Every spring, community members gather in the Boothbay Region YMCA gymnasium to honor exemplary acts of volunteerism. The Y staff and board members celebrated their 33rd annual meeting April 9.

Helen Meserve and YMCA Director Andy Hamblett commenced the award ceremony, giving special recognition to Maxine Tourtillotte, for her unwavering commitment to the community. She is the longest continuous YMCA member of the Boothbay region.

This year’s special service award recipients were: Courtney Chaney, Youth of the Year; Eric Hakanson, Program Service Award; Helen Meserve, Volunteer of the Year; and Ginny Bishop, the Character Development award. Emily Moore, Mary Baudo, Doris Welch and Anne Barker presented the awards respectively.

For Bishop’s extensive tenure teaching Y-Arts, Barker gave a poignant speech commemorating the influence she’s had in showing children he value of creativity in the world of musical and theatrical arts.

Bishop’s son Roosevelt Bishop led the Y-Arts chorus in a rousing rendition of “Operator” in honor of his mother. Emily Moore, Bishop’s daughter, is now the director of the ensemble, as the chorus performed various show tunes and Beatles songs throughout the night.

The staff also recognized Lori Murray and Jayne Lewis for a combined 45years of service at the YMCA.

This year’s theme “All Together Better” resonated throughout the night as a video and plaque were unveiled in honor of meeting the final phases of fundraising for the Bosarge Family Aquatic Center. A total of $9.5 million was raised throughout the duration of the project.

Peggy Pinkham also honored outgoing Board of Trustees members Erin Cooperrider, Jeff Curtis, Barbara Gibson and Bruce Johnson. Incoming trustees Doreen Dun, Andrea Hutchins, Bruce Riddell and Mary Williams were all welcomed to the board.    

The dinner included a lobster macaroni and cheese plate catered by Kim Mills and his staff who maintained a lively atmosphere throughout the night.