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CITATION
THE 2002 TRUSTEE OF THE YEAR AWARD
PRESENTED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS LIBRARY TRUSTEES
ASSOCIATION
Each year MLTA seeks nominations of outstanding trustees, people who
have served
their communities over a period of years in particularly influential
ways. Some trustees
stand out as representatives of us all, and as models of what we'd like
to be. MLTA is
proud to present the Trustee of the Year Award to an outstanding library
advocate, Mr.
George Comeau, of the Canton Public Library. Trustee Chair Betty Chelmow
describes
George Comeau as "a lifelong resident of the town and a devoted
library patron since
childhood. He credits his lifelong love of history to the opportunities
provided him by our
library staff for the past 35 years. It is his strong desire to give
back to his community and
the library in particular which makes him so deserving of this
award." I
These sentiments are echoed by Director Mark Lague, who says in his
letter that George
Comeau "served at various and often concurrent times in the
capacity of building
committee chairman, campaigner, spokesman, politician, press writer,
fundraiser, emcee,
lawyer, building designer, historian, web designer, cheerleader and
motivator. George
volunteered to chair the Library Building Committee at a point when the
project had no
funding and no imminent prospect of state assistance. George raised the
level of public
awareness and support for the project by directing a multifaceted
campaign in which he
was always personally involved. He produced promotional brochures and
media
presentations and organized open houses .... George convincingly
'presented' the library
plans to whatever audience would listen. George marshaled a campaign of
volunteers that
ultimately gained an 81% majority vote for an override in the
highest-ever turnout for a
local election (during the worst weather of the year)."
Director Lague continues, "For all of his extraordinary talents and
enthusiastic
involvement, George Comeau never egotistically approaches any task or
any working
group. For him, every project is a shared adventure and a team
challenge. My role as
Library Director has always been respected and supported."
Victor DelVecchio, Vice-Chair of the Canton Board of Selectmen, has also
written a
letter of support in which he states that George Comeau best represents
the mission of
MLTA and the community in which he serves as a valued member of the
Board of
Library Trustees. "George's recent stewardship of the Town of
Canton Library Building
project is a shining example of the skills that he has brought to bear
in improving the
quality of life in our community. Providing leadership to a committed
group of library
trustees, George has demonstrated a remarkable ability to communicate
the importance of
a vigorous public library system; to marshal the budgetary and financial
resources
necessary to undertake the construction and renovation of our library;
and to engender the
enthusiastic support of a wide spectrum of the public as well as other
trustees and library
personnel-all despite the challenging financial times we currently face
in Massachusetts.
George's effective public advocacy and attention to detail have fostered
excellence in
public library service in the Town of Canton, and, by extension, has
reflected well on
library service throughout the Commonwealth."
Betty Chelmow also reported that George undertook another extraordinary
effort in
developing their Building Renovation website at town.canton.ma.us/library/.
He felt
strongly that when you ask a town to spend millions of dollars on a
project, they
need to know why. The website, which he maintains and updates weekly,
tells the
amazing construction story, complete with fiscal and scheduling details.
It also highlights
their Kid Dig. Betty says that the trustees believe this will become a
teaching tool in their
schools as this generation of "Bob the Builder" follows each
construction phase on video.
Betty Chelmow's letter quotes George: 'Libraries are a beacon for
liberty, liberty of
expression, liberty of creativity, and the liberty of ideas.' She says,
"He embraces the
rights of all patrons, staff and our numerous volunteers to partake
freely in the building
process. He truly represents all the citizens of Canton as a trustee and
is most deserving"
of this award.
Selectman DelVecchio's final words sum up George Comeau's qualifications
for this
award: "As an elected library trustee, George is delegated the
responsibility of ensuring
that Canton is provided with appropriate and efficient public library
service. He has met
that charge in an extraordinary fashion, befitting recognition as
Library Trustee of the
Year."
It is my very great pleasure to present this citation and award to Mr.
George Comeau.
November 2, 2002
Elaine Melisi, for the
Trustee of the Year Committee of the
Massachusetts Library Trustees Association
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In his acceptance of this
"great honor", George credited the success of the
Library building project to the groundwork laid by past and
present Trustees as well as the tremendous support of the people
of Canton.
Library
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