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| Eleanor West Accepts award from
President Steve Veazey. (photo: Marvin Crozier) |
Award Honors Michigan Camp Quality Director
The World Community
International Youth Service Award was presented on March 23 to Eleanor West for
her dedication, creativity, and love selflessly shared with the next generation,
especially through her work with Camp Quality—summer camps for children with
cancer. She has been executive director of Camp Quality Michigan for almost 20
years. Under her leadership, it has grown significantly.
Eleanor said, “My life continues to be blessed by the
children I have the privilege of serving. Children have taught me many of life’s
lessons and have given me many memories to treasure.”
Approximately 2,000 kids have been encouraged through their
experiences at Camp Quality Michigan. Eleanor has also made a difference for
young adults who have served as volunteer companions and staff at the camps.
Eleanor believes her experience working with Community of
Christ youth has been the training ground for her work in the community. She has
been involved in youth ministry in her congregation, at a jurisdictional level,
and through camping ministries.
Camp Quality is a nonprofit volunteer organization that
provides camping experiences and year-round support for children with cancer and
their families. Eleanor said, “God has led me through the joyful journey he
invited me to take. Whenever I open my heart to trust God’s words and promises,
I am never left wanting.”
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Jim Hannah (l.) with
President Veazey.
(photo: Marvin Crozier) |
Former Herald Editor
Receives Fitting Endnote
The Elbert A. Smith
Memorial Award was presented on March 23 to Jim Hannah for excellent writing
published in the Herald.
Jim retired from church employment in November 2006. He had served as
Herald
editor for nine years, after 20 years as an appointee minister.
The April 1998
Herald—the
second issue under Jim’s direction—launched his “Endnotes” column. It proved to
be exceptionally popular and continued for the rest of his editorship—a total of
104 issues.
Jim said, “In accepting this award I want to acknowledge the
contribution of my
Herald friends and
colleagues, whose good work continues.”
During each World Conference, this award is bestowed on an
author whose Herald
article(s) best represents the high standards of integrity, clarity, and
soundness of intellectual and religious thought characteristic of the late
Elbert Smith’s writing for the church throughout the first half of the twentieth
century.
Jim acknowledged the impact Smith’s work had on his own,
saying, “Early on during the first
Herald
redesign I was reminded of a collection of columns published from his 15 years
as Herald
editor, titled Blue
Pencil Notes. As I reviewed
these columns I was touched and inspired by the personal tone of Brother
Elbert’s reflections on everything from the amusements of daily life to the
amazements of family vacation.”
Jim now works in interfaith relations for the Truman Heritage
Habitat for Humanity affiliate and continues to write.
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