VOLUNTEERS HONORED FOR SERVICE TO WNET

Scroll to view the Power Point Deck shown at the WNET Volunteer Celebration - January 11, 2017

On Wednesday, January 11, 2017, staff and volunteers gathered in the Kellen Boardroom to ring in the new year and celebrate the year just ended. There was a lively buzz in the room as volunteers from throughout the station mingled, chatted, shared memories and compared notes. Director of Volunteer Resources, GLORIA DEUCHER, introduced the program by thanking the volunteers, welcoming senior staff and inviting NEAL SHAPIRO to the podium.  Neal brought the volunteers up to date on new station initiatives followed by highlights of upcoming programming.

Gloria then highlighted the volunteers' contributions to the station in 2016 which amounted to approximately 6,030 hours of service to departments throughout the company including Development, Membership, Education, Communications and various production areas.  Although their donated hours can be translated symbolically into a dollar amount of approximately $166,400 according to the figures published by the Independent Sector, VP of Development, CLAUDE JOHNSON and Senior Director of Community Relations, HILARY VLACHOS stressed the intangible benefits volunteers bring to the station through

their connection with members, donors and the greater viewing community.

​Five volunteers received milestone awards:  SUSAN MITTLEKAUF for 10 years of service and MARSHA SOROTICK for 15 years of service.  Extraordinarily enough three volunteers were honored for 40 years of service to the station.  RITA KESSLER has spearheaded several projects through the years and is best known for creating the tour program which she oversees to this day.  Likewise, DEIRDRE MACGUIRE has managed initiatives such as the Teen Leadership Project and the Student Art Festival.  SHIRLEY LAROWITZ can take credit for training and supervising an impressive team of volunteers in Member and Viewer Relations.  Neal announced that the three will be honored in an on-air spot highlighting their dedication and contributions.

The work is never done, though.  After the party wound down, many gathered back at the Volunteer Center to finish up a multi-DVD mailing for the Communications Department.

​Thank you, WNET volunteers, for a great year and for your continued support in 2017.