Service Award Recipient 2019
At our 2019 AGM, on March 18th, Nature Manitoba was pleased to present a Service Award to Julia Schoen.
Service Award criteria involve significant contributions to Nature Manitoba, in one or more of the following areas; long and faithful service on the MNS Board or Committees; leading, teaching or assisting with MNS sponsored indoor & outdoor events; and recruitment activities
Julia Schoen excels in all of those criteria. Julia co-ordinated 14 annual fund-raising Garden Tours, and is just wrapping up 22 years of doing the same for the Workshop Series. She has been an active member and trip leader for the Grey Hares and a frequent contributor to Nature Manitoba News.
Julia joined the organization after her retirement from teaching in 1989. During the 1990s, Julia was active on the board of directors of the MNS, serving as secretary and volunteering in other ways, earning her a Service Award in 1996. As well as the funds they have generated (well over $70,000 to date), Our Natural Garden Tours have played a significant role in promoting Nature Manitoba to the public and recruiting new members. We showed our appreciation for Julia with a second Service Award in 2014, the year of the last tour she organized.
The Workshop Series is one of Nature Manitoba’s most popular programs. Once a week from January through April, year after year, the Kelvin High School classroom fills with members keen to learn about the wonders of nature from the various experts that Julia lines up. From the popular repeat workshops to interesting new topics, Julia’s program never fails to generate an enthusiastic response. Given the confidence that past Presidents have had in Julia’s ability to manage these programs that are so important both for our budget and for our educational mandate, it is no wonder she was presented with Presidents Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
A citation for one of her President's Awards had a great first sentence: "Julia Schoen is one of the forces that make Nature Manitoba what it is." And on behalf of everyone associated with Nature Manitoba we say “Hear Hear”. We thank her for her extraordinary service, and wish Julia every success for the future!
Service Award Recipient 2014
Julia Schoen is certainly a name that most Nature Manitoba members will recognize. Garden Tour, you say? Workshop Series? Grey Hares? Well, all of the above.
She has coordinated 14 annual fund-raising Garden Tours, 17 years of the Workshop Series, is an active member and trip leader for the Grey Hares, a frequent contributor to Nature Manitoba News, and shows no signs of slowing down. Julia has no lack of drive to stay active and involved as a volunteer for Nature Manitoba. The benefit is mutual, for, as Julia said in her Profile in our May 2010 newsletter, she not only loves the work (although ‘work’ might not be the appropriate term), she has seen herself grow in many ways since joining the organization after her retirement from teaching in 1989.
During the 1990s, Julia was active on the board of directors of the MNS, serving as secretary and volunteering in other ways, earning her a Service Award in 1996. When the founder of the workshop series, Ardythe McMaster, moved away in 1997, we needed a new coordinator, and Julia was a great fit. A couple of years later, board member Nancy Cullen mentioned that she had been on some great garden tours in other prairie cities. The idea of a fundraising garden tour peaked Julia’s interest, as well as that of two other members, Marilyn Latta and Donna Danyluk. By the summer of 2000, the group of four had planned our first Natural Garden Tour, with most of the groundwork done by Julia.
After organizing another 11 successful Garden Tours on her own, Julia decided to give the tour a welldeserved break in 2012. Due to popular demand, the Tour returned in 2013, this time with a small Committee assisting Julia with various aspects. Julia filled the critical role of finding stunning gardens to show. The 2014 Tour will indeed be her last, but we are hopeful that she will continue to share her Garden Tour expertise with the Committee in an advisory role. As well as the funds it has generated (well over $60,000 to date), Our Natural Garden Tour has played a significant role in promoting Nature Manitoba to the public, and we are indebted to Julia for this.
The Workshop Series is one of Nature Manitoba’s most popular programs. Once a week from January through April, year after year, the Kelvin High School classroom fills with members keen to learn about the wonders of nature from the various experts that Julia lines up. From the popular repeat workshops to interesting new topics, Julia’s program never fails to generate an enthusiastic response. Given the confidence that past Presidents have had in Julia’s ability to manage these programs that are so important both for our budget and for our educational mandate, it is no wonder she was presented with Presidents Awards in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The thought occurred for me to present you with yet another President Award, but hopefully one of your walls still has space for the Service Award that we would like to present to you tonight.
President's Award Recipient 2009
President's Award Recipient 2008
President's Award Recipient 2007
Service Award Recipient 1996
In recognition for her efforts during the past three years as MNS Secretary and her support of MNS objectives, Julia Schoen has been awarded a Service Award.
Julia accepted the onerous position of Secretary in 1993 when she learned it had already been vacant for one year. In preparation for this responsibility, she took a self-taught course in typing, and then purchased a computer, a machine totally foreign to her. It was quite a learning curve for her but through dent of effort and will power, she mastered first the typing and then the computer and then the idiosyncrasies of being a secretary. She takes her responsibilities seriously and has proved herself a model of proficiency, always ensuring that the minutes are accurate and on time. Julia also prepares a comprehensive agenda for the Board well in advance for the next meeting. She has graciously volunteered to continue in the position of Secretary for one more year, to the relief of the Board.
Last year, Julia assumed the responsibilities of secretary to yet another organization. Julia has transcribed information from numerous field studies on birds onto Bird Record Cards and subsequently into the MARC computer data bank. She is continuing with this important programme for another year. Since 1991, Julia has volunteered in the Annual Garage Sale and written several articles for The Bulletin. In 1992, Julia was head of The Bulletin and Flyer Committee whose responsibility was to ensure the monthly Bulletin and flyers were mailed out to members. Julia redesigned an excellent slide programme complete with music first shown in this year’s “New Member’s Night” held in March.
The MNS is pleased to present Julia with this Service Award.
Presiden't Award Recipient 1996
I much appreciated Julia’s efforts as Secretary during my term as President. She has the fastest pencil I have ever seen! It is also ecologically sound as it is the eraser-tipped wooden barrel variety. She weilds in well on behalf of the Society and Executive/Board. Julia is always pleasant, approachable and diligent. She is a pleasure to work with in meeting situations.