2007-2008 IGSI Volunteer Award Winners
Each year the IGSI Board recognizes the volunteers and all they do to keep our organization running. This yearÕs Volunteer Recognition Event was held at the MGS Library on Saturday, May 17, 2008. In additional to the acknowledgement given to all volunteers we recognized five special award winners.
IGSI Award of Merit is given to an IGSI member in recognition of a singular service providing benefit to the Society. This year it goes to two individuals. They have put countless hours into the Indexing Project going on at IGSI. The indexes are being done by nine individual around the United States and are posted on the members area of the website. From these individuals two people have been chosen for special recognition. Jeanne Bakken of Bloomington, Minnesota is the Coordinator of the Indexing Project and has not only kept the project going but has entered data and rechecked the files for a second edit. Without her leadership the project wouldnÕt continue. Len Luttrell of Coos Bay, Oregon started with the first index in this project. He has continually worked on one index after another putting in more hours on this than anyone else. Len has always been an avid volunteer for IGSI.
Distinguished Service Award recognizes the dedication that a member brings to the Society for a job they have volunteered to do. Mary Joan Larsen of Robbinsdale, Minnesota has been recognized this year for all she does to make the IGSI Quarterly programs a welcoming event to attend. She is our hospitality hostess at these events. Mary Joan has been the go to lady for her treats and talents for more than six years. Whenever coffee and treats are required Mary Joan is there. She brings additional money into the treasurer by requesting donations and yet donates all food and drinks herself. People who have sampled her homemade cookies at one event are always delighted to know that Mary Joan has baked again for the next.
IGSI Educator Award is awarded to an individual for educating the public by instructing through speaking, writing or classes for IGSI. We have many worthy people for this award but who better than David Rencher of Salt Lake City, Utah. David has been a friend to our organization by speaking at IGSI and writing for our journal, The Septs. His knowledge of genealogy and Irish research has helped many members to find information about their ancestors. You can find articles by David in The Septs.
IGSI Award of Excellence recognizes exceptional contributions to the organization by a member who has contributed beyond job descriptions and expectations. There is no better recipient than Ann Eccles of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Ann official job title is Editor of the IGSI journal, The Septs. It is common knowledge that our award winning editor works hard to bring the best journal to our members but what some might not know is how much she does in other areas throughout the year. She works on the membership aspect of our organization, works at every Irish Saturday held at the Library, helps with set-up and take-down of all Quarterly programs, volunteers for the conference, is always one of the first to show up to do any odd jobs from moving to cleaning at the library and sits on the IGSI Board. If there is something going on with IGSI you will probably find Ann Eccles behind the scenes.