The VAY selection committee, led by Marilyn Hahn, had the difficult decision of selecting one of TWELVE outstanding nominees (a record number!) for this year's award.  Tracee was chosen for her hard work, creativity, passion and adaptability—especially in a year wrought with great uncertainty and change.  Tracee has shown tremendous ingenuity in creating new training materials and effectively communicating with volunteers while learning new software quickly to do so; taking on double roles at two different sites when the organization had to make temporary cutbacks; and continually utilizing and empowering HF&G’s volunteers in innovative ways.

You can see Tracee's creativity in action HERE with this COVID safety video she wrote, directed, AND produced!

Tracee has been a part of Holden’s team since 2017.  According to her nominator Sarah Hartley, Tracee brings a “fresh perspective and a strong commitment to be professional in all her interactions.  Judy Tobin, Director of Human Resources, adds “never have I seen such enthusiastic dedication, creativity, diligence and passion wrapped up in one person.”
 
The Volunteer Administrator of the Year Award is given to a local volunteer manager who models the way, inspires a shared vision, challenges the process, enables others, encourages the heart, and adapts through adversity.  Tracee accepted the award virtually at FVA's Annual Conference with a very heartfelt thank you.  She admitted, "for the first time in my life I'm speechless!"  She thanked her husband and family as well as her fellow nominees and expressed how humbled she felt to stand in the company of the talented, creative, remarkable professionals who have gone before her in receiving this award.  She also thanked the past volunteer managers at Holden Forests & Gardens--Stefanie Galbreath, Jeannette Moore, Robin Ott, and Sarah Hartley--for building a great foundation, as well as the many volunteers who are "part and parcel of everything we do" and demonstrate "commitment of talent, creativity, dedication, compassion and time, especially at a time when we're reminded daily of how precious that commodity is."

Volunteer Administrators are masters at recognizing others for their volunteer work efforts. This award recognizes and honors a volunteer administrator who has demonstrated outstanding innovation, dedication and perseverance in the profession of volunteer administration. The nomination process focuses on describing how your outstanding volunteer administrator “models the way, inspires a shared vision, challenges the process, enables others, and encourages the heart and NEW this year - Adapts through Adversity - successfully adjusts and continues to thrive in a year filled with changes due to COVID-19

In addition to the award, the recipient will receive a one-year individual membership to FVA and - ALSO NEW THIS YEAR - a $1,000 award for the organization’s volunteer program. Previous winners have represented both large and small agencies in Northeast Ohio.

The recipient of this award will be chosen by a selection committee comprised of previous winners and other experienced leaders in the Northeast Ohio nonprofit community.

Questions? Contact Marilyn Hahn, VAY Award Chair, at [email protected] or 216.291.3903.

Support for this award is provided by http://www.psawards.com