We Appreciate Our Volunteers!
The Friends of the Brown County Library cannot raise its funds or manage its activities without the generous donations of time by our many dedicated volunteers.
We are always looking for new volunteers to help us fulfill and expand our mission to help the Library. All volunteer efforts, large or small, support literacy and learning in the Brown County area for all walks of life and all ages, infants to seniors. Many of our Friends happily volunteer their time on a regular basis for the social fellowship and the satisfaction of contributing to the greater cause of literacy and education for all.
We invite you to review the volunteer options listed below. For more information or to contact our volunteer coordinator, feel free to email volunteer@browncountylibraryfriends.com. If you have a particular event of interest, please add it in the email’s subject line.
Each year at our Annual Meeting, the Friends publicly acknowledge and thank the spirit and dedication of those who devote their time and talent to help the Friends achieve our continuing goals. Recent award winners are shown below:
2018 Volunteer of the Year
Laurel Marquardt
This year the Friends of the Brown County Library recognize Laurel Marquardt as the Volunteer of The Year. She was awarded the title at the 2019 Friends Annual Meeting held this February. She is pictured with Barbara Kane, who introduced Laurel and presented the award. Barbara was instrumental in getting Laurel involved with the Friends back in 2010. She was eventually “lured” into becoming the Book Sale Volunteer Coordinator and has been credited with filling over 2,040 volunteer time slots over the years. Her fellow Friends say she has learned the names and faces of many people, bonded with the UW-GB English Honors Society and has even taken home the signature blue and red aprons to throw into the laundry. Her commitment of time and support are truly an inspiration.
When did you start volunteering for the Friends?
I became involved with the Friends when I was asked to be the treasurer in 2010.
Do you have a “favorite” event that you volunteer for?
All of our events are wonderful, although the book sale is my favorite due to my involvement as the Volunteer Coordinator.
What motivates you to continue to volunteer?
I continue to volunteer for the Friends because I like the strategic mission of the Library. In addition to books, it’s so much more. I especially think it’s interesting that libraries are gathering places for so many reasons and not just a place to check out books. I’m amazed by all the Library does.
What is the best part of volunteering for you?
The best part of being the Book Sale Volunteer Coordinator is all of the volunteers! It’s energizing to know that almost 200 volunteer spots are filled each sale by people who care for the Library and its mission. I’ve been involved with the book sale for almost 10 years now, and there are many volunteers who have been part of the sale for a lot longer than me. There are also many new volunteers to get to know each sale. I also enjoy being part of the planning process of the sale and I’ve worked with wonderful book sale chairs, present and past, including Diane (Vanderheiden), Sherrill (Revolinski), Jenni (Fabry), and Barbara (Kane). There are also many volunteers who have made a lasting impact on me due to their commitment to the library. Of particular note are Steve Sinclair and Harry Maier, both no longer with us.
2017 Volunteer of the Year
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Ashley Reif
Ashley Reif began volunteering at the Brown County Library in 2011, when she turned 12, the earliest age a student can volunteer at the Library. She quickly accrued countless volunteer hours and a wide variety of volunteer experiences, including dressing as book characters for special storytimes, assisting children with craft projects, and helping with the Summer Reading Adventure registration and other larger off-site library events. In 2016, the Friends of the Library
Board invited Ashley to become the first “teen representative” board member with full voting privileges. She has demonstrated maturity and commitment to everything she takes on. The only thing that could slow down her strong desire to volunteer has been her recent entry into Silver Lake College as she pursues a music degree.
2016 Volunteers of the Year
Ginnie Amen, Anita Powers, Millie Kappel, and Rosemary Michalec
We chose to recognize a special group of dedicated long-time Book Sale volunteers, all of whom have reached the age of at least 90 years old: Ginnie Amen, Anita Powers, Millie Kappel and Rosemary Michalec. Sadly, Rosemary passed away in July, 2016. Sisters Rosemary (a sorter and organizer) and Millie (a sorter) made volunteering a family affair. Anita counts the library as her second home (in between her trips around the world and being an Arizona snowbird during the winter months), and sets the standard for the other volunteers (“If Anita can do it, surely so can you!”). Ginnie has no time to sit still. In addition to time spent helping with the book sale, she also has volunteered with the Ashwaubenon Historical Society, Unity Hospice, Hazelwood Historic House Museum, and is a Reading Buddy at Tank School.
These four ladies have been a true inspiration and great Friends.
Ginnie (left) and Anita accept their awards
The Friends of the Brown County Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. | Copyright 2020 Friends of the Brown County Library 515 Pine Street, Green Bay, WI 54301 |