On October 12, 07 Paula Fisher attended Tennessee Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence Annual Awards Luncheon. This luncheon is to recognize advocates, law enforcement and other frontline workers who serve victims of domestic and sexual assault. On that day, Paula Fisher received the Mary Renshaw Award.
This award is named in memory of Mary Renshaw, who in spite of great personal adversity dedicated her life to the service of others. Mary continues to be inspirations to all who strive to reach beyond their own obstacles yet remain dedicated to improving the lives of others. In memory of one of Tennessee's greatest women the Mary Renshaw Award is offered to an advocate who has given outstanding service to the elimination of violence against women.
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Judy Kisiel Memorial Volunteer of the Year
Betty Lampley
This award was created in 2000 to recognize a volunteer, who, in the past year has proven themselves as outstanding in dependability, attitude, motivation and effectiveness. We are blessed with many outstanding volunteers and each year it is an honor to recognize one of them. This year’s recipient began volunteering in the Spring of 2007. In less than a year she has already exceeded the number of documented volunteer hours of all others save one – our 2005 recipient, Rae Ann Stutzman. She is dependable, often filling in when someone else calls and cancels. She is excited about the work she does for Women Are Safe, and is a great ambassador. She is always willing to take on new tasks and is constantly looking for ways to help. Thank you, Betty!
Now I have a short story to tell about Betty’s work and attitude.
One Saturday I worked at the Shop with Betty – she was filling in for another volunteer who called and cancelled at the last minute. It was a beautiful Saturday and I am sure she had a thousand other things to do. This young mother walked in attracted by the wedding dresses. She was about my size. She asked the size of a dress on a mannequin. Betty told her it was a size 4. Now, Betty had helped dress the mannequin and knew that dress only too well. It had no less than 50 tiny pearl buttons down the back and the mannequin was a bear to work with. But when the woman asked to try it on, Betty invited her to do some shopping while she attacked the mannequin. It took a good 10 or 15 minutes to get that dress off, and then Betty helped the woman try it on. Of course it didn’t fit, but Betty never acted put out or aggravated in the least. She just put the dress back on the mannequin and cheerfully invited her to come back and shop again as the woman left without buying a thing! At that moment, I thought to myself – she deserves an award!
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE JUDY KISIEL MEMOIRAL VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
2006 ~ Linn Blanchard
2005 ~ RaeAnn Stutzman
2004 ~ Linda Rollins
2003 ~ Liz Coombe
2002 ~ Phil Bittle
2001 ~ Patricia Hunt
2000 ~ Beverly Davis
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Professionals Who Care Award
Neil Jobe
This award emerged when the staff of Women Are Safe wanted to recognize someone for their outstanding service to victims, but who was not a volunteer of the program. We realized there are professionals who, through their work, have a huge impact on victims of domestic violence. So, since 2005, we have been honored to recognize a professional who:
- Displays a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of domestic violence
- Has displayed a consistent pattern of collaborating with WAS
- Uses their position to educate others and advocate for victims
- Makes themselves available to clients outside of standard office hours
- Volunteers their time to assist WAS in their efforts to help victims
Neil Jobe has made himself available to our clients anytime we have asked, often coming immediately to meet with someone who is struggling with issues for which WAS is unable to provide services. He has been willing to take however long is necessary to assess and assist in locating proper treatment for our clients who suffer with addictions. Neil Jobe understands how drug and alcohol abuse intersects with domestic violence, and because of his dedication and unfaltering service over many years, the staff of WAS has chosen him as the 2007 recipient of the Professionals Who Care Award.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE PROFESSIONALS WHO CARE AWARD
2006 ~ Patti Flores-Pugh
2005 ~ David Kozlowski
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Cagley Award
Bob Dillingham
Men Against Domestic Violence has given the staff of Women Are Safe, Inc. a task each October to nominate a member of our community to receive the Cagley Award.
This year Women Are Safe nominated a gentleman who strives to serve victims of domestic violence and assist WAS advocates whenever the requests have been made.
He has worked in law enforcement for 35 yrs. He has helped our advocates in escorting victims safely out of the county to a safe place. He has a clear understanding of victim’s situations with domestic violence and makes every effort to assist them with the law enforcement issues. He has attended the WAS Law Enforcement trainings and in 2006, he became a Domestic Violence Instructor. He has been with the Perry Co. Sheriff’s dept. since 1999.
Congratulations to Bob Dillingham for receiving the Men Against Domestic Violence Cagley Award.
PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE CAGLEY AWARD
2006 ~ David Cole
2005 ~ Ken Daron
2004 ~ Mike Kelley
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