photo by Connie Campbell
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DAVID STEWARTBurgess Volunteerism Award
Presented to David Stewart on February 24, 2007 by the Taymouth Community Association We all agree that volunteerism is certainly alive and well in our community. This building, this land, this upgraded ballfield, all of it are possible only because people continue to give generously of their time to help make it happen. Because this volunteerism is so important to our organization and the community at large we decided last year to establish an annual award of recognition to be presented each year at the Annual General Meeting. By choosing a different member each year we begin the tradition of publicly thanking those who make this community a wonderful place to live. The recipient is given a beautiful piece of Wood Art created and generously donated by Gordon Dunphy to enjoy in their home until the next AGM, when it is passed to the next recipient. To establish a permanent record of the recipients, a plaque will hang in the center. Each year a new brass name plate will be added. Gordon has also donated for this plaque a section of a three hundred and fifty year old tree he discovered in what he refers to as "Maisie’s Country". We are honored to receive a piece of this tree as his gift. We again thank Gordon for these gifts and for his ongoing support. He is an artist with a generous heart. Now to our second recipient. When we went to the New Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary of the English Language under volunteer we found the following: 1. a person who undertakes some task or service of his own free will … 2. to offer oneself willingly…. Then we took a look in the Quotation section where we found this gem from Henry Ward Beecher. "In this world it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich." Today we thank a member whose contribution is exceptional. This year’s recipient, like all of the rest of us, attended early TCA organizing meetings, with interest, curiosity and healthy questions around the feasibility of operating the Taymouth School as a self-financing community centre. This person is deeply rooted in Taymouth, which showed in all the stories we were entertained with at those early meetings, particularly stories about growing up here – including some hair-raising adventures on Zionville Hill and under the old Train Bridge. Before long this person was contributing professional expertise and a bold vision of how we could upgrade our community centre, using an old fashioned work team approach. This person has taken us places we wouldn’t have dreamed possible even a year ago. And in the process he has created a working atmosphere of fellowship and good feeling that is the lifeblood of volunteerism. David Stewart, we would like you to receive the 2007 Volunteerism Award. A heartfelt thank you for your exceptional contribution to the Taymouth Community Association. |