Member of the Year
Margaret Kelch 2009
Kevin Seymour made the following remarks in presenting Margaret with the TOC 2009 Member of the Year Award:
Margaret Kelch joined the TOC in October of 2005 on the nomination of Don Barnett. She became aware of the TOC through the High Park Hawk Watch and the Saturday bird course run at the ROM by Glenn Coady and Mark Peck, which she had taken for the three previous years.
She took on the position of Conservation Councillor in May of 2006. She was involved as TOC's member on the Carden and Tommy Thompson Park Advisory Committees keeping the TOC interests at the fore.
Bob Carswell stepped down as President during July of 2007 and he proposed to Council that Margaret fill in as interim President until a permanent replacement could be found. She accepted. For a club that historically didn't even allow women to be members, this was a significant move, as Margaret was the first women to serve as president of the TOC; we are sure she will not be the last! She served for almost a full year until I took over as President in March 2008.
She was the facilitator at the TOC Strategic Retreat in July of 2008. She has carried on as Conservation Councillor, working with a dedicated team. Together, the team has developed the very important TOC Conservation Strategy proposed to the membership for consideration this spring. The alignment between TOC and her becoming Chair of the Nature Conservancy of Canada's Ontario Board in the spring of 2009 has lead to some important synergies for habitat protection.
Last but not at all least, she has aided me immeasurably with wise council in moments of need. It is my great pleasure to award Margaret Kelch the 2009 TOC Member of the Year.
Margaret received an Open Air Books gift certificate and a framed award that says:
The Toronto Ornithological Club is pleased to award Margaret Kelch
MEMBER OF THE YEAR FOR 2009
Thank you for your sterling efforts as Chair of the Conservation Committee
and for your groundbreaking year guiding the club as its President.