Volunteers are the cornerstone of APSA. From negotiating salaries & benefits for members to providing advocacy & mediation, the work of APSA Volunteers is vital to furthering the interests of the Association and its members. Every year, during National Volunteer Week in April, APSA hosts a Volunteer appreciation luncheon and presents a small gift to all their dedicated committee volunteers, to recognize them for their hard work, donation of their time and expertise and to just say "thanks" for all they do.
It was clear by the noise level that attendees were happy to network and swap stories. Comments received after the event highlighted the fact that committee members, at times, work in isolation and are not aware how many others are contributing their time and energy to the work of the Association.
The luncheon also marked the beginning of the annual Golden Plunger award. An award intended to recognize the volunteer who jumped into the fray most often and cleaned up the most messes. The recipient for 2009-2010 was Ken Thornton who, during the past year, dedicated countless hours to committee meetings and made every attempt possible to keep all committees energized and moving forward.
In typical Ken fashion, he immediately stuck the plunger on his head where it wobbled precariously for a few seconds before releasing it’s suction hold on his balding pate and tumbled to the table. As one member astutely noted, it could certainly be seen as APSA’s last attempt to suck every bit of knowledge from Ken’s mind!
Thank you to all members who came and to the representatives from our seven committees; Executive, Members, Pension Advisory, Advocacy, Nominating and Association Development, Salary & Benefits and University Affairs Committees. Additionally, representatives from other University committees such as the Employee and Family Assistance Program, Parking Advisory, Community Advisory, Dining Services Advisory and Bookstore Advisory Committees helped us celebrate the ongoing commitment of our volunteers.
Jump In and Volunteer!
If you would like to jump in and get involved with APSA, head over to the Committee page and discover what each of our committees do and how you can contribute.