by Kristina Gabalski
A new community volunteer award in Brockport honors the memory of the late Monika W. Andrews.
During their regular meeting August 14, trustees voted unanimously to adopt a proposal creating the Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award.
Trustee Bill Andrews, Monika’s husband, proposed the award which will be presented annually to a resident of the Town of Sweden (including the Village of Brockport) or the Town of Clarkson.
The purpose of the award is to encourage, recognize and reward outstanding creative leadership as a volunteer, Andrews stated.
The recipients must have created new volunteer activities or made creative, imaginative changes to existing ones. Priority will be given to activities that directly benefit the needy.
Monika Andrews made many lasting contributions to the Brockport community as a volunteer including the creation of the first playground for handicapped children in Monroe County and the transformation of the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf into a “client-centered” facility.
Andrews said recipients of the award shall exemplify the leadership qualities that characterized the civic contributions of Monika.
“The award will be presented by a Selection Committee,” Andrews said. “Committee members will be appointed by the three municipal boards.
“The award will include a small monetary award,” he continued. “I will provide the funds.”
An annuity fund will be established with funds from a retirement account of Monika Andrews and from a life insurance payment of which she was a beneficiary, Andrews stated in the proposal.
The Clarkson Town Board adopted the award proposal at their regular meeting August 14, Andrews reported. He added that Town of Sweden officials have assured him that they also expect to adopt the proposal.
Nominations for the award will be submitted to the Selection Committee c/o the Village of Brockport by any resident of the three municipalities. Self-nominations are permitted. The deadline for submission of nominations is December 31 of the year before the award is to be made.
The winner will be announced and the award presented by the Selection Committee on April 16, which was Monika’s birthday.
