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This is a portion of the speech Community Action Committee chair Hollis Judkins read at Monday's City Council meeting

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - AWARDS PRESENTATION

APRIL 20, 2009

The Montclair Community Action Committee wants our volunteers to know how proud we are of the services they perform, and that we are very grateful for this opportunity to express our sincerest thanks to them.

This year, seven individuals were nominated by various Montclair organizations for the City of Montclair's 2009 Volunteer of the Year award. The Montclair Community Action Committee was excited to receive such wonderful letters from the nominating organizations that told about the selfless acts of these seven giving individuals. 

The Committee forwarded the nomination packages to a panel of five judges. To insure anonymity and impartiality, each nominee's name was removed from the nomination form. The panel reviewed the letters of nomination and based their scores on volunteer initiative, quality of service, selflessness, commitment, and community need.

The first volunteer was nominated by the Montclair Medical Clinic. The Montclair Medical Clinic is staffed by volunteer physicians, medical students and receptionists and provides low cost medical services to those that without any kind of medical insurance. 

This individual first began volunteering at the Montclair Medical Clinic in 1993 as a first year medical student. He is now a licensed osteopathic physician with a well known practice in Chino, and yet still serves the Montclair community by volunteering his specialized services one night a month at the clinic. 

These services would otherwise cost $200 per office visit. He also annually provides his services at the Montclair Community Health Fair, providing free muscular skeletal exams. One judged commented, "Professional services like this are sorely needed for the less fortunate, and this individual gives them what they couldn't otherwise afford."

The second volunteer was nominated by Soroptimist International of Montclair/Inland Valley. Soroptimist International is an organization of women that work to improve the lives of women and girls in the local communities and globally. 

This active individual has been involved with numerous club activities that benefit the Montclair community. She is a board member of the Reeder Ranch Foundation, and has organized a fundraiser, served as a strategic planner and worked to bring a panel of scholars to the foundation to promote the history of the Reeder Ranch. 

This individual is also a board member of the Inland Empire United Way, which supports programs such as Kids Pack, that brings weekend food to 300 Montclair school children. In addition, this volunteer supports club projects that benefit Montclair Meals on Wheels and the Prism Awards program, which honors women in our community. One judged noticed that "this person's dedication is commendable."

The third volunteer was nominated by the Montclair Human Services Division Youth Basketball program staff. Every year the Youth Basketball program relies on volunteer coaches for each team, and twenty years ago was no different.

A father came in to register his son for the program and volunteered to coach his son's team. Since then this individual has continued to coach one if not two teams a season, regardless if his child is on his team or even participating in the program. 

This individual now coaches his granddaughter's team and has also mentored the son he first registered in the program into a coach who has also volunteered for our program.

Numerous times his teams have advanced to regional tournaments, but even if they don't this coach gives the same account of positive energy and attitude to every team. He takes a special interest in every child, and focuses on teaching the fundamentals rather than winning games. Other coaches in the league look to him for guidance and advice and refer to him as the "master coach."

One judge noted that this individual has "helped and mentored so many children, and encouraged participation in the sports world." Another judge noted that she was impressed with his twenty year dedication.

The fourth volunteer was nominated by the Montclair Meals on Wheels Program. The Meals on Wheels Program operates everyday to deliver hot lunches to Montclair residents who are home-bound, or are unable to cook or shop for themselves.

This volunteer gives her time and uses her own car to deliver more than 20 daily lunches to these residents. She does this on a weekly basis for at least one afternoon per week. Oftentimes, residents are visited only by her and she takes the time to listen to them and engage them in conversation with her caring ear. 

She also will do small favors for her participants, such as taking the newspaper in, going to the grocery store for them or helping them look up telephone numbers. A judge commented that this volunteer's "service to homebound residents is very commendable."

Each year the judging panel has the difficult task of selecting three finalists from the outstanding group of volunteers for the city of Montclair' Volunteer of the Year award. These three finalists were selected for special recognition by the CAC for their extraordinary dedication to not only giving others their time, but doing so with an effect that makes others want to become volunteers.

The second-runner up was nominated by the Montclair Senior Citizen Program. The Senior Citizens Program serves the needs of the Montclair community through their nutrition program each weekday and through various senior services that are offered.

In 2003 this individual approached the senior nutrition program staff and casually asked if they could use any assistance. Since then this active individual has been volunteering in the senior nutrition program one to three days a week. 

This positive, cheerful individual faithfully shows up to volunteer and is willing to do whatever is needed, whether it is getting more food, cleaning up spills, wrapping up door prizes, providing encouraging words to a participant or helping them to their seat. 

She also never leaves for the day without checking to see if there is anything else she needs to do in preparation for the next day. In addition, this individual also volunteers two times a month at the City's Fresh Produce Market. This active senior, who cannot be slowed down even by illness, is a shining example to us all. One judge noted that this volunteer's "willing, cheerful spirit is evident."

The first-runner up volunteer was nominated by the Montclair-Ontario Junior Women's Club. For more than forty years the Junior Women's Club has served the community by bridging the gap in the areas of health, public service, youth and education. This dedicated individual has been a club member for 12 years and has actively served in many roles. 

She has been club secretary, vice-president and is currently serving as the club's president. This dynamic volunteer has been involved in many club projects, including the annual Easter Egg Hunt, United Way Kid's Pack Program, Montclair Community Health Fair and the Darlene Edwards Memorial Scholarship for middle and high school students. 

She is also continually researching new projects for the club, and led club members in creating a quilt for the Painted Turtle Camp, which provides a traditional summer camp experience for seriously ill children, and in collecting and delivering soda can pop-tops to Ronald McDonald House. 

She was also instrumental in the club's scarf project, where club members made and sold fleece scarves and then donated the profits to the City of Montclair's Holiday Food Drive. One judge expressed her appreciation to this individual by saying, "thank you for your strong commitment to others and the community at large."

The winner of the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award was nominated by House of Ruth. For more than 20 years House of Ruth has worked to assist women and children victimized by domestic violence.

In 1995 this outstanding volunteer began volunteering at House of Ruth by attending their 40 hour state mandated training on domestic violence, and since then has completed more than 4,200 volunteer hours.

This amazing individual has volunteered in every area at House of Ruth, and has even taken it upon herself to look for additional areas where volunteers might be needed and then recruit volunteers to fill that need. 

Many clients who come to House of Ruth are in crisis situations, and this volunteer has the gift of providing outstanding service with attention and empathy while maintaining appropriate boundaries and working independently.

This faithful volunteer also serves as a mentor to less experienced volunteers, is a joy for staff to work with, and can be called on to help in crisis. In addition, this volunteer has mastered the art of selflessly volunteering while knowing when to say "no" to avoid burn-out, and manages to balance a well-rounded life full of family and friends.

The House of Ruth Montclair hotline and shelter would not be where it is today without the support of volunteers such as this prized jewel. One judge noted that "in these difficult economic times, her help is probably needed more than ever", while another judge commented that "this candidate shows amazing dedication."

The seven wonderful citizens recognized here tonight have bestowed great gifts upon the Montclair community with their selfless acts that reflect the true meaning of the volunteer spirit. 

On this night, let us remember the large number of citizens within our great City and beyond, who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many and serving as the key to making the world a better place. 

Let us ensure that these outstanding individuals are recognized and supported as they work toward creating more prosperous and peaceful communities throughout the world.

Back row: Volunteer of the Year nominees Keith Robinson, Dr. Brian Loveless, Leslie O'Hare Sorensen. Front row: Volunteer of the Year Leona Von Kalb, Volunteer of the Year First Runner-up Sharon Juhl, Volunteer of the Year Second Runner-up Christine Milton. Not pictured: Jeanette Barksdale