Blair Kuhn (Blair was quite surprised!!) Photos by Connie Campbell
2022 BURGESS VOLUNTEERISM AWARDED TO BLAIR KUHN
Anne Canney:Congratulations Blair from myself and the boys. You have always been generous with your time. Coaching boys’ hockey in Riverview and Fredericton a very long time ago. Moving on to coach soccer and baseball as the boys began playing. Thankfully, Ed Parker and Steven Ross were offering Tae Kwon Do classes. I'm not sure you could have done that and worked too!After retiring you started volunteering as treasurer for the TCA. Spending many hours writing funding requests or project proposals for operating money for the TCA and upgrades to both the building and outside areas. The day-to day financial stuff also keeps you busy; making deposits, writing cheques, paying bills, and trying to guess passwords for e transfers! Now it has not all been work, over the years, you have met many wonderful people who we now call friends. You volunteer because you enjoy it! But it is always nice to be recognized for your efforts. This award is definitely a beautiful reminder of how your efforts are appreciated! Congratulations!
Barb Flinn:Blair is our “Money Man” who keeps everything running smoothly at the TCA. He loves Numbers, Spreadsheets, and Budgets. He is excellent at explaining all these figures to everyone at meetings. Blair has been seen at Market striking up conversations with visiting Politicians and has had many phone conversations with them as well. Whether you are asking for a contribution or just letting them know where their money has been spent, we sure do appreciate all that you have done since becoming the treasurer. Blair is always open to everyone’s options at meetings. I appreciate your seriousness, your humour and dedication, especially when you attend meetings from your office in Florida. Many thanks for taking time in your Retirement to serve as Treasurer of the TCA. Congratulations Blair on receiving this much deserved Burgess Volunteerism Award.
Susan Young with Maggie Young: I was so happy when Jean told me that Blair was receiving the TCA Burgess Volunteerism Award! Terry and I have known Blair, and his lovely wife, Anne, for decades and respect his dedication to family, work, and community. When the previous treasurer, Sandra English, indicated she was retiring from the post, we didn’t know where we would find another person to assume the responsibilities that Sandra so elegantly performed. I have not had much interaction with Blair in his role of TCA treasurer but have been assured he is doing a grand job. In her role as a Canada Summer Jobs employee, my daughter Maggie says “Blair was friendly and reliable and took time to explain the spreadsheet of TCA finances in a relaxed manner that was painless and uncomplicated.Math has never been my strong suit, so it was really helpful having someone who is so knowledgeable in the subject explain the tasks at hand in a way that made more sense than when I actually took an accounting class! His patience with the summer students has always been very appreciated”
Casey Anderson:Over the course of the summer and my time spent working at the Taymouth Community Center I was met with many new faces, one of them being Blair and who better to work with than him! Blair was always there whenever we had any questions or had any problems, he was always open minded as I was a new student and made me feel very welcomed. Always giving a lending hand when we needed it, Blair made this summer very smooth and easy, and I’m very grateful for that!
Claire Mackinnon: As a summer student at the community center, Blair was a "safe place". If there was something we were unsure of or a lawnmower or whipper snipper that I was having trouble starting, I always knew that I could contact him and he would come to the rescue to help me, without placing judgment on my abilities. He is very kind, patient, and understanding and a true gentleman. He is calm, even when Casey and I locked the keys in the shed. He didn't panic (even though we did). He always knew what to do. I truly enjoyed having him as one of my supervisors.
Steven Ross: Congratulations to Blair on being the recipient of this year's Volunteerism Award. He has put a lot of hours and hard work into the community centre. Blair has been a big help to the summer students over the years, as I know from the summer his son Cam and I worked for the TCA. I have known Blair and his family for many years as Dad did their snow plowing and Chris and Cameron were in Tae Kwon Do, when I was one of the senior students and helped teach them. Blair has encouraged me in my participation in the TCA and he played a big part in getting me on to the board and moving me up to the Executive.
Mark and Roxanne Young:This is our nomination for Taymouth Community Center’s volunteer of the year- Blair Kuhn Blair has been an ever-present volunteer, working for all aspects for the Taymouth Community, from the TCA treasurer and an active Board Member, to the many little service items that need repaired and taken care of at the center. Blair was a central point person on the final details of the acquisition and installment of the Taymouth TIGERS Ball Field lights. Blair has a tremendous working relationship with the government funding agencies which made a smooth process acquiring the capital to purchase the Ball Field lights. Blair is always open to new ideas that will improve our TCA facilities, and always ready to support them, often times working for the TCA while on vacation. A dedicated TCA member as well as a Gem to the Taymouth Community. Thank you, Blair, for all your hard work for the TCA. On behalf of the Tigers Ball Field, we can't say thank you enough for your hard work on our behalf!!!
Ene Vahi: Blair is one of those behind-the-scenes, dependable persons who make community groups successful. He is always pleasant when we meet him, at the market, at TCA events, and even when I ask him for money :)
Connie Campbell: Besides being a fantastic Treasurer, Board Member and TCA supporter, Blair is the master of acquiring/applying for grants for the TCC. They have provided partial to 100% of the funds for everything from new lights in the auditorium to a new roof on our building extension. By the way, the new lights in the auditorium are awesome!!As I mentioned, Blair and Anne are great supporters of TCA events and I don't think they've missed too many Purple Piano Cafes! Also, they've been seen at any show we've had in the past.Blair has a great sense of humour and is very friendly and extremely helpful! I remember him sweeping crushed rock from the market area so no one would turn an ankle! He is invested in his community and the TCA, and is determined to make it all that it can be!!
Sandra English: When Blair and Anne first got involved with the TCA I was so glad to see “next generation folks” coming on board our organization. I was “over-the-moon” happy when Blair agreed to join the board and take on the treasurer’s position. Hehas managed to bring us up to date with financial technology, and with his business experience and people skills, has been a vital part of our accessing government programs for financial support on projects. His reports are clear and concise, no need to wonder how we’re doing. We must certainly appreciate a volunteer who agrees to join a meeting via phone from Florida while enjoying his vacation. We enjoy his good nature and sense of humour. Congratulations Blair on this well-deserved award!
Cindy Somerville: We are very fortunate to have Blair on the TCA Board. His expertise in business and finance are a great asset in his position of treasurer. The best advice I have received from Blair was “It’s easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.”
Amey Hickey: I can’t say enough positive things about Blair. He is a great guy to work with. He is responsive to any requests or communications and always very prompt with reimbursement of expenses (even when he is in another country). He has significantly lightened my workload with sTAYfit financials by handling all e-transfer payments of membership fees as well as looking after reimbursement of fob deposit thru e-transfers. Above all, Blair is always professional. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award than Blair.
Craig Hickey: Blair Kuhn is a well deserving recipient for this year’s Burgess Volunteer award. When Blair agreed to be a member of the Board and take the position of Treasurer, the benefits he brought to the TCA were immediate. Having retired from a professional career, he does bring a level of professionalism to oversee the business affairs of the TCA. Blair has been very successful in working with various government funding partners to make sure that many of the projects and enhancements at the TCC has benefited from the additional financial support. He has built a stable planning and financial framework that has positioned the TCA in a solid position for years to come. Although, his choice of hockey team to support leaves some unanswered questions, like will this be the year for the Leafs? There is no question on the benefits of the hard work that Blair does for the TCA. I have enjoyed working with you on the board and congratulations on being this year’s recipient of the Volunteerism award.
Jean Burgess: I have especially enjoyed working with Blair as a fellow member of the TCA summer youth employee’s supervision team, along with Mark Young and Gisele Gaudet. There is lovely ease in working with Blair, as many of us have experienced, due to his pleasant manner, sense of humour and openness to ideas and dialogue, combined with his effectiveness and his sophisticated set of skills. Blair has a warmth and a positive approach to people’s gifts and visions which animates his interactions with our youth employees and with TCA volunteers who are pitching big number projects such as diversifying our heating technology.
Blair develops and submits our operational budget every year for provincial funding and in doing so has been an excellent ambassador for Taymouth, with the province, and with neighboring community organizations. He has created effective narrative and financial records of the successes of the TCA and its volunteers. For instance, I remember when he filled out the extensive application which successfully nominated Mark Young for the 2017 Federal Sesquicentennial pin for volunteer community leadership work with youth. Blair has been willing to invest precious summer hours in maintaining a payroll for our summer employees, and the associated submissions to CRA.
He has strongly supported the TCA commitment to local children and youth and I have enjoyed exchanging observations with him about how our employment and camp programs have provided opportunities for summer socializing and entry level work for youth, and have helped enhance a sense of community in them. Blair has supervised our employees doing maintenance jobs such as painting upgrades and has made sure that the building siding gets a yearly cleansing facelift.
Finally, Marie helped develop a list of upgrades and enhancements to the community centre and green space that Blair has been a part of, during his years as Board Treasurer, along with Craig Hickey, Mike Chamberlain and Mark Young; I know these likely are not all of themlaying down new flooring upstairs, and downstairs in the extension and hallwaysinstalling a new boiler and upgrading the heating system as well as moving the electrical transformer to the furnace anteroom; then installing heat pumps Installing a new water tank, water filtration system and plumbing upgradeInstalling a new roof on the extension and new front entrance canopiesUpgrading the kitchen with a commercial dishwasher, new fridge, hand washing station and new sink and drain.Adding outside security lighting and now security camerasAdding Bookroom shelves and painting of those wallsPurchasing a ride on lawn mowerInstalling new lighting in the auditorium and of course completion of the long dreamed of ball field lighting project. We also remember that Blair played a role in clarifying and finalizing the current TCA property deed so that our legal title is in order.
Marie Morehouse: When Jean asked me to make some comments to honor Blair for this volunteerism award, it was an easy “yes”. I have known Blair for more than 37 years, and I have a lot of material. I have seen Blair in many roles over the years – boyfriend and then husband to my sister, dad to Chris and Cam, son of Fonnie and Ebby, businessman and business owner, ball player, hockey player, curler, handyman, card player, canoer, main BBQ master at family gatherings, golfer, retiree, board member, traveler, volunteer and friend.Blair has developed many talents and qualities over the years.A) He’s a people person. Blair is positive, upbeat, easy going and he likes to have a good time. I won’t say any more about that, Blair.B) He communicates well. Blair relates well to people and you always know where you stand with him. He challenges you and makes you think.C) He is a hard worker and gets things done. Whenever there is a problem at the TCA,people call Blair. He’s been involved in panicked phone calls as well as planned projects from plumbing, electrical, heat pumps and ball fields to hosting politicians and writing financial reports. He always drops what he is doing and helps out.D) Blair is well connected and respected. He has a network of people that he calls on for the TCA: politicians, businesses, bankers, former employees, colleagues, and friends. He spends a lot of time and energy doing things that we do not always see - making phone calls, doing research, meeting people, getting quotes, and filling out endless forms for grant applications, banking and projects.E) Blair is honest, transparent and moral. He always makes sure that everything he does is documented and done correctly. He does make mistakes sometimes, but he always takes ownership of them – pointing them out and fixing them.F) He is very organized when it comes to TCA activities. He approaches finances in alogical and systematic order. In his personal life, not so much. Blair is always losing hiskeys, glasses, wallet, and phone. So instead of flowers to mark this occasion, we arepresenting Blair with a fanny pack, so he can manage his belongings and be even moreorganized than he already is. He loses golf balls too, so we thought he could use those as well. Blair, we are grateful to you for your commitment to Taymouth and the TCA. You have easily earned and deserve our love and respect. Your volunteerism is recognized, appreciated, valued and cherished. You have raised the level of service that the TCA is able to provide to our community. We thank you and look forward to continuing to work with you in the years to come.