Upper Great Lakes Chapter Executive Director Randy Slikkers knows a thing or two about bee colonies and their hives. Randy is a dedicated bee steward in his spare time, but he carries his knowledge of what makes a successful hive into all aspects of his life.
“Some of you all have heard me talk about these bees, how incredible and complex a hive is, and how many different jobs bees do in the hive,” Slikkers said during the annual Volunteer Awards Recognition Luncheon. “It makes me think of the incredible people in our chapter who work so hard to keep our hive strong and are so deserving of recognition.”
Volunteers from the Upper Great Lakes chapter were busy and productive bees this year, and that hard work was celebrated at the annual volunteer recognition event during the 2024 National Scleroderma Conference. The luncheon recognizes volunteers for their outstanding work in support of its mission to advance medical research, promote disease awareness, and provide support and education to people with scleroderma. This year, Upper Great Lakes and its volunteers took home 6 of the 15 awards given out during the event.
The 2024 awards and recipients include:
2024 Volunteer Awards Luncheon Photo Gallery
The Individual Fundraiser of the Year is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to fundraising in their chapter and shows consistent excellence through their actions and leadership. This year, Kelley Hill of the Lower Great Lakes Chapter was honored for his continuous dedication to the chapter and the Foundation’s mission. While Kelley’s year-long contributions are worthy of celebration, special acknowledgement was given to the bowling fundraiser, “Bowl for Scleroderma – Thelma’s Silent Words,” which he hosts in memory of his mother.
The Chapter Support Group Volunteer of the Year is awarded to a support group leader who leads by example and encourages others to engage in their community. This year, Debbie Charlton of the Texoma Chapter was recognized for her steadfast commitment to rebuilding the support groups in Texoma after the loss of two important leaders. In addition to her support group leadership, Debbie also serves as the Chair of the Texoma Chapter.
The Outstanding Patient Support Award is awarded to an individual who has continuously supported, educated, and uplifted their community. This honor was bestowed upon Ann Mogilevsky, of the Upper Great Lakes Chapter, for her commitment to advocacy and education through her podcast, “Mogil’s Mobcast.”
The Outstanding Chapter Awareness Award is awarded to a chapter that consistently keeps awareness and advocacy integral to chapter operations. This was awarded to the Upper Great Lakes Chapter. Representing Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Upper Great Lakes Chapter has dramatically increased its programming by hosting health conferences in all three states and increasing its walk and awareness events throughout the region.
The Advocate of the Year is awarded to an individual who personifies what it means to “speak up for scleroderma” and is active in awareness and advocacy to better the scleroderma community on a national level. This was awarded to Amy Gietzen, of the Tri-State Chapter. Amy is passionate about educating scleroderma patients and caregivers, with a focus on self-advocacy.
The Outstanding Educational Program is awarded to an individual, group, or chapter that has maximized available resources within the community to provide patients with an excellent educational experience. This year, the award went to the Upper Great Lakes Chapter. The Chapter has implemented several educational programs, including a monthly Lunch & Learn series, monthly Yoga for Scleroderma series and the Peer Mentor Plus program.
The Chapter Volunteer of the Year is awarded to an individual who leads by example and encourages others to engage in their local and regional community. This year, Camille “Cami” Novacheck of the Upper Great Lakes Chapter, was awarded for her long-time dedication to the Foundation. She has developed and implemented monthly events which have so far included the first meet and greet for the scleroderma community in Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, developed an online holiday cookbook, created a virtual bingo night and a virtual Valentines Painting event.
The Philanthropist of the Year is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to fundraising and shows consistent excellence through their actions and leadership. This year, Martin “Marty” Lehmann of the Florida & Puerto Rico Chapter, was awarded this honor for this long-standing, unwavering and generous commitment to the scleroderma community.
The National Volunteer of the Year award is awarded to an individual who leads by example and encourages others to engage in their community. This was awarded to Peggy Collins, who supports the mission of the Foundation in all aspects. She is the Advisory Committee Chair for the Upper Great Lakes Chapter and is instrumental in launching the chapter’s Peer Mentor Plus program.
The Chapter of the Year is awarded for overall excellence in advancing the mission of the Foundation in the areas of support, education, and research by a chapter. This year, the Upper Great Lakes Chapter was awarded for excelling in many areas that provided patient care, education, and funds for scleroderma.
The Jacob Davila Memorial Leadership Award was established to honor the recognition of Jacob Davila from Humble, Texas. Jacob was a long-time volunteer and advocate for Scleroderma and the National Scleroderma Foundation. The volunteer awardee will be selected based on the following criteria: 1) prepared for service and understands that true wisdom is gained in community and that serving others is a privilege and an honor, 2) Serves as a community builder who believes in enriching and ennobling the lives of others within the scleroderma community, and 3) Demonstrates characteristics consistent with servant leadership. This year’s recipient of the Jacob Davila Memorial Leadership Awards is Debbie Charlton from the Texoma Chapter.
The Messenger of Hope Award is awarded to an individual whose words and/or actions offer continued hope and inspiration to our community. This year, Lucille Miller of the Lower Great Lakes Chapter, was awarded for her long-time work in our scleroderma community as a voice of patients. On the last Sunday of each month, Lucille hosts the Sunday Sit Down, which brings together members of the scleroderma community to talk about things not necessarily related to the challenging parts of their journey, such as art, music and games. She has made the Foundation’s mission one of the main priorities in her life and has long been an inspiration to all of us here at the Foundation.
The Doctor of the Year is awarded to the physician whose dedication has improved the lives of thousands of people living with scleroderma and who demonstrates exceptional skills in clinical practice and patient education while maintaining the mission, vision, and values of the Foundation. This year, Dr. Mary Ellen Csuka was awarded Doctor of the Year. At the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Csuka established the Froedtert MCW Scleroderma clinic, which has been recognized by the Foundation as a Designated Scleroderma Research and Treatment Center since 2013. In addition to being responsive to the needs of her patients, Dr. Csuka has committed to holding round-table discussions with other medical providers to increase their knowledge of the disease.
This year, the Foundation presented the Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Virginia Steen. She has dedicated her career to understanding the epidemiology and natural history of Systemic Sclerosis. Her research has resulted in more than 200 publications many of which are seminal studies on risk factors and outcomes for lung involvement, auto-antibodies, and survival in scleroderma.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the Foundation’s highest honor and is awarded to individuals who have given extraordinary service to the organization. This year, Dr. Carol Feghali-Bostwick was awarded the Lifetime Achievement. Dr. Feghali-Bostwick serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Scleroderma Foundation and is also Chair of the Research Committee and liaison to the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. She was selected as the Foundation’s Messenger of Hope in 2013 and has continued her board service for many years with dedication.
The Foundation is so proud to work alongside each of this year’s awardees. Each person recognized this year contributes day in and day out to improving the lives of people affected by scleroderma.