Actors have the Oscars, writers, scientists and philanthropists have the Nobel Prize and VoicePrint has the Volunteer-of-the-Year Awards.
"It's not a contest, but an opportunity for VoicePrint volunteers, staff and listeners to celebrate and recognize the good work of our entire corps of 800+ volunteer readers," says Arlene Patterson, Director, VoicePrint Operations.
"Each of our five regions selects a reader to represent their part of the country at our springtime Annual General Meeting, at which we also announce who has been selected to be the year's national representative. The awards are designed to celebrate the volunteer spirit and provide an opportunity for anyone and everyone to learn a little bit more about the people who play a vital role in making VoicePrint the burgeoning enterprise that it is."
At this year's AGM, on Thursday, June 14, our independent selection committee chose James Clarkson of Ottawa, who represented the volunteers in VoicePrint's Central Region, to be our third National Volunteer-of-the-Year.
What follows below is a transcript of the announcement at our AGM.
Listen to the audio recording.
Frances Cowley, National Volunteer Coordinator: Thank you Ruth, James, Krista, Gordon and Don for joining us hear tonight. I know most of you traveled a long way and we thank your energy and dedication to VoicePrint and your listeners.
Now onto the selection of our National Volunteer Representative. To perform the difficult job of choosing just one of many skilled, dedicated Canadians to represent VoicePrint volunteers across the country for 2007, we put together a National Independent Selection Committee. Its members are: Valerie Casselton, the Executive Editor of the Vancouver Sun; Sarah Dennis, Vice-President of the Halifax Herald; Moe Levy, Executive Director of the Asper Foundation; Jim Sanders, President and CEO of the CNIB; and Alain Strati, Vice-President, Business and Regulatory Affairs for Rogers Media Inc.
Like each Regional Committee, the National Committee was asked to review the nominations and assess the reads and then prioritize the nominees on a three, two, one basis. Three being their first choice. The five prioritized lists were then tabulated to give us our National Representative.
When the results came in I heard time and time again that this was a very difficult decision. All of the readers are very talented and all have shown dedication that went far and beyond the call of duty. But there was one reader, who stood out to the committee. To quote Ms Casselton of the Vancouver Sun of her first-place pick:
“I chose this person because of the outstanding credentials as a volunteer, the high esteem in which this person’s colleagues hold this volunteer, and the varied responsibilities taken on – not to mention the superlative quality of this person’s reading, which is mesmerizing; the enunciation, cadence, and emphasis are perfect. One suspects that this person would command the attention of your listeners, regardless of what was being read; so beautiful in speech.”
We are honoured and thrilled that a member of the selection committee is here to announce the person to represent our readers for 2007. Since I’m the only one who knows the tabulated results, and I hold the results in my hand, this will be a surprise for Jim, too. Please join me in Welcoming Jim Sanders, President and CEO of the CNIB.
Applause
Jim Sanders, President and CEO of the CNIB: Good evening everyone. Let me just open up my little note-taker. First of all it’s a privilege to be here. Let me just take a couple of minutes please on behalf of the CNIB to recognize and congratulate the National Broadcast Reading Service, VoicePrint and all that it stands for – people who live with vision loss and those unable to read print throughout Canada. It really is a privilege. I recall the very early days leading up to what became NBRS: those data-gathering and research days. Not so much the outcry but the plea by individuals, who did not have access to print so ably described by [NBRS Board Member and chair of the National Program Committee] Betty Nobel. In fact I had an hour prepared and Betty Nobel took 55 minutes of it (laughter)…
But I also recall the CRTC hearings that finally approved the license and those early days. I’m an early morning riser and I recall the morning, the very first broadcast of VoicePrint. I was living in Ottawa. I had a little office in the basement of my home –a home office – and I also recall that it was quite cold. So it must have been a time that either there was snow, of course that could be anytime in Ottawa. And those were wonderful wonderful days and very very exciting days for those of us who now rely on VoicePrint.
Well, you can imagine the anticipation as a member of the selection committee to choose one of the five. That we were going to meet five individuals, at least on paper. And we’re going to meet five winners and as you can see, the task is very daunting. I’m very pleased. (Starts opening the envelope, turns to Frances) Did you seal it, too? (laughter). No you’re not sorry at all.
As I open this let me once again congratulate the Board of Directors, the staff led by an individual whom I consider a both a friend and a mentor, Bob Trimbee. And I’d also like to recognize Frances Cowley, who makes our task much easier because of the organization of the material that we receive, the immediate support with any questions and (turns Braille paper and contents of envelope), got to get it right-side-up, and in general allowing a group of us the privilege of meeting these five individuals. There’s nothing like having information at your fingertips (laughter).
The five outstanding individuals have already been recognized and well deserving of the award. The individual, the Volunteer-of-the Year Award…please put your hands together and if you wish stand up. James Clarkson.
Applause
Jim: It’s nice to put a hand to a familiar voice. James congratulations.
James Clarkson, VoicePrint’s 2007 National Volunteer-of-the-Year: Thank you very much indeed. This is wonderful. As you all know I’m a reader not an eloquent public speaker so I’ve written something down here just in case (laughter). What I wanted to say was…as a NBRS Life Member I really value my 10 ounces of fine silver and consider it quite an honour. Today is another kind of honour because I’ve been elected by my peers and that’s really flattering. However, what I really want to say is that although we all accept the fact that VoicePrint could not operate without volunteer readers, I personally feel that in the 13-odd years that I have worked for and with VoicePrint and its dedicated staff, through bad times and good times, I’ve actually felt that I received more than I gave. It has been a real pleasure, even though I am out of pocket for parking tickets. Thank you so much, volunteers and staff.
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