Trustee nominated for Volunteer Award

Last month The Big Idea Trust (TBI) and the Arts Regional Trust (ART) nominated Sandi Morrison, Trustee on our respective trusts, for the 2009 New Zealand Volunteer of the Year Awards in the Sports and Arts section. We are thrilled to announce that Sandi is one of the 20 finalists selected across five categories from throughout New Zealand.

Sandi has been a tireless volunteer worker and champion for both TBI and ART, as well as countless other individuals and organisations and the creative sector as a whole. She richly deserves all the recognition that we can give her for her longstanding personal dedication and work to advance our sector.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is run by Intrepid Travel, Good Magazine, ASB Bank and Sunday Star Times.

In order to advance to the finals, Sandi needs to get the most votes in her section (Sports and Arts). The winner from each section will be in the running for the grand prize of $5000 worth of travel with Intrepid Travel, announced at a special dinner event.

To vote:

· Go to www.gomad.co.nz
· Select the NZ Volunteer of the Year Award icon.
· Scroll down to the Sports and Arts section.
· Click on Sandi's name and fill out the form

When you vote you can also win for yourself dinner and a night at the Langham Hotel (enter by the 18th of May). If you are voting from out of Auckland, you also get return airfares. The keyword to put into the form is 'Sundays¹.


Don¹t forget to vote for Sandi in recognition of the work that she has done for us all and for the sector over the last 25 years.

About Sandi Morrison - Foundation Trustee | The Big Idea Charitable Trust

An economic development specialist and arts sector strategist of many years standing; Trustee: ART Regional Trust; Chair: AREDA (Auckland Regional Economic Development Association); Chair: EDANZ (Economic Development Association of New Zealand).
Sandi has worked for the past 25 years with public and private sector interests to develop partnerships, projects and new services to support economic, social and cultural development. She was a member of the Strategy Leaders Group responsible for developing the Auckland Regional Economic Development Strategy AREDS.

She chairs and represents the Regions' Economic Development Agencies on the ARC Economic Development Forum, and works on strategic issues impacting on economic development, skill shortages and the labour market. She is passionate about the contribution that the creative and cultural sector can make to the growth of new economies. She supports a number of new regional initiatives in the creative industries and am a member of Auckland City's Creative Industries Advisory group. She is also a Chair of EDANZ the Economic Development Association of NZ, and a foundation Trustee of the Arts Regional Trust ART/ Te Taumata Toi-a-Iwi and The Big Idea / Te Aria Nui Charitable Trust. She has also contributed to national policy development as a Ministerial appointment to the Hillary Commission and the Council and Arts Board of Creative New Zealand / Toi Aotearoa.

About the Intrepid Travel Volunteer Awards
The 2009 Intrepid Travel Volunteer Awards Charities have nominated their top volunteer—now it’s up to you to choose New Zealand’s Volunteer of the Year. You only have one vote so make sure it counts. Choose your favourite from the 20 finalists below.

The volunteer with the most votes in each category will become the category winner. The Hon Tariana Turia, Minister for the Voluntary and Community Sector, will select the overall Volunteer of the Year.

New Zealand’s Volunteer of the Year will receive a volunteering holiday from Intrepid Travel, valued at $5,000. Good magazine will donate 20 percent of subscription revenue from its June/July issue and $5,000 of free advertising to the charity of the winning volunteer.

Winners will be announced at an event in Auckland on June 11. The awards lead into Volunteer Awareness Week (June 14–20), which aims to highlight the range of volunteering roles available in our communities. Funding for volunteer groups is in decline while demand for their help is increasing. Charities urgently need your support.

Voting for the 2009 Intrepid Travel Volunteer of the Year closes May 18. Go make a difference!