April 2, 2009 – The St. Thomas Rotary East annual Vocational Excellence awards honor members of the community who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty in their chosen profession and enrich the lives of those they meet. Four very deserving recipients were awarded plaques. Each of the new honorees was introduced by her nominator.
Dr. Renata Platenberg of the Division of Fish and Wildlife was honored for her outstanding outreach work in the community. This includes public bat nights, a bat house project, reptile and frog hikes, and a monthly newsletter "Do One Thing for Wildlife."
Barbara Sunderland of Red Hook Mail Service was honored for being super efficient in what she does and always greeting people with a smile. She goes out of her way to help customers, including helping stressed people decompress without ever appearing stressed herself.
Jacqueline Watson of the Therapy Association and Disability Advocates (TADA) received her plague for working as an occupational therapist working with children in the public schools of St. Thomas. She's also the driving force behind TADA and goes above and beyond her duties in raising funds for special equipment and securing healthcare services for patients.
Beulah Wilson of Nana Baby Children's Home was honored for taking over the running of the home after the death of her sister, Louise, and taking care of up to 12 children. Beulah's stated aim is that every child who comes to Nana Baby Home, whether it be for 24 hours, several months or even years, leaves knowing what it feels like to be loved. She believes this will give them strength to face whatever adversities they may encounter in the future.