SASKATCHEWAN VOLUNTEER MEDAL RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Congratulations to our faithful volunteer and board member, Beth Ell, who was selected as a recipient of the 2008 Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. Quoting Gerri Carroll, founder of Souls Harbour Soup Kitchen, Beth said, "Gerri always said I would be following in her footsteps, but this is an honour I never expected!"

You can view the ceremony at 1:30 on Tuesday, April 21st, at the Legislature.

The Media Release and Bio follow:

Lieutenant Governor Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart announced today the names of eight recipients of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal. The Medal recognizes outstanding volunteer service or exceptional community involvement.

"The eight remarkable individuals who will receive the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal epitomize generosity and commitment, ingenuity and compassion, determination and service," Barnhart said. "Each is an inspiring role model and is most deserving of this prestigious honour."

The 2008 recipients are:
• Robin Bellamy, Saskatoon
• Beth Ell, Regina
• John Ford, Gray
• Ajay Krishan, Prince Albert
• Camille I. Ross-Bell, Gravelbourg
• Ken Sagal, Regina
• Maurice Taylor, Tisdale
• Courtney Vaudner, Melville

The recipients will receive their awards on April 21, during National Volunteer Week, at Government House in Regina. Recipients are selected by the Saskatchewan Honours Advisory Council from nominations submitted by the public. Including the eight new recipients, the Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal has been presented to 120 outstanding individuals since 1995. Saskatchewan has the highest rate of volunteerism in Canada.

2008 Recipient
Saskatchewan Volunteer Medal

Beth Ell grew up in Kelvington and began volunteering at a young age. She has enhanced the quality of life of many people through her endeavours. She spends countless hours fundraising for and running many programs, events and parties for underprivileged and sick children in Regina, where she now lives. Her dedication and obvious conviction in the causes she supports always attracts new members. She has served her community in the following ways:

• President, Hospital Auxiliaries of Saskatchewan
• President, Vice-President and Secretary, Pasqua Hospital Auxiliary
• Volunteer, Pasqua Hospital Auxiliary gift shop
• Fundraiser, helping to raise over $1 million for the Hospitals of Regina Foundation
• Organizer for the Hospital Auxiliaries National Convention in Regina
• Volunteer, Pasqua Hospital children’s ward
• Board Member and Volunteer, Souls Harbour Rescue Mission and Executive Member of the Women’s Auxiliary Rescue Mission (W.A.R.M)
• Volunteer, Sears Canada, fundraising for children’s parties, barbeques and other events
• Volunteer, SGI, Roughrider Days, Classic Curling events, school pizza and chilli days
• Awarded: CTV Citizen of the Year, 2008

Thanks to her nominator and fellow volunteer at Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission, Myrna Harvey-Opper.

WARM Bunk Beds

Well, we thought we would have 30 days to find proper furnishings for our new Womens Home, but due to some hold ups at land titles, we had 10 days to get a place ready for them, including renovations and finding women to move in! Although our waiting list was very long, most women were no longer at the phone numbers we had for them.

We did not have bunk beds in the budget. The rule is, if it's not in the budget, you can't buy it. (Pretty simple!) So, we waited and waited, praying the funds would come through.

Finally it happened! I got the word from the Womens Auxillery executive to go ahead, and I had two other donors say that they would help if WARM fell through at the meeting. (It had to go forward to the whole meeting last night.)

Well, WARM women had a tour of the beautiful new place, and it's glaringly obvious that there are no dressers, or beds, save a couple of mattresses on the floor! The motion passed and all the beds and mattresses have been ordered.

In the meantime, the previous evening, at Grace's advice, I called Marlowe at Castle furniture and explained the situation. He wasn't in, but the woman working for him was gracious and gave me his cell phone. He was thinking about taking his boys to a hockey game but he ended up going to the warehouse and finding us two bunkbeds in stock!

These beds are even better than the last ones because they make into a couch on the bottom. Our rooms are meant to be flexible so that if we only have a single woman in them, voila! They have extra space and a fouton couch to relax on!

So thankful for WARM and also the Lord's contstant provision, right when you need it! (And sometimes not a minute before!)