The Grayson County Social Services Association held their annual awards luncheon recently at Feast On This! in Sherman. Larry Massey provided the entertainment singing songs from the 1950s and 1960.
President Paula Cawthon, Community Relation Director of Texoma Community Center, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Patricia Taylor for over twenty years of outstanding services to social work in the community.
“This is the first time this award has been given. Ms. Taylor has worked tirelessly in the county and served GCSSA in many leadership capacities. She is a dedicated individual that has done much to help people who need social services,” stated Cawthon.
Linda Horton, Program Manager for Early Childhood Intervention, recognized Laurie Mealy, Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County as Social Worker of the Year. Criteria for receiving this honor is that the person is selected by peers, must work in a social services field, and be a member of the organization. Other individuals nominated were: Patricia Taylor, Denison Housing Authority; Linda Horton, Early Childhood Intervention; Judy Hunt, Texoma Council of Governments; and Pamela Polk, Southeastern Oklahoma University.
Linda Horton, Program Manager for Early Childhood Intervention, recognized Laurie Mealy, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County, as Social Worker of the Year. Criteria for receiving this honor is that the person is selected by peers, must work in a social services field, and be a member of the organization.
Other individuals nominated were: Patricia Taylor, Denison Housing Authority; Linda Horton, Early Childhood Intervention; Judy Hunt, Texoma Council of Governments; and Pamela Polk, Southeastern Oklahoma University.
The Social Services Agency of the Year went to Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County, accepted by Laurie Mealy. The other agencies nominated were Early Childhood Intervention-Texoma, Four Rivers Outreach, Pregnancy Care Center, and the Volunteer Services Council of Texoma Community Center. This award is also selected by the membership. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry that builds quality, affordable homes in partnership with families in need. Habitat seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat uses volunteer labor and donations of money and materials to build houses with the help of the homeowner. These houses are sold to the partner family at no profit and financed with 0% interest loans. Grayson County is now building home number 26 in Pottsboro.
The President’s Award was awarded to Donna Waters, Salvation Army. The President’s Award is selected by the President and is given to a person who has served the group in an outstanding way during the year.
Betty Minyard of Denison was recognized as the third recipient of the Volunteer Community Service Award.
“Ms. Minyard has given over twenty years of service to Texoma Community Center (formerly Mental Health Mental Retardation Services of Texoma) as a volunteer on committees and many activities, her church, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) as president and board positions. She has helped so many people with mental illness and taken them in like they were family members,” stated Cawthon.
Lila Myser, Salvation Army volunteer, was also nominated for the award.
Paula Cawthon installed the officers for the coming year. They are President-Patricia Taylor; President Elect-Pamela Tedford, the Willows Assisted Living/Memory Care; Program Chairman-Joyce White, AgiLife; Secretary-Sally Hodges; Treasurer-Jana Garner, Grayson County CASA; and Membership Chairman-Mary Ann Book, North Texas Youth Connection. Retiring 2011-2012 officers are President: Paula Cawthon, President-elect and Program Chairman: Patricia Taylor, Secretary: Donna Waters, Treasurer: Jana Garner, and Membership: Pam Tedford.
The mission of the Grayson County Social Services Association is to promote and enhance communication between social services agencies in order to provide better services and supports for people. The organization seeks to create respect for the vocation of social services, and an understanding of private, local, and federal programs dedicated to social improvement. All social workers or other interested persons are invited to join the group. The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month, 12:00 noon, at the Salvation Army, 5700 Texoma Parkway, Sherman, TX.