THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 3, 1995 TAG: 9505020101
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around Town
SOURCE: Linda McNatt
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
In her own word, she was ``stunned.''
Not only that, she didn't feel she deserved it, didn't want to take it, was almost in tears.
That was Patty Flemming's reaction last Friday afternoon when she was told she had been selected Volunteer of the Year for Isle of Wight County.
``I feel horrible taking this award after hearing about the 79-year-old computer expert and the arthritic food distributor,'' Flemming said. ``Why me?''
``Because,'' said a smiling Alan Nogiec, the county's director of Parks and Recreation, ``you were chosen the most worthy.''
And, indeed, she was worthy. Flemming, a Windsor resident, was nominated for the award for ``her unselfish devotion and volunteer efforts for the Windsor Elementary School's Odyssey of the Mind Program.''
She had some stiff competition, as noted in her remarks.
Finalists included Maud Gillespie, nominated by the county Department of Social Services. Gillespie lives in Carrollton and volunteers both in the local libraries and for Social Services. In the past year, she's chalked up about 260 hours in the department's clerical unit alone, ``helping the agencies meet deadlines and accomplish work in the under-staffed clerical section.''
``She was able to master computer tasks and continued to upgrade her skills to handle frequent computer program changes,'' said Mac Cofer, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, as he announced the finalists.
``Not too bad for a 79-year-old. Isle of Wight thanks you, Mrs. Gillespie.''
And Isle of Wight thanked Jesse Freda Hilton. She was nominated through a representative of the SHARE program of South Hampton Roads, an organization that recognizes volunteers for monthly food distribution.
``Mrs. Hilton, who has painful, crippling arthritis in her hands and feet, coordinates the SHARE program for 40 residents at Covenant Place Apartments,'' Cofer said. ``She collects the names, monies and proper paperwork, and she and her son distribute the food to the residents every month. Even though her hands and feet swell with pain at times, she continues to work day after day, week after week.''
Tough competition.
But Flemming, it seems, impressed just about everybody with her coaching and leadership skills when it came to kids - specifically, kids involved in the Odyssey of the Mind program, a kind of intensive, grueling, creative aerobics-of-the-mind team exercise for youngsters.
Ironically, Flemming got involved in the program this year after she decided earlier in the year to home-school three of her four children. Two of them, Noah, 13, and Hannah, 10, would have been eligible for the program this year had they attended public school. Noah was on the Windsor Elementary team last year. His mother got involved when she was asked to judge a competition.
``That's how I learned first-hand just exactly how competitive it is,'' Flemming said, ``and how wonderful it is for kids.''
This year, the Windsor team needed a coach, and Windsor Elementary teacher Verna Jones asked her to help.
``I told them if they would allow Hannah to try out for the team, whether she made it or not, I'd coach,'' Flemming said.
Turns out Hannah made the team. Flemming, meanwhile, had committed herself to coaching, which meant working with the team three times a week, sometimes up to six hours a day.
All of the hard work paid off. Flemming's team won second place in district competition. Noah's team, she said, also did well, winning the district's top creative award.
Both Nogiec and Cofer took time to thank all of the volunteers who mean so much to this rural county.
``The pay is pretty basic - zero,'' Nogiec said, chuckling. ``The only thing that makes any sense to me is that these people get a lot of satisfaction from it. . . . If not for the volunteers, this wouldn't be the great place to live that it is.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LINDA McNATT
Patty Flemming accepts the award from Alan Nogiec, director of Parks
and Recreation, and Mac Cofer, chairman of the Board of Supevisors.
by CNB