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| Dr. Averbuch (seated in center) with his family of former staff members: Deborah and Gwen (front row), Julia, Kellie, Amanda and Robin (back row) plus another friend, Bruce. |
You probably have some sort of annual reward or incentive at
your workplace.
A nice Christmas bonus. Paid time off for your birthday.
Maybe a free turkey at Thanksgiving.
How’d you like a getaway weekend at French Lick Resort? If
you’re part of Dr. Larry Averbuch’s dental staff, it’s a yearly perk of the
job.
“How many employers do you know that do things like this?”
says Deborah, who’s among this small group of coworkers from Tennessee who’ve
made French Lick an annual summer vacation for the last 6-7 years. And no
sooner does one trip end that everyone around the office starts talking about
and hyping up the next one.
“Probably six months in advance,” they agree with a laugh.
We always say that #TraditionsLiveHere at French Lick
Resort, and Larry first got this ball rolling with his own family. About 45
years ago, he brought his own children to French Lick every year during the
Christmas season. More recently, that became French Lick trips with the kids
and grandkids to see the holiday decorations and ride the Polar Express.
Larry’s wife passed away five years ago, but he’s got a
second family that he holds dear. So much so, that they’ve continued their
tradition of a French Lick summer trip even though Larry retired from his dental
practice a few years ago.
“That’s kind of what this trip is – it’s not really an
office trip, it’s like a family trip, because you all work together and we get
close and you become a family,” says Amanda, one of a couple ladies who’ve been
working in the dental office since they were teenagers. “He never was a boss –
he’s more like a grandfather figure or a father figure.”
“How ‘bout great-grandfather,” Larry suggests with a laugh.
Years ago when Larry first floated the idea, the first reaction
for these out-of-staters was wondering what could possibly be in French Lick, Indiana.
(The reactions: “I’ve never heard of that. … What is that?”) Given Larry’s
love of gaming, they joked their first conclusion was that French Lick must
have a casino.
They’ve experienced that, and then some, in all their visits
since. Riding the 6-person surrey carts. Go-karting. Bowling. And maybe outside
of the spa day that’s usually a girls-only activity, pretty much everything is
a group activity.
“We always stay together. No man left behind,” they say. “We
do everything together.”
Sometimes, the days don’t get any more complicated than
lounging next to the pool with a cold cocktail in hand. Ahhhh, yes. Part of the
beauty of French Lick. Life seems to slow down here, allowing you to unwind at whatever
pace you’d like.
“French Lick,” Larry says, “is a well-kept secret.”
Especially down in Tennessee, where they’re already looking
forward to more French Lick R&R in 2022.