Home > News & Events > MAARSianChronicles > Issue 15: December 2006 > Volunteer Highlights: Three Honored with MAARS Volunteer Awards

Volunteer Highlights

Three Honored with MAARS Volunteer Awards

by Jamie McCarthy, MAARS Volunteer & Training Director

At this year's annual Gala, three MAARS volunteers received awards recognizing their outstanding service to the flock and organization.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Tina McCormick, Director of Operations and MAARStore Manager

The Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon the volunteer whose years of service have been instrumental in the continued success of the organization.

This year's recipient, Tina McCormick, exemplifies the dedication and determination that it takes to care for the birds who need our help. Tina has volunteered with MAARS since 1999 and has served as Director of Operations and MAARStore Manager since 2002.

As Director of Operations, Tina McCormick is at The Landing most days and on-call seven days a week, checking in on the flock, answering questions about everything from food to cages and toys, and making sure that each shift has the supplies they need to care for the flock. Tina works with vendors and donors to ensure that each bird has the best food, toys, and cages that we can provide.

Tina is "the engine" of MAARS and keeps The Landing going. This is no small task with over 130 birds and 70 volunteers. At MAARS, Tina is the go-to person for everything from phone and computer to plumbing, heating, and cooling issues.

In addition to her duties as Director of Operations, Tina has dedicated herself making the MAARStore work. The MAARStore provides volunteers and adopters a cost-effective way to provide for their own birds, and to support MAARS in the process. All proceeds from MAARS store sales go to purchase food for the MAARS flock.

This year the MAARStore, under Tina's direction, began selling our own line of bird toys under the label Out of This World toys. These toys are unique and made only of the highest quality, bird-safe materials. These toys have been a huge hit with volunteers, adopters, and visitors to The Landing as well as with the MAARS birds. If you would like to make an appointment to visit The Landing to shop at the MAARStore

In addition to her volunteer duties at MAARS, Tina works full-time for Carlson Hotels Worldwide, helps to run a non-profit organization that is dedicated to bringing folk groups to the Twin Cities for shows, and cares for her own flock of six birds and one cat.

Volunteer of the Year Awards:
Sue Larson, Volunteer Staff, and Jill Gannon, Placement Director

Volunteer of the Year Awards are bestowed upon volunteers who have made extraordinary contributions in the past year to MAARS.

The recipients of this year's awards were singled out for their advocacy on behalf of MAARS birds, and the additional hours they worked giving even more to MAARS above their regular four-hour-per-week commitment.

This year Sue Larson has undertaken the important task of making Out of This World bird toys to sell in the MAARStore. With Sue's diligence and creativity, the MAARStore has been well-stocked with unique, fun toys for birds of all sizes. Every toy sold at the MAARStore helps to pay for food for the flock as well as providing enrichment for a bird. Because of Sue's hard work, sales at the MAARStore have increased significantly over last year.

In addition to working one four-hour shift per week at The Landing and making toys for the store, Sue has also enlisted the support of family members to donate much-needed supplies. Sue's family has donated numerous comfy manzanita and concrete perches and lots and lots of toys, which have been used to outfit cages. Every cage at The Landing has a variety of perches, and these donations have allowed the MAARS Staff to replace old and worn-out perches and toys.

This September Jill Gannon took over as the MAARS Placement Director and was promoted to a Senior Staff position in addition to her duties as a shift manager. Jill had been a member of the Placement Committee since 2004.

In her new role as Placement Director, Jill has increased placements in the September–November period by 40% over last year. Her dedication to making successful matches means that MAARS can take in and help even more birds.

Each placement requires approximately 10–15 volunteer hours to complete, including application screening, visits at The Landing, home visits, bird care education, and final placement.

As the newest member of the Senior Staff, Jill will assist in establishing MAARS policies and procedures, and managing the day-to-day organizational operations.

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