Freda Hudson Volunteer Recognition Award

A few words about Cornelia Fischer, Yamaska Literacy Council volunteer and 2010 recipient of the Freda Hudson Volunteer Recognition Award:

It might be easier to talk about the things that Cornelia hasn’t done for literacy, than to detail her many contributions.

Trained as a tutor in 1994, she has worked with a number of students, in the community and in the federal prison. She has been a Trainer with YLC. In this capacity she has upgraded the YLC Training materials (ie. retyping an entire tutor handbook that looked more like an old patchwork quilt than a professional training document); she created beautiful (and still functional!) posters and charts that we use in our workshops. She has even willingly embraced the new technology like a pro! POWERPOINT, bring it on! And I can’t imagine a world without her beautiful calligraphy Tutor Workshop certificates! Did I mention that she has done translation work as a volunteer? Marched in parades? Froze/boiled/blown by the wind…at the YLC Brome Fair booth? Oh yeah, searched for YLC office space, and assembled rooms full of IKEA furniture…not because it was in her “job description”, not because she was looking for glory, but because the job needed to be done, and Cornelia is a volunteer who always goes above and beyond.

Cornelia goes to jail…sounds almost like a b-movie. Cornelia has tutored several inmates over the years, and participated in the prison tutor training. She is a welcome cheery presence in an often dreary institution.

No tale of Cornelia would be complete without the story of “The Day Cornelia became YLC President”. Lured by the promise of lunch, Cornelia was told that she would be President. A very unique but effective nominations process! Not only did she comply, but she did a stellar job! (from 1997-2000)

Let’s move on to her work on the provincial level. Obviously she served as LLCQ-LVQ president. She moved the organization through some of its most challenging periods of growth. Working to access provincial grants, negotiating with the government, attending meetings, developing policies and job descriptions, hiring supervising and even firing staff!

And Cornelia has done all of these things as a VOLUNTEER. It is almost beyond comprehension. And, if I told you she did it all with a smile and that infectious laugh, you might think me gone over the edge. I swear… Cornelia is every bit (and then some) as wonderful and deserving of our thanks and recognition as any volunteer could be.