Rotary honors three standout employees
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Rose Lawrence

Three women who take pride in their work and who do not usually receive recognition were the first recipients of the Ashburnham Westminster Rotary Club's Vocational Awards.

Rose Lawrence, Sylvia Turcotte and Betty Kazan were each honored at the awards ceremony at the Wachusett Village Inn on Wednesday night.

Lawrence is the head of the nursing staff in the Ashburnham- Westminster School District as well as the nurse at John R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham.

Turcotte is the executive assistant to the Ashburnham Town Administrator. Kazan is the Westminster Town Hall Secretary.

Laurie Benson, a Westminster resident who had been a member of the Leominster Rotary Club for a number of years, suggested bringing this event to the Ashburnham Westminster community because of its community spirit.

"It was such a wonderful community event," Benson said.

The Rotary asked the towns and the school district to honor a person "who does an excellent job at their work and as a community leader."

"That is the criteria we gave them and how they choose them was completely up to them," she said.

Sylvia Turcotte

The Rotary is hoping to make this an annual event.

Ashburnham's nerve center "I refer to Syl as the nerve center," said Town Administrator Kevin Paicos. "There isn't anything that goes on in this building, even for the most part the town, that she isn't aware of."

Turcotte has held executive assistant position for six years. She does everything from manage the town administrator's office and fix problems around the Town Hall, to interface with the public by answering questions and serving the Board of Selectmen.

Paicos added that Turcotte serves as the town's institutional memory and calls her ability to multi-task "unbelievable."

Paicos said for the first time in two years Turcotte was out sick and he had to finish with the budget numbers, answer phones, and deal with many other front office issues.

"It took two of us to do what Sylvia does, and that isn't an overstatement," Paicos said. "I don't know who she does it. … I don't know how this place would function without Sylvia."

Betty Kazan

Paicos also praised Turcotte's understanding of the issues facing the town. As part of her job, Turcotte takes the selectmen's minutes, a job which Paicos said is more than simple transcription.

"You have to understand what's going on to take the minutes," he said.

"Turcotte keeps the town hall functioning on a day to day basis, often going 'above and beyond the call of duty'," according to the Rotary award.

Taking care of all the parts

Rose Lawrence has served as the school nurse for 27 years at John R. Briggs Elementary School in Ashburnham.

She takes care children suffering from illnesses and conditions, and also works within the community to raise money and support families in need.

Ashburnham-Westminster Superintendent of Schools Michael Zapantis said the administrative team of the principals, vice-principals and himself agreed on Lawrence's nomination.

As a member of the school district's crisis team, Lawrence works with administration, the adjustment counselor, and teachers to enhance the emotional and physical safety of students. Lawrence's dedication and devotion to students, parents, and staff has created an environment that allows everyone to feel safe, healthy, and supported through her efforts to create a nurturing haven for all, according to those who nominated her.

Parents financially unable to provide for their families are connected with appropriate resources through the Lion's Club, Ashburnham Community Church, St. Denis Church, the American Legion, and the Ashburnham Food Pantry thanks to Lawrence's efforts. She also works with the organizers of the Community Benefit Hockey Game.

Thanksgiving baskets are created through Lawrence's efforts working with local grocery stores. She coordinates the J.R. Briggs staff gift donations of toys and clothing as well as food, heating oil, and cash donations during the holiday season.

A moving force

Betty Kazan stood out from her colleagues as she stepped up and organized the move of town hall employees, the boxes and the equipment.

She was nominated for the Rotary award because of her organizational skills and her effort as the secretary at Westminster Town Hall.

"I was looking at it as an achievement mainly for all of her work making the move to the new building," said Westminster Town Coordinator Karen Murphy. "Things went a lot more smoothly because of her."

Westminster's operations moved from old Town Hall on Bacon Street to the new quarters on South Street in the middle of February as the Valentine's Day Blizzard struck the area.

In addition to her regular duties, Kazan spent countless hours working with Town Hall employees and various vendors to identify the furniture and equipment needs for the new building. Murphy said Kazan probably saved the town tens of thousands of dollars by working to have the furniture reupholstered.

Beyond stepping up to the plate with the Town Hall move, Kazan is also active in the community. She serves on the Oakmont PTO and organizes the annual Daffodil Days cancer fund drive at Town Hall. At Christmas she obtains the name of a needy family and solicits donations of gifts and food from Town Hall employees.

"We are always real successful at these collections," Murphy said.