Volunteer Breakfast and Award Winner
Source/Author: Raffi Darrow, Ebytes Editor
May 06, 2016
How do you brighten up a blustery, rainy Wednesday morning? Dine with your Charger friends, of course! That’s just what a group of Shorecrest volunteers, faculty and staff did on May 4th at the St. Pete Yacht Club. Each spring, Shorecrest thanks their hard working volunteers at a special complimentary breakfast. The new SCA Board is voted on, the leaders of the Annual Fund are announced, and the Janet Root Volunteer Service Award is presented.
Headmaster Mike Murphy thanked the 2015-2016 SCA Board for their service and forward-thinking throughout the year. Beth Vivio then introduced the new Shorecrest Community Association Executive Board. Please welcome for the 2016-17 school year:
- Co-Presidents: Shaheen Goldrick & Heather O’Neill
- Vice-President: Lindsey Lamb
- Treasurer: Karen Peterson
- Secretary: Meredith Granese
- Volunteer Coordinator: Zeina Kropf
 from left: Zeina, Meredith, Karen, Lindsey, Shaheen & Heather |
The success of the 2015-2016 Annual Fund was also due to a great team of volunteers, led by Chairs Michael and Beth Vivio. Beth was present to announce her successor. “Angela and Jim Estes were an integral part of the team. We are thrilled to ‘pass the pig’ to them as they gear up to lead the Annual Fund next year. We know they will do a great job!” she said, as she passed a literal pig - a silver piggy bank to Angela Estes, mother of a senior and a seventh grader.
And finally, Dana Gipe, one of last year’s co-winners of the Janet Root Volunteer Service Award, presented one deserving uber-volunteer this year’s award. Dana first explained the history behind the award.
“The Janet Root Volunteer Service Award was established in 1984 as a commemoration of Janet Root’s innumerable volunteer efforts and as a means of honoring other outstanding Shorecrest volunteers. Janet Root devoted her time to working in many areas of the Shorecrest community. In 1978, she developed the Shorecrest Cultural Enrichment program and is still the Chair today almost 40 years later. That same year, she developed the Picture Lady/Gentleman program, and started the Music Parent program in 1983. She was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1981, and was named a Life Trustee in 2013, making her only the second person in the school’s history to hold this distinction.”
“Our selection committee this year, as always, was comprised of former award winners and the current SCA President, and Presidents-elect. When considering the nominees, we looked at the following criteria:
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Length of service to the Shorecrest community
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Service in a variety of areas from SCA, Booster Club, Fine Arts, Library, Grade-level reps, and any and all varied Shorecrest events
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Positions held as a committee chairperson and committees served
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Positive moral character
When considering a winner, there are some years when it's a simple, somewhat obvious decision. There are others when we have multiple nominees with a terrific history of volunteerism. This would be one of those years. And while there were several other fantastic choices, it was evident to us all that we had one clear and deserving winner.
This year’s recipient has been extremely active, volunteering long past the 12 years her current child has been here. Her youngest is a senior this year, so this is an ideal time to recognize her many contributions to Shorecrest.
She has served on numerous SCA committees including:
- New Parent Dinner
- Fall Festival
- Helping Hands
- Holiday Gift Drive
- Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
- Grandparents Day
- Big Event
She's been a Parent Ambassador that welcomed new families, and served as a class parent from Alpha through 12th grade. She's helped plan both Baccalaureate and Commencement, and been on many a field trip. She was also a chaperone for both the History Fair, and the theatre trip to NYC. She's additionally supported the arts program by serving as a volunteer backstage during rehearsals and shows, providing meals to the students and organizing the post party.
She's helped with Relay For Life for 11 years; as a team parent, a luminaria volunteer, and helped facilitate the overall event in 2012, when her son, was the event co-chair. She's been an annual fund volunteer, and a grade leader for the Athletic Center Capital Campaign. And I haven't even touched on the area in which she's made her biggest contribution... Booster Club.
She's served in all areas from selling her fair share of concessions and spiritwear, to serving as team parent for Middle School football, Middle and Varsity girls soccer, Middle and Varsity boys basketball, and cross country. She chaired Booster Club membership committee for three years, before stepping into the Vice President position and ultimately served as President last year.
This year’s winner is a true representation of an outstanding volunteer. She is the one you call at the last minute when you're in need of help, and she always does so with a smile. Throughout the last 18 years at Shorecrest, she's helped many parents, faculty members and most of all students. I'm always amused when I see a group of seniors (even the boys) run up to say hello or give her a hug.
I am honored to present this year’s Janet Root Award for Outstanding Volunteer to... Janet Allweiss.”
Janet has seen a son and daughter graduate from Shorecrest, and her third child, Taylor '16, will graduate later this month. Her husband, Michael, is a 1981 Shorecrest grad. She was shocked and honored to receive this year’s award, and shed a few tears as she thanked the other volunteers in the room for being part of her “village.” We all know it takes a village to raise a child. This ancient African proverb holds truth every day at Shorecrest. No student or family ever needs to feel like an island.
“Ebytes used to come home on paper in my child’s backpack on Fridays. The Annual Fund had very few large donors and most large contributions were $150. Pratt Street didn't exist and the football field was where the library is.” Kay Brontsein reminisced following breakfast. (She has a son who is an alumn and a son who is a senior, both lifers at Shorecrest.) “But as much as all of that has changed over the years, the sense of community at Shorecrest hasn’t changed.”
Flickr album: Volunteer Breakfast, 2016 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin
