RECOGNITION

For the past 10 years, the Neighborhood Watch program has made a conscious effort to recognize the valuable contributions our community volunteers have made. Aside from selected newspaper articles and informal cudos provided at meetings, the two main ways we recognize these special volunteers is with monthly lunch certificates at Coco’s Restaurant and with a biannual dinner party and program.

COCOs CERTIFICATES

For June 2008 NHW wishes to recognize the noteworthy contributions of Fritz Wolff and Les Armstrong. Fritz reliably works in the Storefront office every Thursday morning where he provides weekly support to all the leaders in RB. In general, this consists of updating personnel data bases, making copies of requested documents, and taking action on all office phone calls. Specifically, Fritz provided updated District databases for both the April Training seminar and the RB Alive June function. Les has been the District Coordinator in District G for over a year and succeeded in organizing all the Blocks in High Country West into sectors for rapid communications. Specifically, he worked tirelessly with the Finance Committee to develop needed financial procedures and policies for NHW. We gratefully award Fritz and Les dining certificates at Coco's.

For April we recognize the significant work volunteered by George Cooke and Charlie Arnold. George is a block captain in High Country West, but it is his huge effort in launching our RBNHW.com website that stands out. In just a few months, we now have a wonderful information site for all RB residents which will be a perfect communications tool for all districts and the staff. Charlie is a block captain in the Swim&Tennis district and acts as our Storefront Office Manager. His participation in several committees and innovative concept of DC/AC/BC badges are noteworthy. In particular, he is spearheading the installation of new NHW Signs throughout RB.

For February we recognize the significant efforts made by Ralph Parris and Larry McIntyre. Due to the health problems of Jim Harmon, Ralph stepped up to lead our Emergency Preparedness effort. With the emergence of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as the community program, he has been reacting to the program objectives by signing up for the 6 session training and developing an emergency alert system that should help in events such as the firestorm. Larry spent a morning filming our Training Seminar last August and has put in many hours with Pat White editing the package for future use with District and Area Coordinators.

Past 2007 recipients (with District) include: Pat White(F), Gene Harrison(F), Sally Edwards(C), Diane Orvis(D), Arleen Gimble(D), Dave Sutherland and Dan Struckman (EPP), Ann Ross(B), Evelyn Dobson(G), Donna Przecha(SDPD), Jacquie Nelson(Staff), Nancy Canfield(A), Bobbi Gisinger(F), Peter Berkos and Gene Albrecht (EPP).

BIANNUAL PARTY

In 1998 the NHW program began hosting dinner parties for selected leaders and staff of NHW and emergency preparedness organizations. One of the highlights of the party was always recognizing up to a dozen leaders who had done volunteer work above the normal expected. Since the beginning there have now been 82 ‘Distinguished Service Awards’. The Class of ’05 includes: Carol Allison, Mike Binder, Millie Edwards, Herman and Marilyn Izor, Sam Miller, Jean Nagy, Donna Przecha and Pat Wascher. There have also been 3 ‘Leadership Awards’ going to Jacquie Nelson and Jim Harmon (1999) and Ralph Stewart (2002).

This year there will be another party planned for September 12, 2008.