Craig HickeyTaymouth Community Association
Burgess Volunteerism Award recipient May 6, 2017 We are happy to present this year’s volunteerism award to our TCA president Craig Hickey. Craig and his wife Amey share a remarkable interest and commitment to community involvement, and to a philosophy of “giving back”, through the sharing of their skills and gifts. In fact Amey won this award last year. Craig's sense of community and volunteer efforts go away back. As Anne Canney recalls, in 2001, Craig volunteered for the Nashwaak Valley School playground committee. Over the next two years Craig assisted during many fund raisers and meetings to help bring a new playground to the newly renovated school. Craig designed the playground layout , wrote specifications for the equipment, led the committee through the tendering process and selection process, communicated with the playground equipment vendors and installers, and helped out during the installation process. All children in the valley have benefitted from Craig's dedication to the new playground. Craig turned his volunteer efforts to the TCA in 2011. Sandra recalls, “My first memory of Craig's involvement with the TCA was the day he came up to a group preparing for a Building Committee meeting and said "How does a person get involved in this committee?" Something that hardly ever happens. The response was "pull up a chair!" Since that time Craig has given of his time and resources, much to the benefit of the TCA. Craig has parlayed his professional skills and knowledge to managing maintenance, repair and renovation work at the TCC. In January of 2015 Craig assumed his role as TCA Board president. Here are appreciative comments from some fellow volunteers who have put words to what many involved in the TCA have experienced. They describe Craig’s professional and organizational skills and also the artistic creations he has shared with us. Rhona Craig is a mild mannered, soft spoken man who knows a “lot of stuff about a lot of stuff” – he speaks mostly from experience. He is able to explain solutions to problems in a clear concise way. Craig accepted the position as head of the TCA board a few years ago and has worked diligently along with others to improve the cosmetic appearance of our TCA building – such as – new flooring in the auditorium, new comfortable chairs to sit on, new railings on the outdoor steps for safety etc. For relaxation, he is a carver of very unique items such as birds, Christmas tree ornaments etc. He displays his items at our Christmas markets each fall. We appreciate all he has done for our association – Thanks very much, Craig. Sandra adds One thing I truly admire about Craig is his talent as an accomplished wood carver. You will see him at our Christmas markets with items from nature and ornaments. Our family Christmas tree holds a collection of his ornaments and the number grows each year. Ene Although we know Craig is always busy in his job, he has made time for some big TCA improvement projects like the new floor and chairs. We are lucky to have his work connections and experience used to our benefit. The chairs are of course more comfortable but also, with their dollies, much easier to move. stack and store. The appearance of the floor adds significantly to the tidiness of the auditorium. I have always appreciated Craig’s sense of humour coming though in meetings and at the same time his speaking very logically; everybody listens because he knows what he was talking about. Mark - When Craig sees something needs doing, he is ready to act right away and is open to new improvements, new idea; he has been, supportive of the ball field and its upgrades David -: Craig, I’m glad your name came up for the volunteer award. I think it’s well deserved, for all the hours you and Amey give to the exercise room, which has been a great reward for the community center. For all your help, contacts, expertise in building maintenance, plumbing, electrical, floors, concrete steps, chairs, on & on. In your case, president for life sounds good. Amey and Vince - Craig arranged for the installation of the external sTayfit front door and proximity card security system, which can regulate members’ access to the gym. This system is a major improvement as it allows access to the gym from early morning til late evening. It encourages timely fee payments as the the fobs can be turned on and off, according to whether membership fee payments are up to date. Craig built a locked box and installed it in the gym, to allow for convenient payment of fees. Craig arranged for the purchase and installation of the roller blinds in the gym, to reduce heat build-up in the summer. Craig has been a main go to person for building crises. He arranged for Clowaters to thaw out the heavily frozen roof drain pipe and to install a heat tape to prevent future ceiling leak issues. Jean I appreciate Craig’s generosity and flexibility in contributing professional skills to a volunteer organization. As one person said, we are used to running households and he is used to managing commercial buildings. Craig was instrumental in the converting of the old teacher’s bathroom into an office space, upgrading our heating system with the installation of a new boiler, the installation of an accessible entranceway pad outside our side entrance, laying a crushed rock surface on our parking lot and driveway to the side door, installing a new window in the women’s bathroom, purchase of mats for the upstairs and downstairs hallways, installation of new flooring in the upstairs hallway and bathrooms, mounting of the Olympic Torch Case and advising regarding proper placement of the AED I appreciate Craig’s knowledge of organizational structures and processes. For instance Craig suggested separating the old Building committee into the new Building Committee and the Activities Committee, to allow volunteers to focus on their specific areas of interest and skill. Craig was supportive of the TCA Survey and encouraged our commitment to implementing items from the survey feedback, such as reviving the newsletter. Connie: My first knowledge of Craig was when he and wife Amey started attending the Taymouth Market. They always came to our table and picked out a treat or two. Craig was always friendly and he seemed to me to be a quiet, gentle person. Once I got to know him I realized these qualities were true but there was more to learn about Craig Hickey. He is honest and direct and very forthcoming with his thoughts and honest opinion on how things should and could work. We all have learned a great deal from Craig about building issues from doors, floors, windows to plumbing. Through his contacts he has been successful in obtaining decent prices on things relating to the TCC. Because Craig is who he is, some of these contacts have actually donated their time in helping us out. He has been a true leader in his TCA President’s role and I for one want to share my appreciation for his volunteer work with the TCA. Since this was his last year as president, we are very lucky that he has agreed to remain a TCA Board member. Barb Craig is a man who knows everything there is to know about buildings – from the floor to the roof and everything in between. When there was a project to be done, Craig would know all the right contractors to get the job done. Craig Amey and Darcy have been faithful supporters of the TCA and Market since the beginning. Craig has recently shared his hidden talent of beautiful wood carving and we are all very happy to have him join the market vendors at Christmas time. As you step down as President I hope you know that your friendly personality, your knowledge and sense of humour will be missed by all. We are all very proud of all you have accomplished while you were President. Blair Craig is an excellent leader and as our President has brought a calming influence, and a practical and common sense approach. I personally appreciated the way I was welcomed into the group and Craig’s leadership style. Congratulations Craig on a well-deserved award, for your volunteer contributions to the TCA and our local community. |