VLP Annual Meeting Highlights Success, Thanks Supporters
On May 28, the Village Learning Place (VLP) hosted its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony. The meeting is open to all citizens and takes places each spring; it is designed to highlight the VLP’s good work over the past year, thank people who made extraordinary contributions and obtain feedback from members of the community. The meeting also presents the new slate of board members for the following fiscal year.
Over sixty donors, shareholders, patrons, volunteers, and staff gathered as Executive Director, Liesje Buckley Gantert, welcomed the crowd. The meeting commenced with a spoken word performance from LINK participants Shawntae White and Katleen Covell and LINK Debaters Davon Baynes, Robtrea Brown, India Carter, Kehlia Cherry, Chanel Merritt, Andrea Neal, Kyahnah Wesson, and Shawntae White inspired the crowd as they debated mandatory school uniforms.
Development and Public Relations committee co-chairs Maria T. Johnson and Ann T. Kangas delivered the goods news that the VLP’s fundraising goals were very close to being met in these very challenging financial times and thanked all of the donors. We are especially grateful to the members of the Village Vanguard who are the loyal and committed donors who share an uncommon vision for the Village Learning Place, its Mission, and its great potential for growth. Maria and Ann also announced that the VLP would be rebranding and welcomed community members’ feedback on two logos. The final decision on the new VLP logo was made by the Board of Directors in June and is well represented on the new website. “The Board is excited to embrace the past and envision the future of the VLP, and we feel this new look embodies the vitality, optimism, and importance of the VLP!,” commented Ann T. Kangas.
Board of Directors President Sharon A. Snyder was delighted to present several awards. Robyn Bogash won the Volunteer Service Award. The staff of the Village Learning Place selects the Volunteer Service Award nominee; it is presented to an individual or group demonstrating outstanding support of the Village Learning Place through their notable contribution of time, energy and dedication to the VLP’s Mission.
Robyn began volunteering as a member of the VLP’s 2nd Wednesday Committee in 2007. She immediately proved herself to be enthusiastic, dedicated, and responsible. In addition to generously giving her time, she has shared her great ideas, keen decorating sense, and lots of delicious food, all to the benefit of the VLP and our larger community. After her work on last year’s Read Between the Wines Auction Committee, she is chairing this year’s Logistics Committee, and will help ensure that our annual fundraiser is successfully planned and stylishly executed. Despite her busy schedule, she cheerfully pitches in whenever the VLP needs a hand, often tackling tough or less-desirable tasks. Her combination of practicality and fun is greatly appreciated by fellow volunteers and staff. Her commitment to the VLP has deepened over the past two years, and we are delighted that she has applied for membership to our Board of Directors this year.
Edward Garbus won the Community Service Appreciation Award. The Community Service Appreciation Award recognizes special contributions to VLP core programs in “educating, empowering, enriching, engaging, enhancing, and expanding” the opportunities and experiences available to the diverse community served by the Village Learning Place. Edward Garbus has been helping at the Village Learning Place since January as an Experience Corps member mentoring children and providing them with homework help in our LINK after-school program. His presence has greatly added to the classroom dynamic by assisting our teachers and developing a productive rapport with our students. Every day he arrives early, leaves late, and compassionately goes above his duties during the time in between. He is always a pleasure to have around and is an endless font of wonderful anecdotes.
Nikki Rhodes won the Outstanding Employee of the Year Award. The Outstanding Employee of the Year Award recognizes a staff member who has demonstrated extraordinary dedication to the VLP, outstanding performance of their duties, and who inspires others with their enthusiasm and tireless effort. Nikki joined the VLP in 2006 as a teacher in our after-school program, and her great skill and patience as an educator were immediately apparent. This year, Nikki became our first full-time Outreach Programs Coordinator, and she has made this new position dynamic and meaningful. Books2Go, our literacy outreach effort in City Schools and Head Start Centers, has become a model program for integrating research into practice. The feedback from every classroom Books2Go visits is unanimously positive and praising. Nikki also coordinated spectacular special events in the library this year, such as our MLK and Read Aloud Day Celebrations. She has taken on responsibilities outside of her experience, expertise, and comfort zone without complaint, and has had success in those responsibilities that was previously unattainable. The VLP is honored to benefit from her many talents!
Jerriann Myers Wilson won the The President’s Award. The President’s Award is presented to that board member who has distinguished him- or herself by providing extraordinary service to the Village Learning Place. The recipient is selected at the discretion of the President of the Board. Jerriann joined the VLP’s Board of Directors in July 2005. She has served as Secretary of the Board of Directors and on the Executive Committee, as well as Co-Chaired the Read Between the Wines Committee in 2007. Upon forming of the Governance Committee in November 2008, Jerriann again demonstrated her leadership and dedication to the VLP mission by agreeing to Co-Chair this newly formed committee. Jerriann demonstrates a commitment to serve the youth in Charles Village at each and every meeting, and purposefulness in helping the organization towards achieving its goals.
Rocio Cano-Reyes won the Special Recognition Award. The Special Recognition Award is presented to an individual or group for all-around support of the Village Learning Place through their notable contribution of time, energy and dedication to the VLP Mission.
Rocio is not only an active parent in LINK who intends to keep her family with us until her two children finish the 8th grade, but she has translated voicemail messages and flyers for the ESL class offered here at the VLP this past spring, has recently joined our Read Between the Wines Planning Committee, and is an enthusiastic Village U teacher. She utilizes our free library resources for her classes, apologizes that she can’t volunteer to teach more frequently, and has made suggestions about how the VLP can reach the local Hispanic population.
Thank you and congratulations to the award winners!
Sharon Snyder thanked retiring Board members Tonia Blackwood, Syrah Gunning, and Ann T. Kangas. The new slate of officers were presented and accepted by the community. The officers and members at large of the Board of Directors for 2009 -2010 are: Sharon Snyder, President, Kevin McGowan, Vice President, Jerriann Myers Wilson, Secretary, Tracey Mandish, Treasurer, David Beaudouin, Robyn Bogash, Maria T. Johnson, Rebecca LaFleur, Debra Lawrence, David Matthews, Andrew Michael, Kelley Ray, Robert Spiller, Dorothea Stierhoff, and Alanna Thomas.
The VLP celebrates our many volunteers, donors, staff and patrons who are all collectively responsible for the success of the organization.
-Ann Kangas