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Valuable volunteers a treasure at CMM
Volunteer Group of the Year was awarded to the newest CMM club, the Yard Arms, who have not only designed, built and planted flower beds, but have kept them beautiful. Pictured are Eileen LeForge, Judy Larsen, Nan Suydam, Kathy Ellwood, Jon Dann and Peg Dann.
The Calvert Marine Museum would not be the place that it is without the time and talents of so many volunteers, according to a press release. These treasured people assist with daily functions of the museum, First Free Fridays, annual events and activities, summer camps, along with special projects. Last year, a record-breaking 27,248 hours of volunteer time were logged. If paid as hourly wages, this would equate to $610,407.
The Oscars and Grammy Awards do not hold a candle to the “Golden Otter” Award Recognition Ceremony held at the museum on Wednesday, April 18, in honor of CMM volunteers, the release states. There are more than 276 active volunteers who can be found in all areas of the museum every day of the week in the Skates and Rays, Discovery Room, Museum Store, Patuxent Small Craft Guild Building, outdoors on the grounds, special events, on Concert Day, and behind the scenes.
Sherry Reid, volunteer and event coordinator, who has been a museum volunteer for more than 25 years, is the leader of this group and takes great pride in their many accomplishments.
“The Calvert Marine Museum is fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers with a willingness to share their time, talent, energy, dedication and commitment to make CMM the best it can be,” Reid said in the release.
Every volunteer is appreciated, and the evening had several special highlights including Paul Berry, librarian, with almost 30 years of volunteer service with a total of 25,669.5 hours, Bill Lake, Patuxent Small Craft Guild president, with 14,022 hours over his 15 year volunteer tenure, and Tom and Sandy Younger, who spent 2,150 combined hours last year assisting daily at the museum and have been dedicated volunteers for more than 11 years.
The Golden Otter for Volunteer of the Year and was awarded to Sylvia Dry who works each day in the development office and is a crucial part of their team. Dry brings her amazing organizational skills to bear in the development office where she does everything from filing, sorting, planning, selling concert tickets and keeping the staff straight, the release states. Dry is a wonderful ambassador for the museum.
The Volunteer Group of the Year was awarded to the newest CMM club, the Yard Arms, the gardening committee that was formed and hit the ground running in February 2011. They not only designed, built and planted flower beds, but have kept them beautiful all spring and summer. The museum grounds have never looked better and visitors are treated to the beauty of hardy native plants. The dedicated Yard Arms volunteers help weekly even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Their current projects include the construction of a demonstration composting bin next to the rain garden, the installation of plant labels and information on the website about the native plants they are using.
For more information on becoming a member of the CMM volunteer family, contact Sherry Reid at 410-326-2042, ext. 19, or email reidsd@co.cal.md.us.