EP!C’s “Our World Our Dreams” Annual Awards Reception

By Jim Kautz
 
What a great night we had on Thursday, July 10th! More than 200 people gathered in a delightfully decorated EP!C cafeteria to honor those individuals, EP!C staff, companies and members of the community who made a significant impact on our organization in 2013. The evening began with refreshments and a great selection of taste-tempting hors d’oeurves provided by Catering Peoria of Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville. Meg Marshall of WMBD Channel 31 in Peoria was our MC for the evening and did a wonderful job of introducing the speakers and award presenters. Joe O’Neill, CEO of G&D Integrated, was our keynote speaker. Joe spoke on the topic of “Change, Why Do We Change and Why Should We Change”. We also took time with a moment of silence to honor the memory of friends of EP!C who passed away last year. Some very deserving people and companies were honored with awards this year. Among those who received awards were:

• Lina Goelzer – Volunteer of the Year
• Debbie Hannon – Roger Harken Award
• Dr. Jacqueline Henderson of Bradley University – Ambassador Award
• Hediger & Meyers – Inspiration Award
• Build-A-Bear Workshop – Employer of the Year
• Dell, Inc. – President’s Award
• Interline Brands – Business Partner of the Year

Star Achiever Awards – Presented to EP!C program participants who have excelled in meeting the goals and dreams that they have set for themselves. Among those receiving awards were:

• John N.
• Marcus H.
• Mary G.
• Brian C.
• Columbia M.
• Emily D.

EP!C also honors a staff member every month, recognizing them for playing a significant role in advancing the mission of the organization. From those who have been chosen as “Employee of the Month”, an “Employee of the Year” is selected and honored at the annual awards reception. The staff member selected to receive the “Employee of the Year” award for 2013 is:

• Shelly Mansfield

Finally, our outgoing EP!C Board Chairperson, Pat Kawczynski was recognized and thanked for her contribution to the mission of EP!C.

Congratulations to all our award winners! We wish them all the best as they continue to promote and support EP!C in all that they do for us.   

Volunteer Training at Camp Big Sky

Session 1: During session one, we allowed time for everyone to get to know one another.  The students learned names and got acquainted with other volunteers from Galesburg.  During this session, we also created an outline of characteristics that make a volunteer.  These characteristics included: Proper uniform, accountable and punctual, following directions and problem solving, being safe, knowing our strengths and weaknesses, networking and socializing, and learning from the experience. We then connected how similar an employee is to a volunteer.
Session 2: During session two, we began to look deeper into one of the characteristics of a volunteer.  This week the characteristic was being punctual and accountable.  It just so happens that EP!C got lost on the way to camp this week and was fashionably late.  This kind of turned into the joke of the day.  During our lesson, we discussed the five main characteristics of being a punctual and accountable volunteer.  These characteristics included: Being prepared, being on time, knowing the information, wearing your uniforms, and being respectful.  The students received their name tags, binders, and shirts during this session.  However, they had to work to get them.  The students went on a scavenger hunt to find each of the items.  During this scavenger hunt they also performed some camp safety or volunteer activities.  The volunteer trainees were then given the responsibility to bring back their binders, name tags, and shirts next week to camp.
Session 3:  During session three, the focus was safety.  The volunteers quickly learned the basic safety rules at Camp Big Sky.  We play charades to learn all the rules. Once the students learned these rules, we put them to the test.  The volunteers went out and practiced some of the rules they had just learned for each of the following locations: Dock, Boat, Hayrack ride, Crafting, First Aid, and Camp overall.
Session 4: During session four, the focus was still on safety.  The volunteers became actors/actresses for the day to help create a safety video.  The editing is still in the process, but we hope to have it out to all soon.
Session 5: During session five, the focus was on building personal relationships and networking.  First, we had to refresh our memory on safety and fill in our volunteer outline with the safety rules.  Once that was complete we took some time to fill in a concept map of all the network connections the volunteers already had.  Then the volunteers got to take a break and head out on the hayrack ride.  After returning we discussed and completed our volunteer characteristics outline for networking.  The characteristics included: Staying connected, sharing your knowledge, keeping it professional, and communicating properly. 

By: Megan LaPage