The 2010 Volunteer Recognition Luncheon was conducted in the Community Room on April 16. The event was conducted by the Library Board of Board of Trustees and about 65 volunteers were able to attend. Mayor Richard D. Schneider, M.D. presented a Proclamation from the City of South Pasadena declaring it “Library Volunteer Recognition Day. It recognized the valuable contributions made by more than 160 volunteers who donated more than 10,935 hours in 2009, assisting with such efforts as the Friends Bookstore, the Restoration Concert Series, Grandparents and Books, Author Nights, and the Exterior Beautification Project. Jane Schirmeister the President of the Friends of the South Pasadena Library and Margaret Leong, the President of the Library Board of Trustees thanked their respective organizations and gave much-deserved credit to all of the tremendous support provided by the volunteers.
The keynote speaker was Harry Brant Chandler, who recent book for Angel City Press, Dreamers in Dream City profiles some of the leading LA visionaries with illuminating words and arresting photographic images. Chandler’s own personal relationships with many of the imposing figures in the book provided insight into the makeup of these original thinkers and achievers. He shared his personal observations of several of these subjects during his captivating presentation.
Chandler is a fifth-generation member of both the Chandlers and the Brants, two famous Los Angeles families whose dreams helped shape the city –from the founding and running of the Los Angeles Times to numerous civic, business, and real estate endeavors. Chandler believes the Los Angeles he knows so well is not a city of nostalgia, but rather a dynamic, always-moving metropolis. In both his book and during his talk, Chandler offered tidbits of lasting inspiration from these unique Southern Californians.
Kathy Folsom, Co-Chair of the Friends Restoration Concert Committee was announced as this year’s Volunteer of the year by Dorothy Cohen, the Bookstore/Steering Committee Director. Kathy has served as a Committee member for 10 years. Kathy credited her husband Ron as one of her greatest resources in helping her secure all the wonderful world class musicians to perform in her hometown library.
During the festivities all of the Library’s Volunteers were thanked for their hard work and dedication. The Bookstore Steering Committee, the Restoration Concert Committee, the Measure L Committee, South Pasadena Beautiful, and the Exterior Beautification Committee were recognized as groups. Many Children’s Services volunteer efforts were acknowledged including the Summer Reading Program, the Grandparents and Books Read-Aloud, and the Special Quarterly Series for which volunteer Andy Lippman coordinated several series, such as Journalism 101, Shakespeare for Kids, and Summer Writing Camp.
Besides the Volunteer of the Year, two other received special mention: Dorothy Cohen, who was accorded two statewide awards at the California Library Association Annual Conference in Pasadena last November, and Kay Rosser, the other Co-Chair of the Restoration Concert Committee, who was just selected by Congressman Adam Schiff as the Woman of the Year for South Pasadena in the 29thCongressional District. |
