Shining Stars

Dee Raftery accepting award

Massachusetts 4-H has been honored by having both of the 2007 4-H Salute to Excellence winners named from our program. Rita LaPointe was named the Northeast Region Outstanding Lifetime 4-H Volunteer and Dee Raftery was named the Northeast Region 4-H Volunteer of the Year. In addition, Dee was named the National 4-H Volunteer of the Year for 2007!

Rita LaPointe has been a 4-H volunteer in Plymouth County for 45 years. Her passion is dogs and she has shared this with others as the leader of the Cave Canem 4-H Dog Club for nearly 40 years. Rita has also volunteered her time as a Plymouth County 4-H Advisory Council member, workshop leader, judge, 4-H recruiter, and chaperone at countless events. She has consistently donated her time and skills to better the lives of young people in need of a positive mentor in their lives. One of the 4-H parents that nominated her for this award states; “Few that know Ms. Lapointe would ever question her values, commitment or outspoken efforts and tenacious pursuit for the benefit of her club members and 4-H. Forty years of personal sacrifices and volunteering to make the best, better. The results are evident in her club youth today, in her alumni who are new volunteers and in my daughter for which I will forever be grateful.”

Dee Raftery began her work as a 4-H volunteer in 2002 and has made a tremendous contribution to the Massachusetts 4-H program in this short time. In addition to her work as a 4-H club leader, Dee serves as the president of the Middlesex County 4-H Horse Council and as Middlesex representative to the State 4-H Horse Advisory Council. She was instrumental in organizing a county wide horse club challenge which raised over $12,000. One of the members of her 4-H club states, “Dee is the best example of a responsible, volunteering, helping, caring knowledgeable 4-H volunteer. She helps beyond the expected, gets involved over her head and yet can stay floating, she is always there for you, she has a lot of experience with just about everything and it shows through her disposition and ways. We all love Dee very, very much and hope for the best for her always.”

As the National 4-H Volunteer of the Year, Dee was invited to the awards ceremony held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland to be honored; awards included $1000 to be donated to a local 4-H program of her choice. Below Dee is pictured with Don Floyd, President of National 4-H Council and Cathann Kress, National 4-H Program Leader.