12/24/2007 - AFS-USA Galatti Nominee Announced!
During the Leadership Summit in Chicago held earlier this month, the 2007 AFS-USA Galatti Nominee was announced, as well as the regionally selected volunteer nominees contending for this prestigious award.
Following dinner at the Indian Garden in downtown Chicago, the National Council Volunteer Recognition Committee honored the volunteers nominated from their respective regions. The nominees were: Peggy Schneider (South Central); Karen Daub (Great Lakes); Joey McCuthan (Southwest); Evelyn Moore (Northwest); Eva Wike (Southeast); and Judy Weyand, (Northeast). Each volunteer will be individually honored at the regional level and will receive a keepsake of this award.
It is with great pleasure to announce that AFS-USA’s 2007 Nominee for the AFS International Galatti Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service is Judy Weyand of Duxbury, MA.
The Galatti Award was established in 1983 and named after AFS founder Stephen Galatti. Stephen Galatti was an idealist, a visionary, a trail blazer and a pragmatist who built and transformed AFS from an organization that transported the war wounded into one that now provides cross-cultural experiences in the name of peace.
Since 1983, this award has honored AFS community volunteers whose commitment and exceptional dedication have advanced the mission and goals of AFS at the grass-roots level. It is the most prestigious commendation granted by the AFS International Board of Trustees for our volunteers. Throughout AFS, volunteerism is key in carrying out its mission of making it possible for individuals to become responsible global citizens as well as active participants in the creation of a more tolerant and peaceful world.
For the past 24 years, 50 individuals from among the AFS partners have been honored with this prestigious award. Seven AFS-USA Volunteers are included in those ranks. Those nominated, as well as winners, state that the nomination is as exciting an honor as receiving the award.
The Galatti Selection Committee (comprised of AFS Volunteers from all regions) and the National Council Volunteer Recognition Committee selected the AFS-USA winner from other competitive nominations. For the past twenty nine years, Judy has been an unwavering and tireless volunteer with AFS in the Massachusetts area. Her dedicated activity and commitment to AFS supported her candidacy for the award. Judy is considered to be an active and integral part of AFS-USA’s strong volunteer infrastructure.
Beginning as a host family in 1979, Judy has since served in numerous volunteer roles. Besides currently serving as Chairperson for the National Council for AFS-USA, she has also served as Area Team Chair, Orientation Coordinator, District Rep, Area Team Hosting Coordinator, NE Regional Council Chair, and Representative to the National Council.
Judy had been a high school art teacher for many years, and credits a college European summer travel abroad experience as the beginning of her lifelong love for international travel. In 2005, Judy’s expertise with orientations at the area team level garnered her selection to collaborate with AFS-USA and AFS-Argentina in administrating a new Orientation Training Model for American participants going to Argentina. Through this she has had the opportunity to touch the lives young people from around the world, and is grateful for the friends she has made along the way.
One of Judy’s most important accomplishments with AFS-USA was assisting in the implementation of the Volunteer Dialogue. While simultaneously holding Area Team leadership positions and working, she helped gather and review data for this year-long project to develop a clear direction and communication for AFS-USA. In March 2004, the AFS Board of Directors ultimately incorporated these results into the Strategic Plan. The results also assisted in the framework for the volunteer development plan as outlined in the 2005-2009 Strategic Plan.
Leadership, thoroughness, dedication, thoughtfulness, fair-mindedness, and great teaching ability headline Judy’s attributes. She is open-minded, dependable, and always has her eyes and ears open for new AFS volunteers. Her leadership style is to welcome others with ease while seeing the positive in everyone. Judy inspires volunteers to go above and beyond, and has the ability to make each person feel appreciated and valued through her energy, wisdom, organizational skills, and humor. She remains unfailingly encouraging when the AFS goals seem impossible, and is ultimately generous with praise, always graciously thanking ‘her’ volunteers. Judy’s sense of humor, warmth, enthusiasm, and humility allows her to do her job with grace and generosity of spirit.
Please join us in congratulating Judy in being selected as the AFS-USA nominee for the 2007 Galatti Award and unselfishly promoting the mission of AFS through her deeds and actions for the Mission of AFS.
Congratulations, Judy, for this winning this wonderful award. You have made us proud!
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