Marta Cepek, former president of STC-Montreal, has received the Distinguished Chapter Service Award for 2009. The award was presented at the most recent STC-Montreal event on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 by the current chapter president, Poppy Quintal.

Photos from the award presentation:

Poppy Quintal spoke on behalf of the administrative council and the nominating members about the award, and about Marta Cepek:

Marta Cepek deserves both local and society-level recognition as an outstanding member of STC-Montréal. She became a member in 2002 and has a long and consistent history as an active and vital volunteer in all activities of the chapter. Over the years, she has served as Webmaster, Employment Information Coordinator/Job Bank Coordinator and on the chapter’s Administrative Council as President and Past President. During a crisis in our chapter in the Spring of 2007, when both the incumbent President and Vice-President resigned, at the behest of many of the remaining volunteers, she agreed to become Acting President and was instrumental in ensuring the continuation of the Montréal Chapter. She also organized and ran the first formal election for members of the Administrative Council of the Montréal Chapter.

One of Marta’s major accomplishments was the tremendous growth of the chapter’s volunteer base. Under her leadership, the team of people who were directly involved in helping to run chapter events grew to more than a dozen, in addition to the administrative council. Such participation is the basis of a healthy chapter, and firm volunteer bases are key to the continuing health of local chapters and the STC itself. Marta understood this and always “led from the front.”

Her efforts in support of the chapter Job Bank paid off in a big way by increasing the chapter’s visibility in the Montréal business community and enhancing STC’s credibility among local writers.

Marta has always been unfailingly cheerful, optimistic, and energetic when it comes to promoting the mission of STC and the chapter in Montréal. She drew in a number of new active members, and she also established and maintained effective communications with STC headquarters.

Her service to STC-Montréal has made a big difference in the growth and sustainability of the chapter, and was instrumental in holding the chapter together during a crisis. For these reasons, we are pleased and proud that Marta has been awarded the Distinguished Chapter Service Award.

About the Award

The Distinguished Chapter Service Awards acknowledge the work of members who provide exemplary service to the Society through their dedication to the chapter and its activities. Recipients of the award are nominated by STC members and endorsed by the local chapter administrative council. This is the first such award presented by STC-Montreal in ten years.