Tracey Rogers nominated Linda Frawley for the 2017 Medfield Foundation volunteer awards mainly for her work with Girl Scouts, but also for her All Night Graduation Party (ANGP) and Medfield Coalition for Public Education (MCPE) service.

This was Tracey’s nomination:

LINDA FRAWLEY

St. Francis would tell his disciples, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”  I begin my nomination for Linda with this quote as I can think of no better way to convey her lead-by-example style and dedication to Medfield Girls Scouts (MGS) over her 13 year involvement.

During this period, Linda has served in many capacities.  Most notable was her six year tenure as Service Unit Manager where she was responsible for both the day-to-day operations and long-term planning for MGS.  Each year MGS typically encompasses nearly 400 girl scouts and their familes and over 75 adult troop leaders.  Additionally, Linda has served as a troop/patrol leader (12yrs), community service coordinator (3yrs), treasurer (3yrs), CORI coordinator (5yrs) and she has organized the following events – end of the year Bridging ceremony for Scouts (5yrs), the parent/volunteer appreciation dinner (3yrs), encampment for over 100 scouts (4yrs) and MGS’ 100th anniversary celebration in 2016.

As you can see, Linda is a doer.  No job is too big or too small for her.  Her efforts have increased awareness of the benefits of scouting to Medfield families and within the overall community.  This is why MGS is one of the largest and longest running service units in the Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ organization.

Linda has taken the principles of a national organization that is steeped with tradition and shaped them into a relavent and vibrant LOCAL girl scout organization that meets the needs of girls ranging in the age from five to 17.  She accomplished this by developing a program that offers scouts a range of opportunities to grow as individuals and at their own pace as well as one that equally supports adult troop leaders working with scouts in the field.

But more importantly, Linda has made a true impact on the lives of the girl scouts themselves.  Even with all her managerial responsibilities, Linda maintained her role as patrol/troop leader for her daughter’s grade as she never lost sight of the importance of working directly with the girls and the significance of her time with her daughter, Hannah.  Under Linda’s guidance, 17 scouts in the Class of 2016 bridged to adults and eight of the scouts earned Gold Awards – the highest award a girl scout can attain.

The benefits of a strong and active MGS to the Medfield community are numerous.  MGS is an organization that is open and accessible to all Medfield girls. It is an organization that is collaborative and works to improve the common good.  For example, MGS is one of the largest supporters of the Medfield Food Cupboard, organizes the annual Spring clean-up at Wheelock fields, visits regulary at Upham House, Tilden and COA.  Linda’s work has built MGS into what it is today – an organization that Medfield non-profits have come to depend.  When she retired last year, she left in place an infrastructure and culture that will support MGS for many years.

When I think of Linda the following expressions come to the forefront – gets the job done, breath of fresh air, sigh of relief and tireless worker.  With these characteristics in mind, please accept my nomination of Linda Frawley for MFi’s Volunteer of the Year.  Given the longevity, scope and lasting results of her work in the Medfield community, she is truly the most befitting choice for this award this year.