk


DIY Stars!

Congratulations Bronx Surrogate's Court!!  

The Bronx County Surrogate’s Court Staff, Chief Clerk Michael P. Hausler and Data Entry Clerk Joan Reid received DIY Star Awards for their hard work and effort in successfully implementing and promoting the Small Estate Petition DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Form program in the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court.

On August 4, 2010, an award ceremony was held at the Bronx County Surrogate’s Court. NYS Courts Access to Justice Program Director Judge Fern A. Fisher, Bronx Surrogate Lee L. Holzman, and Chief Counsel to the NYS Courts Access to Justice Program Rochelle Klempner, all joined in the presentation with high praise for the Surrogate’s Court staff’s exceptional customer service. A lovely spread, which included delicious home-baked goods, was graciously provided by Chief Clerk Hausler’s wife, Mary.

UCMS records indicate that throughout the 1st quarter of 2010, the Bronx Surrogate’s Court Cashier’s Department recorded 53 DIY Form Small Estate Affidavits in UCMS (26% of the total unrepresented filings) and returned 50 User Surveys. In the 2nd quarter of 2010, the Bronx Surrogate’s Court Cashier’s Department recorded 45 DIY Form Small Estate Affidavits in UCMS (22% of the total unrepresented filings) and returned 44 User Surveys.

The User Surveys indicate that the majority of these DIY Form programs were either completed by the litigant in the Surrogate’s Court with the assistance of staff or outside the courthouse due to a court employee referral. The comments clearly evidence the great care and assistance that the Administration Department staff, under the direction of Principal Court Clerk Ling Li and the Record Room staff have been providing, particularly Ms. Joan Reid. Ms. Reid was singled out repeatedly by litigants for her assistance and understanding. A sampling of User Survey comments can be read below. "It is clear from the public comments that Ms. Reid is not only beautiful on the outside but that she has inner beauty that results in her caring for the individuals who need to use our court during a difficult time," said Justice Fisher. "The Bronx Surrogate’s Court Staff and Joan Reid are DIY Stars!"

Ling Li and Joan Reid

Ling Li and DIY Star Joan Reid

Michael P. Hausler is also a DIY Star. Under his direction, Surrogate’s Court staff were trained by the NYS Courts Access to Justice Program on the use and benefits of the DIY Form program, DIY computers for unrepresented litigants were set up in the courthouse, and protocols were established for assisting unrepresented litigants. His efforts to implement courthouse use of the programs are clearly visible by the impressive UCMS usage statistics. As Judge Fern A. Fisher expressed, "Michael Hausler’s efforts to make the DIY Small Affidavit Program a priority in the Bronx Surrogate’s Court have assisted and will continue to assist numerous litigants. His understanding of the benefits of technology is a major asset to the Court, the public and our mission to provide equal access to justice."

Michael Hausler and Judge Fisher

Michael Hausler with his DIY Star Award and Judge Fern A. Fisher

 
 

View the photo gallery of the awards presentation.

 
 

Read a sampling of what litigants had to say about their DIY experience in the Bronx County Surrogate's Court

"Ms. Reid was very helpful and made my stay enjoyable." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 30, 2010

"Mr. Hausler, the chief clerk, was the person who helped us with this program, and my family is very grateful for his help." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 24, 2010

"We were helped by Ms. Joan Reid and she was extremely helpful, very polite, and accommodating. She sets a great example in the work place." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 24, 2010

"Service was great and I was helped by a very courteous and helpful employee, Ms. Joan Reid." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 22, 2010

"I couldn't believe how helpful and kind Ms. Reid was." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 18, 2010

"Joan Reid. Very helpful!" - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 16, 2010

"Everything went very well with the help provided by your employees." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, June 7, 2010

"Just to say thank you to Joan Reid, who made a difficult task easier." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 28, 2010

"I received excellent assistance from Ms. Joan Reid." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 24, 2010

"Great service!" - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 24, 2010

"Joan was fantastic and made me feel comfortable. I was nervous. She is an asset to the court system." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 24, 2010

"Very helpful individual (Joan Reid)." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 19, 2010

"Joan Reid is a wonderful and very helpful employee. Courteous and respectful. You need to recognize her excellent customer service skills." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 4, 2010

"Joan Reid was helpful and sweet." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, May 4, 2010

"Great service." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 30, 2010

"Without Ms. Joan Reid's friendly and patient concern, this would be a problem for me under my circumstances." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 27, 2010

"Your employee was extremely helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 23, 2010

"I was very glad to have the help of Ms. Joan Reid. She was extremely helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 22, 2010

"Court staff was extremely helpful and courteous." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 16, 2010

"Joan Reid extremely helpful, plus a great personality." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 16, 2010

"Appreciate the help." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 16, 2010

"The helpful attitude of the employees and their help was invaluable, especially for a senior citizen." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 12, 2010

"Joan Reid and Ling Li were extremely nice and helpful. They got me through a very difficult process." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, April 1, 2010

"Everyone, especially Joan, was very resourceful and accommodating." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 31, 2010

"Thank you for the help and keep doing what your doing. May the Lord bless you always." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 25, 2010

"Employee was very helpful and a pleasure to work with." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 23, 2010

"Ms. Reid was most helpful to me both on the telephone prior to my visit as well as on the visit. This is extremely difficult for me emotionally and she was quite helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 21, 2010

"Ms. Reid of the Surrogate's Court was extremely helpful in walking us through the process. Well done!" - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 21, 2010

"Found court assistance very helpful. Ms. Joan Reid handled the matter with excellent care - I thank her very much." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 18, 2010

"The clerk that helped me was very helpful and pleasant." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 16, 2010

"Ms. Reid was very helpful and understanding." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 15, 2010

"The staff was very helpful and courteous." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 12, 2010

"The process was stress free and very user friendly. Ms. Reid was extremely helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 9, 2010

"I called ahead of filling out forms. I spoke to a Ms. J. Reid who was extremely helpful in relaying to me what I needed to bring in. She also assisted me when I had a question about the computer. Thanks." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, March 9, 2010

"Very helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, February 22, 2010

"The clerk was very nice and helpful." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, February 18, 2010

"Personal thanks to Ms. Joan Reid - professional, kind, patient and fast!" - Small Estate Affidavit Program, February 5, 2010

"A nice employee by the name of Ms. Joan guided me through out the whole process patiently. She's great - I hope every one else is like her too." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, January 29, 2010

"Very helpful Mr. Epps." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, January 29, 2010

"Ling Li and Robert Epps were very courteous and professional in assisting me with where to locate court DIY small estate program. The whole process of filing for this form was quite simple. Thank you." - Small Estate Affidavit Program, January 28, 2010