Quota International

Patricia Olesen joined the Quota Club of Orillia Inc. in 2003. She has been a very active member and spent four years on the Board of Directors. She has taken on the responsibilities of our bi-weekly book sales (small fund raiser where used books are sold) and takes the extra books to the hospital for use there. She assists with our fundraisers and community service projects. Patricia is very successful at what ever she puts her mind to do, doing it well. She is a very positive asset to our club.

Patricia also volunteers at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital. She volunteers a total of 8 hours a week (four - 2 hour shifts each week) taking on various tasks as needed. She assists with the hospital foundation office when the need arises which is approximately six times a year.

Patricia is a member of “Telecare” and holds a position on the Board of Directors. As well she commits 4 hours a week to answer phone calls on the “Distress Line”. She assists with the interviewing process and training of new volunteers for positions with Telecare. She does speaking engagements to inform other groups of Telecare’s activities and helps with fundraising. She also co-chairs the co-coordinating of the Telecare’s Tag Day.

Patricia is an active member of her church. She assists with the religious articles office twice a month. She is involved with the “Right of Christian Initiation of Adults” helping and being a sponsor to people who are wishing to join the church. (This involves a commitment of four hours a week for 10 months.)

As if the above doesn’t keep Patricia busy enough, she also takes time to help with the literary program at local schools with all grade levels twice a week as well as supply teaching (a paying job) when called upon.

Patricia’s outgoing spirit has allowed her to form many friendships within Quota.

Patricia is most deserving of this outstanding recognition of Volunteer of the Year!

Susan Stewardson
Quota International of Weyburn

Susan Stewardson is our Club President but we think of her as the gal with the "Quota Heart". When Susan was recovering from breast cancer surgery in May 2004 she received a gift - a small stuffed heart. Made of washable fabric and stuffed with absorbent cotton, it provided comfort us the right size and shape to support under the arm. To quote Susan, "That small heart was a major miracle to me as far as physical comfort at the time". Her endorsement was enough to motivate our club to make hearts to distribute. Our club was proud to pass along the Quota Hearts Project at District Conference, to Canada Area, and then at Quota International Convention.

Susan has worked for Scotia Bank for over 25 years, nine years as Weyburn's Branch manager. She has served in executive roles for the South Saskatchewan. Scotia bankers' Association. Susan just finished a 2 year term as President of the Weyburn Chamber of Commerce.

Raising her four children lead to involvement with Pathfinders and Scouts (over 24 years). Presently she serves on the Saskatchewan Scout Foundation and she has been very active for over 20 years in Wilderness Rendezvous- Canada's longest running standing Scout Camp.

Susan has held numerous executive and committee chair positions as a member of Beta Sigma Phi for over 33 years. She continues to be involved with local Cancer Society initiatives as "a survivor and supporter". She acts as an "unofficial confidant" being only a phone call away for women recently diagnosed with breast cancer - "I help anyway I can" says Susan.

One wonders how Susan finds time to serve as chair of our Women of the Year project and now as Club President. Susan's response: "I believe in the things Quota stands for- making a difference to women and children and honoring women through the Women of the Year project. Quota means friendship and working as a part of a team to accomplish great things. Through Quota I have met a diverse group of women that I otherwise wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet."

Thank you Susan for your commitment, and for having a "Quota" heart.

Eugenia Rawn

Quota International of Owen Sound

Quota International of Owen Sound’s nominee is EUGENIA RAWN as an International Volunteer of the Year.

Following a devastating accident in June 1997, in which her husband Harry sustained a brain injury, Eugenia’s world became a succession of doctors, hospitals and therapists. One such person, speech pathologist Mary Craig-Low, went on to become a very good friend to Eugenia and Harry. Mary introduced Eugenia to the world of Quota in the winter of 2000 and Eugenia became a member of the Owen Sound Club in March, 2001. Then International President, Dolores Brosky, “pinned” Eugenia at her installation ceremony. The rest, they say, is history.

Although rather quiet in nature, Eugenia stepped up to the plate when asked. In the first 3½ years of being a member, Eugenia held the positions of Treasurer, Secretary and President-Elect, serving as President for the year 2005-2006. She has served in many capacities on the various committees of the Owen Sound club and is a strong supporter of Publicity and Promotion, having chaired this committee on numerous occasions over the years. She believes that it is up to each of us to promote the work of Quota, both in our own area as well as world-wide, but also realizes that publicity from your local newspaper goes a long way too. Although she has not had the opportunity to attend a convention yet, she enjoys renewing old friendships at District Conferences and Canada Area meetings.

In her personal life, Eugenia has been married to Harry for 29½ years and has one son and two step-children. These children have blessed Eugenia and Harry with a total of 9 grandchildren, the newest granddaugher, Laura Elizabeth, born Valentine’s Day 2009. “Weesau”, an eight year old Shi-tzu dog completes the family. Eugenia has been a staff member at Division Street United Church in Owen Sound since September 1990. She was Secretary-Treasurer until 2004 at which time this position was changed to create two positions. She enjoys her role as Secretary and the contact with congregation members as well as the community.

Volunteering for Eugenia started as a young adult when she lead the Teeswater C.G.I.T. group in her home church. Her own years as a member of C.G.I.T. made this commitment very easy for her. Moving to Owen Sound in 1978, working full time and having a family, the volunteering aspect was set aside for a few years. In the mid 1980's she was Sunday School Superintendent at Division Street United Church, a position she held for 5 years. In the late 1980's the family became involved with the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association, and a long relationship with the Salmon Spectacular Fish Derby was formed. Each year, the last week of August will see Eugenia busy on the computer at least three evenings inputting the data for fish caught. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet anglers who come to the Owen Sound area each year to participate in this great ten day festival. In an effort to give back to the local hospital community for the help and support the Rawn family received at the time of Harry’s accident, Eugenia began volunteering in the Gift Shop in September 2003. She and Harry “man” the shop every Thursday evening and at least one Sunday during the month. As of April 9th, Eugenia has logged 1,128 volunteer hours in the gift shop. They feel so fortunate for the opportunity to “give back” even just a little. “Blood. It is in you to give.” Eugenia believes in this saying and is a strong supporter of the Canadian Blood Services . Since moving to Owen Sound in 1978, she has donated 91 times. Last fall she and Harry volunteered at the International Plowing Match held in Teeswater. For a few years, Eugenia and Harry were active with the Brain Injury Association of Grey-Bruce before it ceased operation.

Eugenia does not celebrate her birthday one day of the year, but rather 31 days.Each October 1 their home becomes a showcase of fun, magic and “horror” in celebration of Halloween and Eugenia’s birthday. For the last 25 years, the inside of the house is decorated with bats, spiders, candles, lights and lots of other scary things. The front lawn is transformed into a cemetery complete with “body” parts protruding from the ground, a 6-foot casket with “Igor”, the “Grim Reaper”, “Mr. Bones” a 6-foot skeleton complete with a cowboy hat, as well as an assortment of other displays. Eugenia and Harry enjoy creating these displays in their basement and welcome the people who stop to look, walk around and take pictures. Halloween evening, finds “Witch” Eugenia and Harry enjoying the trick or treaters who “just have to come to this house because it is so cool”. The smiles are worth the work! Then they set to work to transform their yard to a Christmas Wonderland for all to enjoy. In her spare time, Eugenia loves to watch her grandchildren grow, read, play “pepper” with her friends through Quota, and construct woodworking projects with Harry. Together they have designed and built six different pieces of furniture for their home and enjoy the time spent on each project. The satisfaction in a job well done is evident when they speak about their accomplishments. Eugenia’s woodworking and painting skills are impressive.

Eugenia values her Quota friendships and the support given to each other in times of sorrow, in times of triumph, in times of fellowship. She would like to thank the Owen Sound Club for this nomination. Eugenia is a Quotarian who truly lives up to the intent and spirit of the Quota Collect and Mission Statement. We are very proud to make this nomination as it is well deserved.

International Recognition of Canadian Volunteers

International Recognition
of
Canadian Volunteers