Dr. Shannon MacNeill selected 2012 Jan White Award recipient
As always, there are many women that we can think of who have contributed to Vernon Women in Business and the business community in general. I was very pleased to receive the nominations that I did this year even though it makes the decision as to the recipient very difficult.
As I personally experienced two years ago, sometimes the mention of a person’s name conjures up a word – in this case the word is “profe
ssional”. This year’s recipient of the Jan White Memorial Award truly exemplifies the qualities inherent in the criteria for this award and is a professional in all regards. While I did not know Jan White personally, I have been told by many of the tireless contribution that she made to VWIB and in particular to our print Directory. This year’s recipient too has given a great deal of time over the past six years to VWIB. She is a true advocate of women and reminded us annually of International Women’s Day, and supports an organization to stop human trafficking. In addition, during her tenure on our executive, she made it possible for VWIB to host forums for both the federal and provincial elections.
As a professional, she takes time to encourage her patients to take responsibility for their own health and she takes her role very seriously. She serves on her professional association, as well as a “virtual” executive for business women - all this while maintaining her role as wife and mother to young boys – one now a teenager! Her husband loves to ski and she complains that she may never get to go on a ‘warm’ vacation, yet she is diligent in her desire for physical fitness and loves these days at Silver Star.
This year’s recipient was responsible for the re-writing and implementation of our Policy and Procedures manual, as well as the Constitution and By-Laws. The process to rewrite the Policy manual was not an easy one, but she persevered through two years of frustrations and set-backs until the final draft was ready for approval by the membership.
She also chaired the committee for several years that was responsible for reviewing the scholarship applications received from Okanagan College and had a strong voice in the selection process for those receiving the two bursaries awarded on behalf of VWIB.
This year’s recipient has previously been honored in her home community of Regina as a “Woman of Distinction – 2002“ and was our VWIB President from 2009-2010. I am pleased to announce that my friend, Dr Shannon MacNeill, is being awarded the 2012 Jan White Memorial Award for her contributions to VWIB.
