It is that time of year again when we recognize community members or organizations who have had an exceptional impact on the library. I have two proposals for you this year. The first is Marge Damm. Marge passed away in January. She was a very longtime member of the Friends of the Library and one of the core members of that group for many years. She was a fixture at our book sales. She was a regular when it came to sorting books. She served as their Vice President and kept track of the membership list. While she has received recognition from the library in the past as a member of the Friends, I don’t believe that she was ever recognized individually. Nor would she probably have wanted to be, as she was an incredibly humble person who served without any desire for praise. Nonetheless, I can think of no more deserving person for this recognition, and I only wish that we had done so before her brief illness and passing.
The other proposal that I have for you is Bill Poore. Bill is the current president of the Friends of the Library and has been for many years. He is the glue that holds that group together, and he has put many hours and a lot of sweat into making their work a success. He is also a former library trustee, so he has decades of service to the library under his belt. Bill has had some health issues recently, and that prompted me to want to put him forward so that he can be recognized in person and while he is still active with us. He was given the Palmer Award in 2014 for his work with the Board. I believe it appropriate to recognize him again, this time for his work with the Friends.
Recommendation: I recommend that you approve the Palmer Award for Marge Damm and Bill Poore.