Courtesy photo.
SIMI VALLEY — The Simi Valley Family YMCA handed out its 7th Annual Volunteer of the Year awards at a November 3 dinner at the Simi Y. Over 100 people attended.
“Each year, the Simi Y honors those individuals who provide the kind of leadership that makes a tremendous positive impact on our Y members and the community,” says Dan Jaeger, Simi Y executive director.
The “Order of Merit Award” honors a YMCA leader who exemplifies civic responsibility through service to the community. This year’s winner is John Bagnall. Bagnall is a longstanding Simi YMCA board member, serving most recently as finance committee chair. He is the board’s chair-elect. “His entire career in law enforcement with the LAPD before his retirement was dedicated to civic responsibility, ultimately heading up the Financial Crimes Division. Bagnall is active with the Simi Sunrise Rotary Club, where he is currently on the youth committee and Cajun Festival executive committee.
The “Distinguished Service Award” honors an individual who has made accomplishments in YMCA financial development. This year’s winner is Stacey Eisenhour. For six years, Eisenhour has been team captain to a group of volunteers who help raise money for the YMCA during its fundraising campaigns. “Stacey is consistently a goal buster,” says Jaeger. “But it’s not just her financial accomplishments that make her a standout. She has a contagious spirit. She leads by example. Stacey is also one of our most popular group exercise instructors. With her skills, high energy and caring nature, Stacey represents everything the YMCA stands for.”
The “Jack Vopal Y’s Men of the Year Award” honors a member of the Simi YMCA’s Y’s Men’s Club, a service organization that supports the Y. This year, the award went to Karl Baker. Baker served as president for six year of the Y’s Men’s Club. “Karl infused a new energy to the club,” says Jaeger. “As a machinist, he’s volunteered his skills to Y’s Men’s projects and to the YMCA campus. Karl is a staple at the Y’s Men’s annual Christmas tree lot at the Y, loaning his motorhome as the lot’s office. Karl’s best characteristic is he sense of caring. He would anything to help others.”
The “Jim King Award of Significant Service” honors an individual that has made a significant contribution to a Simi Valley Family YMCA program. Megan Tisler was this year’s award recipient. Tisler has been a volunteer at the Y’s resident camp since 2012. “Megan volunteers at camp because she knows camp changes lives,” says Jaeger. “Megan exemplifies the values we try to instill in youth while at camp: caring, respect, responsibility and honesty. She mentors campers, helping them see the best in themselves. During the past few years, she has taken on a director role, meaning she volunteers even more hours preparing and planning camp. She helps lead the program with integrity and empathy and serves as an inspiration to the staff.”
For more about the Simi Valley YMCA, go to http://www.sevymca.org/simivalley