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Helen Aigner receives 2008 Hulda Glass Award
Libby King honored with chapter's first "Red Cross Angel" Award
Betty Barber, Daphne Gray, and David McNamara honored for volunteer service in departments
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross From left: Executive Director Tom Costello and Hospital Volunteer Coordinator Emily Anderson present Helen Aigner (right) with the 2008 Hulda Glass Award for her dedication, strong will and work ethic, and cheerful contribution to the Red Cross as a volunteer at Winter Haven Hospital. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross 'Oh, I know Clara (Barton),' Libby King (right) jokes to Executive Director Tom Costello as he tries to explain the illustration on the inaugural Red Cross Angel Award (see left). The award will be given periodically to volunteers who give 'above and beyond' of their time and effort to make the chapter a stronger force in the community. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross Red Cross Hospital Volunteer Emily Anderson (from left) presents fellow volunteer Betty Barber with the 2008 Hospital Volunteer of the Year award, for putting in such dedicated service from the moment she signed up about a year ago. 'I just love being there,' Barber said. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross Linda Scialo, Director of Programs and Services (from left), and Disaster Committee Chair Michele Medani present Daphne Gray with the 2008 Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year award. Unknown to Daphne, her husband Jimmy (background) had just arrived in secret — preserving the surprise — to see her get the award. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross Executive Director Tom Costello hand delivers a 15-year service pin to Red Cross Hospital Volunteer Virginia Johnson, one of several volunteers who received recognition for unswerving and dedicated service to the chapter. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross Executive Director Tom Costello thanks Volunteer Board Member John Thompson for supporting the 2008 'Gold Rush Bash' to support the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter. Each sponsor received a commemorative die-cast 1937 Studebaker Woody Station Wagon, decorated as a Red Cross vehicle. Later in the meeting, Costello presented Thompson with recognition for 45 years of service to the chapter, remarking that Thompson may actually have more Red Cross volunteer years to his name. |
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PHIL ATTINGER/American Red Cross Volunteer Betty Barber (right) speaks with other Red Cross hospital volunteers and Regional Gift Planning Officer Ken Fagan before the start of the 2008 annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition. |
Aigner will not let you forget to give thanks for what you have, and even though she recently had to stop doing as much because of an injury, she was soon back at work trying very hard to do more. At the information desk of the Winter Haven Hospital, Aigner helps people who come needing someone to talk to, or just assistance in finding where they need to go. Despite having to work under trying circumstances, with plenty of disruption around the volunteer workstation, she never complains, and in fact is a pleasant companion to other volunteers.
Winter Haven Hospital has previously honored her as one of the "Geese" volunteers — as geese are in a V-formation — the Geese have a common direction and goal, they take turns leading and help make it easier for those following behind them, they support each other and give words (honks) of encouragement.
Of course, if anyone isn't going to the Winter Haven Hospital, they might find Aigner serving breakfast at the McDonald's on Sixth Street in Winter Haven.
A Red Cross Angel — 'Going Above and Beyond'
Along with Aigner, volunteer Libby King received a special award — the first ever Red Cross Angel Award — for going above and beyond in helping so many different departments with their various projects and needs throughout the year, whether it be filing, mailing, teaching, talking to the public, organizing an event, or just her usual duties as a volunteer at Regency, the maternity facility of Winter Haven Hospital.
Chapter Executive Director Tom Costello said the award will be given occasionally, not necessarily every year, but certainly whenever a volunteer cheerfully gives far beyond what would ever be asked and expected. King has done that in so many areas, to help the chapter do what needs to be done to become a stronger force for help in the community. She has exhausted all other awards the chapter has to give, so in her spirit, the Red Cross Angel Award was created to give to volunteers like her.
Joel Hass, CEO of the American Red Cross Mid-Florida Region, was on hand and thanked the chapter for working hard to recognize people whose work goes largely unrecognized, whether going out on a late night fire call, teaching a CPR or First Aid class, or just making sure the chapter runs smoothly.
History of Hulda Glass Award
The Hulda Glass Award memorializes Hulda Glass, without whom, there wouldnt be a Polk County Chapter. Hulda Glass Started as a Red Cross Volunteer in 1942. When the Chapter moved to the old Postal Building located on 3rd Street and Avenue D, NW in 1943, Hulda Glass was hired as assistant to the Executive Secretary.
When the executive secretary resigned, Hulda Glass offered to do the job temporarily until replacement was found. The position became permanent in May 1944. By 1958, she was one of five executives in the country selected to serve on a national American Red Cross committee to study training of executives.
In 1960, the title changed to Executive Director instead of Executive Secretary. When he started volunteering at the American Red Cross, current Executive Director Tom Costello remembers a woman who was the Red Cross in enthusiasm and clout.
1967 marked Huldas 25 years anniversary with the Red Cross. In 1972, the Chapter building on 5th Street was officially named the Hulda S. Glass Chapter in honor of her 30 years of service. She retired in 1972, but as Costello said Thursday, that only means you start volunteering, which she did. She and longtime volunteer Libby King manned a First Aid Station in 1984 for the Winter Haven City/Community Cleanup Project.
After Hulda Glass passed on March 3, 1984, the Chapter Board of Directors established the Hulda Glass Award to be given each year to a person who has performed outstanding service to the chapter.
Other volunteers honored Wednesday were:
Betty Barber as the 2008 Hospital Volunteer
of the Year
Daphne Gray as the 2008 Emergency Services Volunteer
of the Year
David McNamara as the 2008 Health and Safety
Volunteer
of the Year
R. Nelson Kirkland, for serving two years as
Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter
Volunteer years of service awards are:
John Thompson 45 years
Emily Anderson 25 years
Sharon Jackson 20 years
Scottie Beasley 15 years
Jean Johnson 15 years
Virginia Johnson 15 years
Jeanne Brandt 10 years
Judy Brause 10 years
John Drew 10 years
Mary Drew 10 years
James Jones 10 years
Dana Kelly 10 years
Terry Loyd 10 years
Prenilla Perkins 10 years
Phyllis Brady 5 years
Richard Brimfield 5 years
Milton Goodine 5 years
Sandra Goodine 5 years
Betty Schweitzer 5 years
Phyllis Warren 5 years
Bettye Wilson 5 years
Volunteer hours of service awards are:
Libby King 15,000 hours
Helen Aigner 10,500
Judy Dugas 6,000 hours
Prenilla Perkins 5,500 hours
Carmelita Amann 3,000 hours
Betty Barber 200 hours
Cynthia Barnes 200 hours