Volunteer Recognition

Congratulations and many thanks to these great volunteers
for all the animals they have helped saved.

 Honorary Board   

 Home Away From Home Foster Care 

  Board of Directors

      FFDAS Student Star Program

(See Nick's Student Star Program Web Page)

The Friends Student Star program was launched in July 2002 to help students ages 12 to 17 learn more about the Dearborn Animal Shelter and the activities that support it. The ultimate goal is to encourage students to become active, informed, and responsible shelter volunteers. As students progress through the various Student Star levels they earn more privileges and are given special recognition for their contributions.   

What are the Friends Student Stars involved with? All students at level 2 and above are allowed to walk dogs in Bark Park (the woodchip path that runs along the canal behind the shelter), to take dogs in the Dog Run (the gated enclosure where dogs can be socialized off the leash), and to groom shelter cats. The students are given this freedom because they have volunteered at the shelter for at least 6 months and logged in at least 40 hours of shelter time. Plus, they have taken advanced dog training classes, classes on cat grooming, and they have been tested on their animal handling skills.

Student Stars also participate in activities away from the shelter. For example, students represent the shelter by walking in the Memorial Day Parade. They serve as shelter ambassadors at our Dearborn Homecoming and Art on the Avenue booths. They are also star workers at such fund-raisers as the Critter Invitational Golf Outing, the Wag’n Tails Road Rally, and Pins for Pets Bowling event.  

Level Two Stars include:

¶ Kim Champagne of Dearborn

¶ Ella Ferrell of Lincoln Park

¶ Kari Helfer of Dearborn

¶ Mallory Owen of Allen Park

¶ Zak Ryan of Melvindale

Only one student has reached Level Three of the program: Ashlie Berry. Ashlie was the FFDAS 2003 nominee for the Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest, an annual competition sponsored by American Humane to honor kids under age 13 who make a difference in the lives of animals.  http://www.americanhumane.org]

Honorary Board
    2005 Honorary Board Members

The Friends Honorary Board (FHB) is to recognize extraordinary contributions by persons who devote their time to working with and for the animals.

It was established in 2001 by a Board Policy by the Friends Board of Directors.  A charter set of members were invited to join.

New membership in the Friends Honorary Board (FHB) requires nomination by any current member of the FHB to the Friends Volunteer Director who will present it for approval by the Friends Board of Directors.   

Criteria for nomination to the FHB include:
     -  500 or more hours per year of volunteer time (this is a little over 40 hours per month
     -  Being an ambassador for the Friends

Honorary Board members are publicly recognized in the Friends Newsletter, on the Friends Website, at the Shelter, and at Volunteer Meetings.

 The FHB is self-governing with the Volunteer Director as the leader.  Member responsibilities include:
     -  Continuing their extraordinary contributions
     -  Providing the Friends Board of Directors, through the Volunteer Director,
        with any suggestions or issues
        that would enhance the overall quality of the Friends organization
     -  Provide a status to the Board of Directors at least annually including any FHB
        members that no longer qualify for membership

FHB members are welcome at any regularly schedule Friend Board of Directors meeting and may request an addition to the agenda through the Volunteer Director.

We wish to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Friends Honorary Board Charter Members:  
                Bill Graves                  Jean Hayes
                Carolyn Bullock           Judy Brown
                Frank Cote                  Ryan Drew
                Gary Setter