Valley Promotions

2010 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Bartlett-Fifteen local nominees were honored for their volunteerism Sunday, September 25 at the Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center in Bartlett.  The 2010 Mount Washington Valley Non-Profits ?Volunteer of the Year Awards? was hosted by Marie Estey, 2009 Miss Mount Washington Valley Teen.  Letters of congratulations arrived from New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, Maine Governor Paul LePage and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen.  Local dignitaries attending were Rep. Gene Chandler,  Rep. Karen Umberger, Rep. Laurie Pettengill and 2011 Miss Mount Washington Valley Teen Jessica Pappalardo

Lisa Brunelle leads up Team Bartenders for B.O.O.B.S (Bartenders for Better Oncological Options for Breast Care Services) for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer North Conway.  The team has raised over $55,000 in the 6 years that they have been involved with Making Strides.  Lisa is one of the Making Strides volunteers that are the driving force behind our incredible event.  She shares her passion to help create a world with less breast cancer and more birthdays by sharing her time as a volunteer.  She is an outstanding committee member and team captain who is very valued and appreciated by the American Cancer Society.  She also volunteers for the Mud Bowl and for the Animal Rescue League of NH_North?s Re-Tail Shop. 

Ruthann Fabrizio quietly goes about the business of helping people with no thought of being thanked or even credited for her work.  For over thirty years she has worked on community boards and organizations that support healthcare and social and emotional needs of the people of Mount Washington Valley.  Ruthann has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations and supports many more by attending their fund-raising events and sharing their information with others.  She is a fountain of knowledge regarding state agencies and how to find the information one seeks.

Bernadette ?Bernie? Friberg has been involved with a number of local non-profit organizations in her 20 plus years as a Valley resident.  The Caring Wheel Project and Calendars for Charity are two programs she created to assist her chosen non-profits.  She started working with the original organizers for the start-up of Miranda?s Fund and continues to invest countless hours hosting fundraising campaigns for the Fund.  The time and dedication put forth by Bernie has afforded opportunities  to get medical assistance, to unwed mothers needing a place to live, to helping provide shelter for battered women, and assist cancer patients with funding and transportation for treatment. 

Karen Gustafson has been an integral part of the day-to-day functioning of M&D Productions.  She has served as stagehand, box office attendant, prop mistress, costumer, seamstress, painter, set builder, and is always willing to lend a hand whenever and wherever it is needed to make any event flow smoothly.  She has worked in local schools for years, and truly loves working with and helping children.  She is a role model, friend, and amazing woman, and we are lucky to have her in our Valley with us.  She was born to teach, born to work in the community, not for her own gain, but to improve the lives of others.

Ellen Hayes, as a volunteer, started as a young girl.  She taught at Vacation Bible School in the Glen Baptist Church.  At 14 she started playing the piano for the Bartlett Congregational Church, where she is still the organist and Choir Director.  She is also a member of the Church Mice and works at the February Suppers.  As a church member and board representative she is always striving to improve the church.  She currently works with RSVP and loves the work and the people she interacts with.  Our community is indeed blessed to have this caring, nurturing ?mother? involved in so many organizations.

Norman Head donates countless hours to the Bartlett Recreation Department?s annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser.  He is very creative and has great connections within the community, making the event known as one of the best in the Valley.  He not only gives countless hours to Bartlett Recreation, he is President of the Bartlett Historical Society.  Norman?s name is known and respected at all levels and he is involved in many volunteer efforts in the valley.  There is no doubt he is one of the valley?s premier volunteers.  

Brian and Rita Hill are the owners of Hill?s Florist & Nursery in Intervale.  The Miss Mount Washington Valley Teen Scholarship Program nominated them for this award because of the 25 years of support they have given to their Pageant Event.  Many other organizations have been the recipients of their generosity and Tin Mountain Conservation Center?s letter in support of their nomination said it beautifully? ?Brian and Rita Hill have been as much to (TMCC) as the green tree in winter and the singing bird in spring.?

Kathleen Howard has been a great asset to the Bartlett Historical Society.  With the Society being so young and with such few volunteers, she has catapulted the Curator?s position in just two and a half years.  When she accepted the position, she jumped in with both feet!  Her dedication and commitment are invaluable and she is a credit to any organization she affiliates herself with. 

Bernadine ?Benny? Jesseman is a name that is an institution in the Mount Washington Valley.  For too many years to count, this amazing woman has spearheaded efforts to assist the less fortunate, the aged and the weak in Carroll County.  If there is a question that needs to be answered for a non-profit, someone always says, ?Benny would know.  Call her!?  Always smiling, ever upbeat, she is a great advocate for those of Carroll County and the Mount Washington Valley. 

Jane ?Rebecca? Kaplan came to the Mount Washington Valley Children?s Museum when they needed help.  Her skill as an artist and her desire to see the museum grow was a perfect fit.  They knew that by empowering her they could inspire everyone who entered to learn more and to see their potential.   Every organization has its angels, those special people who so lovingly invest their time and truly believe in the cause and, for the Museum, Rebecca is theirs. 

Mark & Kelly Labrie support many local non-profit organizations. Although they are quiet about their support, numerous organizations depend on their generosity to maintain their status.  Sometimes, the difference between succeeding and failing is only a few dollars or the success of one event.  The Success of their Black Cat Ball, to benefit our local animal shelters is just one such event.  They believe in the various groups and show that belief daily.  It is more than the knowledge that their good deeds will return to them.  They truly are proud to be a part of the Mount Washington Valley Community.   

W. Michael Lynch came from a volunteer family.  Like his parents, he has volunteered for the Eastern Slope Ski Club, from teaching the skiers to hand calculating the results of the races.  He has been involved with the Mud Bowl event, helping raise money for the local community organizations.  Last summer he was invited to join the board of Jen?s Friends Cancer Foundation and has proven to be a valuable asset to that board.  Michael has a large heart and is always ready to help.

Margaret ?Peggy? Mills and her husband relocated to the Mount Washington Valley in the early eighties, beginning a second career of volunteerism impacting a vast array of non-profits and faith based groups.  The Gibson Center and Carroll County RSVP were the first to reap the benefits, but certainly not the only organizations.  In all her volunteer activities Peggy has always shown the utmost dedication and commitment, a keen curiosity, an open-mindedness and willingness to experiment with new approaches and a thoroughness beyond basic requirements.  She is a model for senior volunteerism.

Lisa Oaks is the secretary of The Artery Cultural Art Center and has been instrumental in the writing and receiving of grant money.  She possesses the ability to get the job done with a sense of humor and accuracy!  Lisa understands that volunteering is an essential part of living in a community and participating in the wonderful things that go on there.

Amy-Nicole Smullen grew up in a volunteering family.  Her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were always involved in some sort of community activity and it definitely rubbed off.  Her first adventure in fund-raising was when she was about 3 years old.  In school, she was always involved in whatever cause needed her assistance.  She is currently involved with numerous local organizations, but her true passion is for children, especially those she has met through her years as a volunteer at Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine.  If you have a cause and need an advocate, Amy-Nicole is a great person to know!

   A selection committee of individuals from Bartlett, Conway, Fryeburg, Jackson and studied the nominations and back-up letters for each of these nominees and was given the task of awarding the top honor to one individual? Amy-Nicole Smullen.