Andrea Riel Receives Circle Of Gold Award
Submitted
By Corine Miller
Andrea Riel is congratulated as this year’s recipient of
the Circle of Gold Award by Sharel Giroux, Secretary and Judyth
Perreault, President of NH Circle of Home and Family.
Andrea Riel received the Circle of Gold Award for outstanding
community service at the NH Circle of Home and Family Conference held in
Nashua, NH. She is a 15 year member of the Pittsfield CHF Club. Andi was
greatly influenced to join CHF by Gram Ruth Kimball and mother-in-law
Corine Miller, both former Circle of Gold winners. They told her how
she’d learn “everything about the home & family - cooking, decorating,
gardening, health issues and more and that the group was very much like
4-H, but for grown up women.
Andi’s not one to just join, she’s a doer! Right away she started
volunteering for refreshment committee, program leadership and helping
in any way she could. The energy and enthusiasm she brought to the group
was delightful. Her leadership skills were quickly recognized by the
members and soon she was voted in as Chairperson, a position she has
held for nearly 10 years. The membership is very diverse with
three age generations and different interests. Andi takes this all in
stride and has a very pleasant mannerism to keep everyone involved and
happy. Andi participates in country and state events as an officer and
regular attendee at workshops and conferences. She writes news articles
about club events for the CHF state newsletter “Our Voice”, The Suncook
Valley Sun and Concord Monitor - where she is the town wide coordinator
for Pittsfield news. Under Andi’s leadership the CHF performs many
community service projects such as making book bags and curtains for the
library, adult size bibs for a nursing home, greeting cards, table
decorations and raffle baskets for the Senior Center and children’s
craft day during Pittsfield’s Winterfest.
Andi was chosen as Pittsfield’s Citizen of the Year in 2003. It was
said that “she is one of our most dedicated, talented and enthusiastic
people serving on so many committees helping in any way she can, helping
us all.” Other community involvements include co-chair Pittsfield Old
Home Day Committee, secretary Greater Pittsfield Chamber of Commerce,
member of the After School YMCA Advisory Program, secretary Pittsfield
Alumni Association and key organizer for the 2002 and 2010 PHS All Class
Reunions, co-chair and treasurer of PHS Class of 1984 reunion committee,
past member of the Pittsfield Budget Committee, co-chair of the
Christmas Children’s Store, co-organizer of the Town-wide Yard Sale and
co-chair and chair of Relay For Life for many years raising over
$250,000.
Someone once said, “There are born volunteers and those who have to
learn to become one.” Andi Riel has proven to be one of those born
volunteers; one who has helped many people come to understand the
importance of volunteering. Thank you Andi for the hundreds of hours you
give of yourself as a valued volunteer and leader.