Volunteers Of The Year Announced At Pequot Library

SOUTHPORT, CT — (From Pequot Library): Pequot Library held its annual meeting on Oct. 28, recognizing outstanding volunteers and voting in new board members. Each year the Hoyt O. Perry Jr. Lifetime Service Award is given to the person who, like “Hop,” has given a lifetime of service and support to Pequot Library. The 2017-18 honoree is William Russell Jr.

Russell has been involved with Pequot Library for over a decade as a volunteer, a fundraiser, and a board member. He has hosted Meet the Author programs, organized fundraisers, and has helped staff large community events.

The Volunteer of the Year award is given to a volunteer, who over the past year, has been an energetic, flexible, hard-working, passionate, reliable, committed team player. This year’s award was presented to Pamela Dixon.

Dixon volunteered within the Communications and Marketing Department and “enjoyed the opportunity to utilize my prior substantial professional experience while sharpening my current skills.”

The Crane-Wood Book Sale Award, the third volunteer appreciation award given out at the annual meeting, is named for Stanley Crane, a longtime director of Pequot Library, and Fred Wood, the former owner of the Open Book Shop. It is always difficult to select the recipient for this award because Pequot has so many valuable volunteers. This year’s honorees are Linda Teja and Joanne Teja (1951-2018). Both sisters worked in the book-sorting room, year-round, and at each of the library’s book sales. They love everything about books — reading them, sorting and pricing them, discussing them, and suggesting them.

The Friends of Pequot Library elected a new president of the board of trustees, Sean Kelly, and executive vice president, Nelson North. Kelly joined Pequot Library’s board of trustees in 2016. He is an award-winning art director and illustrator whose clients include The New York Times, The Washington Post, Businessweek and The Atlantic. North was the executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society, is a dedicated volunteer, and has led fundraising campaigns for nonprofits.

Members also elected two new board members: Joan Frost, an interior designer and art historian with a devoted interest in rare books, and Lynne Laukhuf, a former assistant head of school at Greens Farms Academy and a volunteer on the Special Collections committee. Pequot Library thanks outgoing board members Saba Pina and William Russell Jr. for their years of service.

Pictured, from left to right: Volunteer award winners: Linda Teja, William Russell Jr. and Pamela Dixon. (Contributed photo and news release)