Volunteer of the Year Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Each season the current Members of The Suzi Bass Awards will vote to award a special prize to a person from the greater Atlanta theatre community. This award is intended to recognize the long-term, intensive, or extraordinary work of a volunteer for a Suzi Participating Theatre. Nominees for this award will have contributed significant time and talent to their chosen organization. Since the support of volunteers is so vital to the functioning of theatre organizations in the Atlanta community, this award strives to recognize the contribution of all volunteers by highlighting a few.Nomination and Voting Process
o Nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Award are submitted by the Administrative Personnel of Participating Theatres.
Possible examples:
1) a long-time volunteer who fills a staff position that must otherwise be budgeted;
2) a dedicated board or committee member who has personally spearheaded a successful major campaign or initiative;
3) a volunteer who has remained consistently involved through difficult times or over a long period;
4) a volunteer that your audiences or staff have come to recognize as part of your organization, and who actively contributes to your successful operation.
Since volunteer jobs are as varied as those that fill them, the possibilities are endless!
2) a dedicated board or committee member who has personally spearheaded a successful major campaign or initiative;
3) a volunteer who has remained consistently involved through difficult times or over a long period;
4) a volunteer that your audiences or staff have come to recognize as part of your organization, and who actively contributes to your successful operation.
Since volunteer jobs are as varied as those that fill them, the possibilities are endless!
o Each organization may nominate one volunteer each year (an individual or a couple) by submitting a written statement of 250 words or less and a photograph. Those submitted for the Volunteer of the Year award will be highlighted at the Nomination Announcement Event and on the Suzi website. Before the Awards Event in November, a ballot with nominating statements will be sent to the Members of the Suzi Awards, who will vote for a winner. (Any tie will be re-balloted, resulting in only one winner each year.) Members will vote by internet/email only, and the results will be confidential.
o The Volunteer Award will be presented at the Suzi Awards Event by one representative each of the Suzi Membership and the Nominating Theatre. (Announcement of the winner may occur prior to the presentation of the Award.)
o Previous Volunteer of the Year winners may not be re-nominated for a period of ten (10) years.
Previous Winners
2012- Sandra Meierhofer - New American Shakespeare Tavern
2011- Jessica Linden - Actor's Express
2010- Christine Billies - Georgia Ensemble Theatre
2012 Nominated Volunteers
The Clarks (Lynne, Beatrix, and Colin) - Georgia Shakespeare
The Clarks are a well-seasoned volunteer machine; the family of 3 truly knows the meaning of being dedicated. Lynne and Colin have been long-time volunteers with GS, and their daughter Beatrix must know more than any other child her age about the importance of serving her community through the non-profit arts. The Clarks have been around GS working as ushers, taking tickets, helping with setup and strike of Shakespeare in the Park and fundraisers, and stuffing thousands of envelopes. Chances are, if you've gotten a mailing from Georgia Shakespeare, the Clarks have folded the letter and stuffed the envelope. The Clarks have been loyal Georgia Shakespeare supporters through thick and thin-- Beatrix even raided the family's couch for loose change to accompany her birthday money contribution to the Save GS Campaign. The Clarks have played their own leading role in keeping Georgia Shakespeare alive, and they seem to become more devoted each season. The Clarks are also fierce volunteers for GloATL, Fernbank Science Center, Dance Truck, GatherAtlanta, and several other arts organzations in Atlanta. We think it is worth recognition that they are raising the type of child that will be a arts supporter for the rest of her life. Please help us show our thanks to the Clarks by voting them Volunteer of the Year.
Staff and company of Georgia Shakespeare
Sandra Meierhofer - New American Shakespeare Tavern
The Atlanta Shakespeare Company is proud to nominate as the Suzi Award Volunteer of the Year for 2012 Sandra Meierhofer, who has given of her time and energy to the Shakespeare Tavern for the love of live theater for 20 years now (since 1992)! From almost the very beginning of the Shakespeare Tavern, she has been present as a “backbone” to this organization: from our days as a fledgling theater in a renovated auto body warehouse on Peachtree Street, to our current status as a year-round professional theater.Sandy has helped with volunteer coordination, mailings, box office management, fundraising events, sewing of costumes, decorating, coordination of auditions, and numerous other tasks. She’s usually the first one to set up, and frequently the last one remaining to help clean up. Her flexibility and willingness to help has provided a presence that allowed this theater to breathe a little easier, knowing that there was someone to call on who was always willing to help.
We are lucky to have the help of a large number of volunteers – last season saw over 870 of them contribute over 10,000 hours of service. The Volunteer Organization is headed by one staff Coordinator, who has 16 volunteer “Captains” who each coordinates a different nightly crew of volunteers. Sandy is one of the Captains, and she mentors and trains the others. She even voluntarily coordinated all the volunteers when the staff Volunteer Coordinator moved out of state for two years, allowing the Volunteer Organization to continue to grow and serve the theater. Her dedication to making the live theater experience a fulfilling one to both volunteers and patrons is shown on a continuing basis, through her enthusiastic personal attention to both the individuals attending the shows and those helping out. We consider Sandy a key contributor to our ongoing existence!
Staff and Company of the New American Shakespeare Tavern
Brenda Perdue - Aurora Theatre
Aurora Theatre first met Brenda Perdue around 2002. She and her late husband Dr. Garland Perdue were season ticket holders, financial contributors, and supportive and caring patrons from their first visit. For years, they were both available and filled in wherever needed. They were pivotal in the creation of the Volunteer Guild and they worked tirelessly from cleaning bathrooms, to manning the concession stand. From greeting patrons for sponsor events to hosting cast parties at their Suwanee home they were a vibrant part of Aurora’s growth. One fond memory of their stalwart dedication included the mid-preview performance medical emergency care. (An actor fell during Das Barbacu and injured herself. Dr. Garland flew to the rescue.) They also were on hand to decorate the theatre for Halloween and then return to redecorate for Christmas. The creation of Aurora Theatre’s new theatre complex in Lawrenceville would not have been possible without their tireless efforts. They served on the Creating the Castle capital campaign committee, and they were here to christen the new Aurora Theatre in 2007. Sadly Garland, passed just a few shorts months after the new Aurora opened. We thought we might lose Brenda as a volunteer, but to our surprise and joy she continues to this day to be a key leader of our Volunteer Guild. As the head of Volunteer Communications, Brenda creates a steady stream of emails to our 400 guild members, she has become a master at using the Constant Contact Email program. Without Brenda, Aurora Theatre would not be the thriving organization it is today. She helps to staff volunteers for the 300 events that happen every season and organizes special events throughout the year like the Festival of Trees. The happiness which Brenda exudes to our patrons, staff and visiting artists is always warm and welcoming. There have been precious few cast dinners or guild meetings over the years where Brenda has not been present and she is always engaged in making sure everyone is fed and happy.Ann-Carol and I are proud to nominate Brenda Perdue for this award because of her enduring legacy with the Aurora Theatre. But most of all AC and I are proud that Brenda is not only our friend but our family.
Anthony Rodriguez, Artistic Director
Beverly Powell - Stage Door Players
Beverly Powell has served in many different facets since her first coming to Stage Door Players over 30 years ago. An on again, off again member of the Board of Directors, she has been President of the Board, Secretary, Operations Chair, and a member at large. Beverly is now is our Office Manager and handles the day to day running of the Box Office and the organization of our volunteers. All as a unpaid volunteer herself.Every season she takes on the daunting task to handle our Season Subscriber organization and mailings. She handles the ticketing process during performances, answers the phones at the reservation desk two of the five days our Box Office is open and works the Box Office window at our shows two to three times during the run.
Beverly’s passion for Stage Door was instrumental in bringing me on board, first as a guest director and later as the Artistic Director of the theater company. I always remark that if it hadn’t been for Bev, I wouldn’t be here, and if she ever leaves the joint might just as well shut down. She was also the recipient of the first Directors Award I gave at our Annual Woodie Awards.
She has supported me over the last nine years in helping us make the transition from Community Theatre organization utilizing volunteer performers, designers and directors to a fully professional Company now a thriving member of the Atlanta Theater scene, and part of the Suzi Bass Organization.
This nomination is supported by our current Board of Directors: Jim Redovian, Dan Womack, Marcie Millard, Michael Magursky, Eve Schneps, Mark Cole, Patty Mosely, Sally Horan, Lee Hedden, Celia Gardner and Jim Adkins; our team of Box Office volunteers: Marcia Kuniansky, Janet Yale, Connie Seidel, Kathleen McCook, Sarah Cave, Deborah Kloder, Chris Franken, Pam Woodward and Carla Masecar; and the full and part time staff and resident design team of Stage Door Players: Courtney Loner, Chuck Welcome, Jim Alford, J.D Williams and Dan Bauman.
Robert Egizio, Artistic Director
Current Suzi Members may vote for the recipient of the 2012 Volunteer Award through the survey link coming to you in via email.
Submission form for Special Awards: Spirit of Suzi, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement
Use this form to submit special awards candidates and information about them.
Submission form for Special Awards: Spirit of Suzi, Volunteer of the Year and Lifetiime Achievement (PDF)
Guidelines for Special Awards 2012 (PDF)
Guidelines for all Special Awards: Spirit of Suzi, Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award, Lifetime Achievement, Volunteer of the Year, and Audience Choice for Outstanding Season
