|
 Ms. Mary Ashby has been selected for the Monthly Volunteer Recognition Award for June 2008 for her volunteer work at Sulphur Creek Nature Center, where she has been a volunteer since June 2005. Mary has contributed a total of 420 hours so far in 2008, and has logged 1,701 hours since becoming a volunteer in 2005.
She originally joined Sulphur Creek Nature Center wanting to help with the education programs and, after completing her docent training in 2005, she quickly became a standard of excellence for fellow docents. Additionally, Mary undertook the training of a reluctant red-tailed hawk for two years to enhance her animal handling skills for the wildlife programs. Her commitment and devotion to this time-consuming training earned her the Nature Center’s 2006 Hawk Slayer Award. Mary also joined a team of docents dedicating to enriching the lives of the elderly and infirmed at local rest homes that they visit every Wednesday. Mary branched out to help in the wildlife hospital. In 2007 she became a mammal mom, taking home baby opossums, squirrels and bats that required around the clock care with feedings ranging every 3 to 8 hours. Mary took the initiative to get a three-part rabies vaccination to meet the State’s safety requirements and to better perform her duties in the wildlife hospital.
In addition to working with children in school programs, visiting rest homes, training resident animals, and helping out with over 900 injured, sick and orphaned animals that the Nature Center takes in each year, Mary has been a fantastic storybook character for several of the Unhaunted Houses. Moreover, her technical and administrative support skills are amazing and currently she is in the process of compiling educational information and collecting pictures for the Adopt-An-Animal Program, and helping create a page for the website.
It is not too often that Staff is able to find such a versatile, dynamic and energetic volunteer that can fill so many shoes. Mary is an extraordinary person with many talents and Sulphur Creek Nature Center is very fortunate to have her on their team.
Her picture will be displayed in the District Administration Office as the Monthly Volunteer Recognition Awardee for June 2008. In addition, she will be eligible for the Volunteer-of-the-Year Award for 2008, which will be announced in January 2009.
|
