Dear Volunteers,

I am very pleased to announce that the members of the AGO’s Volunteer Executive, at their April 14 Committee meeting, elected Shelagh Barrington as President, AGO Volunteers for a two year term. Shelagh’s new role begins July 1, 2016.

Shelagh is a long-time AGO volunteer and this year celebrates 20 years as an AGO volunteer. She has volunteered with the School and Daytime guide programs, and she is currently a Co-Chair of the Evening Weekend Gallery Guides.  She will leave this post when she takes on her new responsibilities as President, though she will continue volunteering in her regular shift on our Friday evening team. Shelagh has also contributed to the AGO volunteer community through her involvement on VE committees. She is past Chair of AGO Alumni (a program that connects former volunteers with the AGO), and is past Editor of Volunteer Vistas, a print newsletter that predated our volunteer blog. Shelagh has always been interested in communication and community – two passions she brings to her role as President!

I also want to take this opportunity to express thanks to our current Volunteer President, Debbie Kennedy. As many of you will remember, Debbie took on the role of Co-President, AGO Volunteers with her dear friend, fellow guide and colleague, Ann Wilcox, who passed away suddenly in May 2015. We were all saddened by this enormous loss to our community, and Debbie stepped in to assume the Presidency on her own, a big task, made bigger by the circumstances. Debbie will remain on the Volunteer Executive for one more year in the role of Past President, and will continue in her role as a Daytime Gallery Guide with the Friday team.

Sincerely,

Deb

Deborah O’Leary

Director, Staff & Volunteer Resources (SVR)