I joined the GTHS as Volunteer Coordinator in February this year and in a short period of time, have seen how vital our volunteers are to the day-to-day running and overall success of our organization.
From my previous experience as a GTHS volunteer, I knew we had hard core, dedicated volunteers caring for our animals, but didn’t realize how many of our volunteers choose to contribute in several ways:
– Undertaking multiple positions at the shelter
– Helping at the shelter as well as at our Treasure Tails retail store, or in an administrative or a fundraising capacity, as well as out in the community – for trap, neuter, release programs and humane education programs
– With many also being donors and event supporters.
What’s interesting and humbling is that most of our volunteers brush off the importance of their contributions and don’t feel that recognition is deserved or necessary. The message throughout our Annual General Meeting for 2017 on Wednesday 30th May 2018 reinforced how much our volunteers are appreciated, valued and vital each and every day, and how they will continue to be the foundation of our work as we move forward as an organization.
On this special night, I was honored to recognize 9 such dedicated and committed individuals who have supported the GTHS for the past 10 years, from 2007 to 2017:
Jo-Anne Civiera
Carol Harrington
Sharon Johnston
Deb Keep
Judy Lake
Beverley Thomas
Marjorie Wilson
Nick Wilson
Carolyn Williamson
To commemorate this milestone, each of these wonderful volunteers received a 10 year pin and a ‘Wall of Excellence’ plaque (which can be seen here and is proudly on display at the shelter).
I also had the pleasure of announcing that we are introducing a new volunteer recognition milestone for volunteers who have accumulated 500 or more volunteer hours in a year, which is an incredible achievement and is indicative of the caliber of volunteers we are lucky to have at the GTHS. In 2017 we had 6 amazing volunteers who not only met, but far exceeded, 500 volunteer hours and I was thrilled to present each of them with a certificate to mark this milestone:
Karen Fawcett
Bonnie Grigg
Pam Odam
Rachel Oldfield
Judy Sterling
Chris Yorke
Adrienne Thorp, Volunteer Coordinator
#Love Lives Here