Volunteer of the Year – Wendy Gordon

With great pride and admiration, we nominate Wendy Gordon for Volunteer of the Year, recognizing her exceptional contributions to our organization and her tireless commitment to fostering growth, engagement, and impact within our community. Wendy has continually gone above and beyond in her volunteer work, leaving a lasting impression on our club and those we serve.

Membership Growth & Engagement: As the 2nd Vice President of Membership, Wendy identified the crucial need to bring in new, enthusiastic members to revitalize the club and increase participation in its activities. Under her leadership, our membership grew by an impressive 44 new members, directly or indirectly contributing to a more vibrant and dynamic organization. Wendy’s dedication to membership development was recognized with a 1st place award at the state convention in Membership, Category 3. She also played an instrumental role in writing the inaugural New Member informational letter, presenting membership pins for the first time in memory, and ensuring new member bios were highlighted in the club’s monthly newsletter.

Organizational Leadership & Innovation: Wendy’s proactive and thoughtful approach to leadership has shaped the club’s membership structure and operations. She spearheaded the creation of membership binders, designed a membership transition checklist for future administrations, and led the revision of the Associate Member bylaw. These initiatives have ensured continuity, clarity, and long-term success for the club’s membership efforts. Additionally, Wendy completed the quarterly GFWC national recruitment form and actively participated in the GFWC FL Mentor/Mentee Program, exemplifying her dedication to both personal growth and the development of others.

Social Engagement & Participation: As the Social Chair, Wendy injected new energy and excitement into the club’s social events. She increased participation in club activities by introducing a variety of creative and engaging events, including an ax-throwing night and summer lunch gatherings. Wendy’s efforts ensured that members remained connected and engaged, even during the off-season, fostering a strong sense of community within the club.

Scholarship & Education Contributions: Wendy’s leadership extended to the Scholarship Committee, where she cultivated a valuable relationship with the Brevard Schools Foundation, ensuring the club’s scholarship program was aligned with local educational needs. She also presented awards at the high school awards ceremony, further strengthening the club’s ties with local schools and youth.

Service & Community Impact: In addition to her committee work, Wendy’s contributions were felt across various service projects. As the HOBY Chair, she acted as a liaison between the club and local high school counselors, facilitating the recognition of a HOBY recipient. As Teacher Appreciation Chair, Wendy coordinated food for teacher appreciation events and worked directly with high school staff to ensure the success of these initiatives. Her work with the Education CSP, where she presented certificates for elementary education awards, further showcases her dedication to supporting local educators.

Additional Contributions: Beyond her leadership roles, Wendy has actively contributed to numerous other initiatives, including the Bingo committee, Fundraising committee, Children’s Hunger Project packing, Art Show parking fundraiser, and various food drives. She also co-wrote the nomination letter for fellow member Clare Jones, who went on to win the State Volunteer of the Year award, underscoring Wendy’s recognition of excellence within her community.

Wendy embodies positive traits being friendly, loyal, caring, available, and fun-loving. She is a wonderful person to have around—someone who brings joy and warmth to her relationships.

For all of these reasons, Wendy has demonstrated unparalleled dedication, leadership, and service, and we can think of no one more deserving of the title Volunteer of the Year. Her unwavering commitment and exceptional contributions have greatly enriched our club and community, and we are proud to nominate her for this well-deserved recognition.