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Published on 11/30/1998 All articles from this issue

Community volunteer service awards given to 12 residents

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

Last Friday, at a ceremony in the Los Altos Youth Center, 12 residents of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills were added to the list of 154 individuals who have received the Joint Community Volunteer Service Awards

The awards have been given since 1982, and Keynote speaker Marge Bruno, a 1997 winner, told the audience that every volunteer receiving the award represents 100 unsung volunteers.

"We live in an active, affluent and blessed community and we want to give back by volunteering," Bruno said. "We are a well educated community and are aware of the needs of the world, and we are an older community that believes in volunteering."

The annual Joint Service Awards were started by two city council members 16 years ago. Jane Reed, representing Los Altos, and Mary van Tamelen, representing Los Altos Hills, wanted to recognize the efforts volunteers make in both cities.

They formed a committee to seek volunteers in both cities who give outstanding service year after year to public service, the schools or behind the scenes in any category of community life.

Awards presented to Los Altos residents were:

Carol Hanzik, for her involvement in many projects of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club.

Jo Skinner, for long years of work and dedication to Friends of the Library of Los Altos, and for furthering the activities of the Western Philatelic Library.

Nan Geschke, for her service to the Los Altos Historical Commission, the History House Museum and the new Education Center project.

Thomas J. Anderson, for more than fifteen years of work in numerous activities benefiting schools, seniors, homeowners and the El Camino Hospital.

Joseph W. Brandon and William C. Henderson, for successfully creating a Veterans Memorial honoring the men and women of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills who served in the Armed Forces of the United States.

William C. Goss, for 23 years of support to many organizations, including the American Legion, and for being a mentor to the young while caring for the aged.

Marilyn Halliday, for more than three decades of efforts to ensure fire safety in the two communities.

Awards for Los Altos Hills residents were:

Fred Graber, for serving as volunteer coach with the Los Altos School Track team for fifteen years.

Rory Kaplan, for 33 years of devotion to educational and environmental aspects of the community, including Hidden Villa, Community Health Awareness Council and Los Altos High School.

Nancy and Al Traficanti, for their joint service in establishing and continuing the Los Altos Mediation Program, many facets of the Rotary Club and the Los Altos Community Foundation.

The annual awards are given through the input of an awards committee comprising both Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. Members of this year's committee were: Franx Anderson; Penny Brunello; Maria De Broekert; Sheila Faillace; and John Moss from Los Altos; Roger Burnell; Liz Dana; Carol Gottlieb; Bob Johnson; Bob Stutz; and Barbara Vetterlein from Los Altos Hills.