Nassau County Council on Aging honors volunteers

Nassau County Council on Aging
Media Release
May 2, 2019 12:00 p.m.

More than 100 volunteers attended NCCOA’s Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Fernandina Beach Life Center, April 11. Staff members served volunteers their lunch from the cafeteria-style food service counter in the Clear Grand Hall.
Elsie Harper Volunteer Award Recipient Nick Klein (center right), pictured with (left to right) Gina Cox, NCCOA Nutrition Manager; Nick’s wife, Kathy Klein; and Janice Ancrum, NCCOA President & CEO.

Nassau County Council on Aging (NCCOA) presented the prestigious Elsie Harper Volunteer Award to Nick Klein, Community Room volunteer and Bingo caller, at the organization’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, Fernandina Beach Life Center, April 11.

The Elsie Harper Volunteer Award is the highest recognition a volunteer can achieve at NCCOA, and is named for the late Elsie Harper who rallied the community to support our seniors and brought many volunteers on board more than 45 years ago.

NCCOA honored Nick Klein with this award for his admirable service as an entertaining and personable Bingo caller, and “his ability to make every senior feel as if he or she is the most important person in the room,” according to Janice Ancrum, President & CEO. “He is ‘all in’ with his big personality, bringing out the best in our members,” added Nutrition Manager Gina Cox.

Surprised and at a loss for words following the award presentation, Nick did manage to say, “I am not as worthy of this special award as all those who are here today. As volunteers, we probably get more out of our efforts than the seniors since we enjoy our interaction with them so much. Thank you to all of the wonderful folks who work at the Council on Aging…they make our volunteer time so easy and worthwhile.”

The NCCOA Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon is an opportunity to formally recognize the contributions of more than 270 volunteers who donate their time, talent and treasure to fulfill a wide range of volunteer roles throughout the organization. Newly hired Volunteer Director Lynne Starling personally handed framed volunteer appreciation certificates to each of the 100 or so volunteers in attendance at the event.

The theme of this year’s luncheon, “Thanks for Helping Us Grow,” was timely due to the unprecedented growth the organization has experienced in the past year—a move into the new Fernandina Beach Life Center at 1901 Island Walk Way, exciting new lifelong learning programming and an increase of 45% more members served over 2017.

President & CEO Janice Ancrum (far left) recognizes NCCOA’s Advisory Council. Pictured from left to right (back row) Betty Berkman, Robin Bolan, Marlene Chapman, Bernita Dinwiddie, Philip Chapman, Joe Murphy, Terri Cunningham; (front row) Maureen Paschke, Sharon Lennon and Rich Smith.

As an interesting twist and to celebrate the new, state-of-the-art commercial kitchen at the Life Center, NCCOA staff members served volunteers their meal at the new cafeteria-style food service counter during the luncheon.

For more information on NCCOA volunteer opportunities, please call Lynne Starling at 904-775-5490.