From the Branches
Edna Warriner | President, CARTA
Distinguished Volunteers
The Central Alberta Retired
Teachers’ Association (CARTA)
was pleased to recognize two
distinguished volunteers for
2018, Maureen Yamagishi and
Barb Young, at our Christmas
luncheon. Thank you to ARTA
for continuing their support of
this worthwhile award and to
Laurie Bauer of TW Insurance
and ARTA for the door prizes at
our function.
Maureen Yamagishi was keen
to volunteer when she retired
in 2000. She is a golfer; and
knowing that the men had a
“To Hell with the Bell” golf
tournament each September, she
joined Arlene Girvan and Virginia
Arnold to start a ladies’ group and
helped to organize the event for
ten years.
Maureen was also involved
with the Red Deer Christmas
Bureau, volunteering in the
Toy Depot. In 2003, she took
over the children’s book section
with a mandate to collect books
for children of all ages. Don,
Maureen’s husband and a fellow
retired teacher, volunteered to
assist in collecting books each
Christmas. Maureen established
partnerships with various book
stores and libraries in Central
Alberta. Today, the literacy
section of the Red Deer Christmas
Bureau gifts an average of 3,500
books per season to children
up to seventeen years of age.
Maureen seeks out retired
teachers (twenty volunteered in
2017) to work with parents at the
book display. The teachers assist
(Left to Right) Maureen Yamagishi, Don Yamagishi,
Roseanne Martyniuk
20 | arta.net
in choosing books appropriate
for each child’s interests and
reading level. As a retired Home
Economics and CTS teacher,
Maureen has also volunteered
her sewing skills for the Red Deer
Hospice Society.
The second award was
presented to Barb Young, who
has always believed in the
importance of volunteering. She
has been a tour guide for students
at the museum, a Girl Guides of
Canada leader, and an assistant
coach for youth softball teams.
She has been a costume maker
and badge secretary for the Red
Deer Figure Skating Club, as well
as an organizer of community
Halloween parties at Joseph
Welsh School.
(Left to Right) Margaret Roome, Barbara Young,
Jim Young, Lorna Tink