20th Annual Volunteer Banquet Celebrations  

It is hard to believe for some, but the Raptor Education Foundation has been going for 28 years and on December 1, 2007, we celebrated our second decade of our formally established Docent Program.  Some of the people shown below, have  been with us for almost that entire 20 year period. During the past year, thousands of hours were donated to REF in a variety of areas including mews cleaning, maintenance, raptor training, school programs, public shows and general operations. REF could not operate without the tremendous support of each of our wonderful docents.

	REF banquets always get started with a short social hour.  Docents catch up with each other's busy lives at one of the few times when most of them can get together in a relaxed setting. Lorraine Monson, right, having just arrived from the long drive from Colorado Springs, enjoys a very nice glass of wine, which she also contributed to the festivities.  Nancy Fortran looks on...possibly in disbelief. After all, Nancy is a teacher and has heard all the stories before.
	Anne Price, REF's Curator hangs with Bernie Gardetto  as the social hour gets started.  Bernie has been with the Foundation for almost as long as we have been having our formal recognition banquet.
	Sara McCreery (left), REF's Administrative Assistant, listens on with Sylvia Redling and  Ted Redling as a story unfolds across the room.
	And what all of us have learned over the past many years, is that Bernie Gardetto has possibly the very best stories ever told.
	Toni Smith joins everyone just getting settled for dinner.
	After dinner (Pot luck and REF has some excellent chefs) the Annual Docent meeting gets started and is then followed with the awards presentations.
	Kevin Corwin, Nancy Fortran, Shelley Doris and Lorraine Monoson were all recipients of REF's Silver Talon Award for 2007.  The Silver Talon Award recognizes exceptional contributions in specialized areas.
	Mitch Skinner, left, receives REF's special goshawk pin which acknowledges the first time a docent surpasses a 100 hour contribution. Mitch also received  the Volunteer Service Award with Bernie Gardetto. Other VSA winners not present were Gene Albright and Jenni McAllister. Mitch brought along a beautiful photo album with very recent pictures from his wonderful trip to New Zealand.
	Alexys Monoson, last year's Volunteer of the Year, with her mother Lorraine, both received REF's Distinguished Service Award for hundreds of hours devoted to our mission and birds.  Mother and daughter have also earned the frequent driver award as they commute from Colorado Springs to our Aurora facility.
	Left to right, Nancy Fortran, Kevin Corwin, and Margaret Catale show off their  Excellence in Volunteer Service Awards.  All three have been with REF for a long time with Kevin approaching the 20 year mark.
	Left to right, Cathleen Collins, Dr. Jen Redmond, and Toni Smith received their Certificate of Volunteer Service after having contributed up to 99 hours in the previous year.  Not pictured recipients are Pati Stajcar, and Pat Langley.
	Sylvia Redling shows off her Outstanding Service Award acknowledging her contribution of  225.5 hours in the past year. Sylvia has also achieved licensed falconer status this year, which is itself, quite an achievement considering she also manages her family of 4.
	And once again, last but certainly not least, Shelley Doris (left) receives REF's highest tribute as Volunteer of the Year for her 440 hours donated during the past year of service.  Shelley, a trained biologist and currently a restaurant manger, has distinguished herself in many areas of the Foundation's operations.  She earned this year's award fending off very close competition, as last years winner, Alexys Monoson fell short by a mere half-hour difference.  We've never had a tie in this category...yet!   REF extends its congratulations to each of our Docents and expresses our sincere appreciation for a job well done.  Special thanks again to Shelley and all of the past 20 Volunteer of the Year winners.   Find out how you may join REF's illustrious volunteer corps.