1993 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC BROADCASTING VOLUNTEER AWARD

Presented to Eleanor McLear
WXXI, Rochester, New York

Rarely is a PBS station fortunate enough to have a volunteer who can, and who has, worked tirelessly in nearly every volunteer capacity.  Such a volunteer is Eleanor McLear.  Her leadership and example have inspired and encouraged WXXI's 2000 plus volunteers for the past six year.  No task has been too demeaning and no challenge too great for this indomitable woman.

Some of her accomplishments include volunteering more than 700 hours on behalf of WXXI in each of the past five years.  This is the equivalent of a part-time staff person.  She implemented and chaired the first Art Auction and has been the guiding force behind each succeeding one since 1989.  She initiated and organized a Friends lobbying effort to help restore some of the recent funding cuts by New York State.  This effort involved organizing and training a lobbying force of 120 active volunteers.

All of these endeavors and more have been carried out graciously and energetically by this remarkable lady.  She generously responds to emergency calls to fill in on the phones during membership drives, to act as a tour guide or hostess, or even to be chief cook and bottle washer at special events.  Eleanor is WXXI's 'A-NUMBER-ONE" advocate within the community.