/reddeerartscouncil
Diane Hermary Volunteer Spirit Award
A visual of the Diane Hermary Award, a painted suitcase, by local artist and friend of Diane, Carol Lynn Gilchrist. Diane often painted suitcases as gifts for friends and family. The idea for a suitcase award was provided by Lisa Spencer Cook and The Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery provided the hard-sided suitcase.
Volunteer Spirit AWARD GUIDELINES
Introduction: This award recognizes and honours an outstanding individual who is volunteering their time and talent in the arts community and is a member privately or through an organization that is a member of the Red Deer Arts Council. This individual is making a significant contribution to the Arts community through commitment, service, creativity, cooperation and leadership in their volunteer role(s).
For the purposes of this award, volunteering is considered:
- giving significant unpaid hours to a community organization
- contributing talents, energy and skills to help non-profit organizations in the community
- being of benefit to the organization and to the Volunteer Award Criteria
- demonstrating exceptional commitment, service, creativity, cooperation, or leadership
- reach and impact in their community
- community engagement and bringing people together
- challenges they may have overcome
- inspiration to continue to serve community
The following areas will be assessed:
Additional Material: Provide a letter of reference from the local charity or non-profit that benefitted from the contributions of the nominated individual.
The Award: The recipient will receive a certificate and a miniature version of the suitcase award to take home with them. The large suitcase is displayed at the Red Arts Council offices. The award will be presented at the volunteer appreciation and/or scholarship awards evening.
Judging: The Volunteer Award Committee of the Red Deer Arts Council will select the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Selection will be based on only the information contained in the Nomination Form and Letter of Recommendation. The committee may verify the information but will not seek out additional information.
Responsibilities: Additional information may be asked for by the committee to the nominator once the vetting process is complete and the volunteer or a designate must be able to attend the volunteer appreciation and scholarship awards evening. The Volunteer Spirit Nomination Form and Letter of Support must be submitted online no later than April 1st of each year.
Nomination Form can be reviewed here: WORD or PDF
This award is in memory of our dearly missed Board Member, Diane Hermary, who served the Red Deer Arts Council as Secretary for nearly 20 years. This award honours her dedication to arts, culture, creativity, and community.
The award was inaugurated in 2024 and past award winners include:
- Scott Barnabé, 2024
- Diana Anderson, 2025
You can read more about Diane and her creative aspirations and inspirations here:
https://www.reddeerartscouncil.ca/board-members/me...
