WGIRLS NYC Announce 2009 Member Service Award Recipients

WGIRLSNYC Outstanding New WGIRL Award: Selected from a pool of women who have been active with the WGIRLS for less than 6 months and who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and volunteerism. This woman started with the WGIRLS organization less than 6 months ago and jumped right in to volunteer. Always willing to lead, she organized a dinner for over 60 people at the Hope Lodge less than 3 weeks after joining. Soon thereafter, she took the lead for our first shopping event with Catherine Malandrino. She kept things moving, under control, and dealt with the all of the challenges of hosting a retail event with grace and tact. From late nights wrapping and sorting gifts for the Hope for the Holidays Gift Drive to offering helpful advice and a helping hand at every opportunity, this woman is always ready to give her best. She is an INCREDIBLE addition to the WGIRLS organization. We are so grateful to have her - The recipient of the Outstanding NEW WGIRL for 2009 is Robin Reagan.

The WGIRLSNYC Internal Service Award: All active WGIRLS are eligible. She is selected for her unwavering commitment to the internal organization. This woman has been a member of the WGIRLS for over 2 years. A fixture on the WGIRLS scene, she consistently volunteers, and is involved in virtually every fundraising activity we engage in despite her full time job and pursuit of an MBA. While her dedication is apparent in several areas, she is receiving this award for outstanding service as the administrator of our wgirlsnyc.com website. The platform we used to host our old site created many challenges, but Kelly took on that challenge and committed to the project long past due to ensure we maintained a presence on the web. There were times when she absolutely did not want to do what she had to do to get things done. But she did it anyway. For that, and her two years of dedication, The Outstanding Service Award goes to Kelly Balz.

The WGIRLSNYC Impact Award: For outstanding achievement resulting in a major impact to the internal WGIRLS organization and our beneficiaries. This woman joined the WGIRLS a little over a year ago. Since her very first meeting, her quiet influence was behind many of the decisions that keep the organization moving forward. Always willing to play devil's advocate, analyze all of the options, and provide constructive criticism, her feedback is respected at all levels. As soon as she came on board, she stepped in to play a major role in our most high profile event, the bachelor/ette auction. That experience was a true baptism by fire. While many would have been content to take a back seat after that this woman did just the opposite. Instead, she volunteered to tackle a huge project. She put together an RFP, a project plan, designed wire frames, and led the effort for our WGIRLS.ORG site re-design. Her tireless effort and countless hours of work have resulted in a tremendously valuable tool for the NYC organization and our new affiliates. For that effort, the IMPACT AWARD goes to Eileen Naylor.

WGIRLS NYC Best All Around Award: This award is given to the WGIRL who most embodies the WGIRLS spirit: She is a strong volunteer, a team player, a good friend and aspiring leader. She is someone who can be counted on both personally and professionally to always try her very best. This woman has been with the WGIRLS organization for a little over one year. From the very first day she joined it was apparent that she would be a dedicated member. Always volunteering to stay afterwards to discuss meeting details, offering her insight and opinion, and making an effort to get to know many of the WGIRLS on a personal level, this woman has been a huge asset to the group. Eager to learn and grow within the organization she has stepped in to lead and also to assist several projects. She takes both praise and constructive criticism with a grain of salt, always looks for the positive in any given situation, and maintains her cool at all times. Perhaps that is why she is also so well liked by members of the group. A consummate friend, this woman goes out of her way to let you know she is there for you. For these reasons and many more, the WGIRLS BEST ALL AROUND AWARD goes to Pam Brown.

WGIRLSNYC Outstanding Board Member 2009: Given to a member of the operating committee that exemplifies exceptional dedication to the organization. This woman has been with us since the start, unwavering in her commitment to the organization.Each year her responsibilities increase as we continue to grow and become more successful. She can be counted on for her frank honesty, her integrity, and relentless pursuit of her own very best. Not to mention a ton of last minute to –dos. She is one of the biggest contributors to the organizations success and a huge reason I(Amy Heller) have been able to continue to lead the group. Though many of you may not know the sheer volume of administrative work necessary to keep us afloat, this woman is all too familiar and does it with minimal complaint and exceptional accuracy. In addition to huge commitments in her own personal life in 2009, she took on the role of organizing the TOY drive this year for the second year running. Her commitment ensured that almost 300 children had just the right presents to open this holiday season. Most of the time you see her half hidden behind a list keeping track of tickets, invoices, spreadsheets and numbers. The truth is that she is really keeping us afloat. For all of her hard work especially during this holiday season the 2009 Outstanding Board Member of the Year is Carolyn Sweitzer Deane.