Kathy Millard
Kathy after retirement was like many looking for something to pass the idle time one has which comes along with the territory of retirement. Kathy took up square dancing with the Oromocto Pioneers Square Dancer Club in September 2003 and graduated in 2004. Kathy like most was full of enthusiasm and vigor and danced as much as possible. She went on a couple of years after and joined weekly dancing with Elm Tree Square & Round Dance Club as well.
Kathy being one to not sit idle was looking to help out the club wherever possible. She took on the role of Public Relations Representative with Oromocto preparing news items for the Journal for the club. This job she maintains for the club still today. As well for an interim she was also the composer of several news items for Elm Tree while dancing with that club until she passed the torch over to someone else when she made the decision to solely commit her dance life to Oromocto.
Kathy always looking to lend a hand would not stop there, she served as Lunch coordinator for several years until the position was phased out of the club. As well along with that task she has been the Telephone Coordinator making sure all those who are not part of the electronic world are kept up to speed on events within the club. Even though this part of her role may not be as busy today it is a position she has maintained even through today.
Kathy like most is always willing to lend a hand whenever possible. She was always part of the working team when it came to the dinners whether it be set up or clean up, cooking, collecting money, selling tickets or whatever one needed to help out she was willing to lend a hand and does today as well.
Kathy not looking to be idle with her time took on a much larger role for the last 11 years. Kathy took over the role of Publisher & Distribution Representative for the Journal. A task that had been held previously by Nan Leger. Like any other project Kathy is given she dove into this task with both feet ready to run the race. At the time she took over at the start of Journal 19 which had seen upwards of a readership of over 200 printed copies per journal issue. Being the retired teacher, she was always makes sure that us composers submitting items to the Journal have all our punctuation in the proper place and our spelling proper. She probably would have a few corrections for this nomination if she could read it before hand. The task in the beginning was rather large, it consisted of collection of sales and renewals of Journal money. It was a tedious job to label each Journal, sort and seal each clubs Journals, prepare the ones for mailing & send these all out this after having to make a couple of trips to Staples to drop it off to be printed and then pick up the large order afterwards. Kathy like most has adjusted well to change. Kathy was a proponent for the Journal going to an electronic form but as well was still looking to maintain her role with the Journal. Even though today her trips to Staples may be less, she still has a lot of follow up work that she does to distribute the approximately 60 Journals per issue.
Kathy remains busy outside the square dance world as well. She has been a great companion & friend to one of our own long time dancers travelling with her to appointments and events. Also family has been an important part of Kathy’s life and enjoys her time she has with them. Even if she is just a short two step walk from her daughter’s living in the granny suite she is there to help out when she is needed.
No matter when you see Kathy she is always scurrying along to help out, take a photo or just say a simple hello and that is why we at Oromocto Pioneers feel Kathy Millard is deserving of a Distinguished Service Award and hope you consider her for that honor.
