Recently volunteer Fire Chief John Morrison of Vienna was named the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. John was instrumental in the development of a Volunteer Management System uniting all 12 Fairfax County volunteer fire departments into a single portal to share resources, metrics and information.
The IAFC has honored one volunteer and one career firefighter annually since 1996. The Fire Chief of the Year award goes to a person who has “shown exemplary contributions in the areas of leadership, innovation, professional development, integrity, public service, and contributions to the fire service,” according to the IAFC. The other honoree, James Clack, of the Ankeny, Iowa Fire Department, is Career Fire Chief of the Year.
Morrison has been with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department for 23 years. Starting as a volunteer at age 16, he quickly became an emergency medical technician (EMT). He was promoted to firefighter in 2002 and became volunteer chief in 2010.
As fire chief, he oversees operations and training of the department’s 60 and counting volunteers. By building relationships with both volunteer and career personnel, the department has increased operational and training hours by 44 percent over 10 years.
Morrison is also a planning section chief for Virginia Task Force 1, Fairfax County’s urban search and rescue team. Since 2005, he has taught entry level, Firefighter I and Firefighter II classes at the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Academy.
His development of a Volunteer Management System (VMS) gave departments a single place for operational, training, and administrative data. This system has united all 12 Fairfax County volunteer fire departments into a single portal to share resources, metrics and information. Aside from his volunteer fire work, he is a senior lead technologist at Booz Allen Hamilton.
Credit: Vienna Patch, August 6, 2019
Frank and Mae Antkievicz
Story of Service: Frank and Mae Antkievicz
For more than 20 years, Frank and Mae Antkievicz have volunteered with the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Hanover County. Of the more than 40,000 people living in Hanover County, approximately 4.5% speak languages other than English. An inability to speak English affects residents’ lives in many ways, especially for work and education. Without ESL programs, many would be unable to truly become connected with the community in which they live. Starting their service as ESL volunteers and assistants, they now run the program serving as both directors and teachers. During their...
Abigail Gallin
Story of Service: Abigail Gallin
During the height of the pandemic, Abigail, affectionately known as Abby, excelled in creating community in a digital space when many students were cut off from the outside world. Abby served at Aspire Afterschool Learning during the 2020 summer program, the 2020-21 program year ,and the 21- 22 program year as an AmeriCorps State Member. Abby served students in our virtual program during the Covid-19 pandemic by helping them with literacy, math, social-emotional learning, and STEAM-related activities. Abby created and implemented fun activities, helped with homework, and helped make the virtual learning space engaging and supportive. She played an instrumental...
Clyde Roberts
Story of Service: Clyde Roberts
Clyde Roberts, Clinch Valley Community Action Agency Senior Corps – Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Volunteer of the Year - RSVP allows seniors to share their skills and talents while serving in a variety of volunteer activities. Clyde Roberts has served more than 8,600 hours of service in his 14 years as an RSVP volunteer making a tremendous impact to countless veterans in his community. As an RSVP volunteer, he assists veterans with their day-to-day activities so that they may live independently in their homes. Mr. Roberts helps these veterans and their families with necessary paperwork needed for VA benefits, organize...
Veronica McMillian
Story of Service: Veronica McMillian
When Veronica McMillian founded the Micro-Nonprofit Network in 2009, she wanted to educate, empower, and equip small nonprofits through capacity building and program development. Since then, the Network has helped more than 300 small nonprofits (making $50,000 or less in the first three years) become 501c3 organizations and create sustainable infrastructure that empowers them to thrive with pride. Though she holds an M.A. in Human Services Counseling from Regent University and is an adjunct instructor at Tidewater Community College, her nonprofit expertise comes from firsthand experience starting and running her own nonprofits. After her first nonprofit shuttered in the 2008...
Wallace Green
Story of Service: Wallace Green
Congratulations to Wallace Green of Virginia Beach -- winner of the 2017 Virginia Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer! When Wallace Green realized that the main causes for his kidney failure were a lack of knowledge, his choices in diet, and the type of medications prescribed -- he became a one-man champion for the cause of prevention. Wallace coordinates, plans, and participates in health fairs; offers free presentations; and organizes fundraising events. If there is a health event in the community, you can be assured Wallace is there. Last year, he single-handedly provided health education to...
Evelyn Freeman
Story of Service: Evelyn Freeman
Evelyn Freeman, Peninsula Foster Grandparent Program Senior Corps – Foster Grandparent of the Year - Foster Grandparents are role models, mentors, and friends to children with exceptional needs. At 91 years of age, Ms. Freeman has been serving for 14 years as a Foster Grandparent volunteer at the Discovery STEM Academy. Over the years of service with the program, she has watched many of her elementary students go on to graduate from high school and earn college degrees. Her positivity fills her students with hope and she’s always encouraging them that they can accomplish anything with commitment and hard work. Read...
