Freda Hudson Volunteer Recognition Award- Inaugural Address
Wendy Seys, LVQ President
The name Literacy Volunteers of Quebec is no coincidence; in fact, without volunteers there would be no organization. Volunteers have built this organization, they are part of our history, and today we recognize and appreciate their contributions.
Freda Hudson was a remarkable woman who accomplished remarkable things in literacy… nationally, provincially and locally. It is not an understatement to say that her dedication to Literacy Volunteers of Quebec breathed new life into the provincial organization. You see, Freda Hudson was not one to take no for an answer, or to walk away from something she believed in.
Few of you here may remember a time when the LVQ annual meeting consisted of a small group of volunteers (and by small I mean not more than 8), who gathered in a musty classroom at the Botanical Gardens…with their own bagged lunches, I might add, and decided that day to rebuild a floundering organization. It's no surprise that Freda was one of those volunteers... And here we are today… more than 80 people, no bagged lunches, and very much a thriving organization.
LVQ decided to honour Freda's memory and her volunteer contributions by awarding a pin each year to a remarkable volunteer.
The person chosen as the recipient of the 2007 inaugural pin was also in that room at the Botanical Gardens; in fact, Freda and this volunteer were "colleagues", "partners in crime", and if they were born in a different era, we might say they were part of the same "brat pack"… and if that doesn't give it away yet… they both have a reputation for speaking their minds, and both were members of the May birthday club.
Grace Saabas -- please come forward.
Grace has been active in the field of literacy since 1972 - over 35 years of volunteering. Grace became active in the area of literacy when it became a priority for Lutheran Church Women, and eventually joined RECLAIM in 1980. She was one of RECLAIM's original tutors, first office secretary, first Chairperson, first tutor trainer, first family literacy trainer and quite possibly RECLAIM's first everything!
Grace has made valuable contributions to the field of literacy in her own back yard, as well as provincially and nationally. Always Presidential, Grace has served in this capacity, not only for RECLAIM, but for LVQ and also LLC.
A true and dedicated literacy volunteer, mentor, colleague, and friend to many.
It is an honour to present you with an award that I know has personal meaning to you Grace.
Grace Saabas, RECLAIM Literacy Council. View More Photos