The Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism Exemplary Awards acknowledge nominees the Selection Committee believes should be appreciated for their contributions to civic and community life.

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY
June Messier, Wells – June Messier serves on the Board of Directors for Wells-Ogunquit Senior Needs Committee/Senior Center and lends a hand at the Senior Center. June founded “Applause for a Cause” senior theater group that performs to raise funds for the senior center, serves as chair of the Pancake Breakfast Green team, coordinates entertainment and meals for “Days of Warming” during the winter, and organizes the annual “Ice Cream Social” as a thank-you to students who volunteer at the Senior Center.

June Messer is an amazing example of the kind of person, we all want to grow up to be–and a confirmation that one person, can indeed, make a difference in this world.

Diane Davison, Portland – Diane Davison is president and co-founder of Friends of the Eastern Promenade (FoEP). Through Diane’s leadership and dedication, FoEP has grown to more than 300 dues paying members, 20 active board members, and 27 engaged committee members. She established the annual Summer Concert Series which averages of 400-500 families per weekly show.

Diane converted what was an inert plan for the park’s improvement into a dog-eared kitchen table attraction for area citizens who care deeply for the Eastern Promenade. She collaborates with individuals in the community, Historic Preservation Board, City Parks Commission, landscape designers, and architects to orchestrate a graceful solution that adds significance and use to Fort Allen. Diane has been named Chair of the Portland’s Park Commission, so her dedication as a volunteer and to green spaces extends beyond the Promenade.

Dorothy Blanchette, Falmouth – Dorothy “Dotty” Blanchette serves at the Director of the Falmouth Food Pantry, though her volunteer efforts are far more encompassing. For Dotty, no job is too small or too big. She manages operations of the Food Pantry, engages clients in the process to lean valuable skills, and creates networks of families, individuals, students, and community groups to support clients during the holidays and beyond.

Dotty also serves a mentor for many students she involves in serve at the Food Pantry. One student shared that Dotty recruited him by leaving a note about a need for volunteers to help move furniture under the windshield wiper of his truck. The student appreciates an opportunity to help that fits his busy schedule and helps connect him to his community.

OUTSTANDING NATIONAL SERVICE VOLUNTEER CATEGORY
Kaley Littlefield, Old Orchard Beach - Kaley Littlefield is an AmeriCorps member serving with Goodwill Industries of Northern New England’s Multilingual Leadership Corps Program at the Portland Housing Authority. In her two terms of service, Kaley has reinvigorated the Kennedy Park Study Center to promote learning, creativity, peace, and excellence. She serves students by being a mentor, editing college essays, helping with college application process, and arranging college visits. Kaley works closely with families to make sure they understand the financial aid process.

On a nightly basis, Kaley will walk home younger students who have approached her about safety concerns. She has had conversations, at length, with both students and some of their families regarding safety. Currently Kaley is planning a culturally appropriate “relationship safety” talk–with help from the United Somali Women of Maine–for Valentine’s Day.

Shelby Greene, Columbia Falls - Shelby Greene, as a member of Goodwill AmeriCorps Program, serves at the Washington County Food and Fuel Alliance and the Maine Seacoast Mission. Tasked with increasing numbers of both school greenhouses and family greenhouses, she has created one new school greenhouse and 24 family greenhouses. Shelby increased the productivity of the Food Pantry greenhouse and created a plan to provide greens throughout the winter season.

In her second year with AmeriCorps, Shelby is using her community organizing experience to help students engage in a more successful school experience. She serves in an afterschool program and has worked with 350 students.

EXCELLENCE IN VOLUNTEER ADMINISTRATION CATEGORY
Molly Haley, Portland – Molly Haley is the Volunteer Coordinator at The Telling Room, a nonprofit writing center dedicated to the idea that children and young adults are natural storytellers. The Telling Room works with close to 2,000 young writers in grades K-12. Molly manages more than 300 volunteers who connect to students in meaningful ways that a single teacher can’t do because of time and numbers. Molly holds monthly volunteer orientations to welcome new volunteers and lead them through a typical Telling Room Style writing workshop so they can understand from the student side what they will be facilitating from the instructor side.

The Telling Room wouldn’t exist without all of the young writers. On the same note, The Telling Room would not exist if the volunteers didn’t exist. And it is due to Molly’s organizing, recruiting, training, and ongoing support that keeps the volunteers working.

OUTSTANDING PUBLIC SECTOR VOLUNTEER CATEGORY
Benjamin Roberts, Litchfield – Benjamin Roberts has been mentoring students for the past five years at RSU#4. He spends most of his time at Libby-Tozier School, but also volunteers at Oak Hill Middle School. Four years ago, Ben began serving as a mentor for a student who was at risk of dropping out. Ben spent many hours preparing activities, bought different supplies and met with the student weekly. He has taught this student manners and the importance of getting enough rest to do well in school.

Ben is a “book buddy” to a second grade class and reads individually with all of the students in the class. He also tutors several students in a second grade class math class. Ben has a wonderful rapport with many students who look forward to seeing him and talking with him every day. When a student needs someone to talk to about struggles in school or at home, Ben is there willing to listen.

When Litchfield and Wales schools merged into one, Ben combined the guided reading sets of books from both schools into one neat, organized guided reading library of more than a 1000 books!

OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM CATEGORY
Seniors Plus, Lewiston – SeniorsPlus provides information and resources to support independent living and healthy aging for older adults and adults with disabilities in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford Counties. SeniorsPlus offers various programs that utilize volunteers including Medicare counseling and Tax and Rent rebate assistance. Last year, these two programs alone served over 1400 seniors and adults with disabilities. In 2012, SeniorsPlus Nutrition Services provided 111, 215 nutritious meals to 609 Meals on Wheels clients and the LunchPlus Café diners served 841 older adults and adults with disabilities throughout the tri-county area. To accomplish this work, Senior Plus relied on 594 volunteers who provided 33,800 hours of service to help 12, 425 seniors and adults with disabilities live healthy, independent lives.

Since 1987, the Governor’s Awards for Service and Volunteerism have celebrated and recognized the exemplary work of Maine’s most dedicated citizens. At the same time, the awards seek to inspire others to follow in the footsteps of those recognized. Through their donated time and talent, volunteers help communities stretch finite cash resources to deliver the most service possible.

Founded during Governor McKernan’s administration, the program has continued uninterrupted. It is managed on behalf of the Office of the Governor by the Maine Commission for Community Service. The awards are presented at the Capitol each year in April during National Volunteer Week.