Melissa Berling has received the Randy Gregg Volunteer Award for the 2013-14 hockey season.
She has volunteered for Sundre Funteam Recreational Hockey for 10 years, fulfilling numerous positions including president, director, coach, manager, scheduler, coach and referee mentor, tournament organizer, and conflict resolver.
The award is named after the founder of Funteam Alberta and is presented annually. It recognizes a funteam volunteer who promotes the sport as less competitive, less costly, less time consuming, while emphasizing fun and sportsmanship.
“I enjoy the kids. I enjoy volunteering to help the community and staying in touch with people. I just thoroughly enjoy it,” said Berling.
She is proud to receive the award.
“It was quite a surprise and it makes me very proud to know that I got the award,” she said. “When you're volunteering you don't expect that kind of stuff, you're not doing it for recognition.”
She is 44 years old, and volunteering is not new to her.
“I've been pretty much on every board, but at the moment I'm just doing hockey,” she said, noting that both her son and daughter played hockey for several years.
She is proud to have seen the recreational hockey league grow in Sundre over the years. When she started volunteering for it 10 years ago, there were about 50 people registered, and this year there is 120.
“It's nice to see the program grow and expand and become more popular,” she said.
She is resigning from the position of president this fall.
“She (Berling) has been the foundation of a very successful and much appreciated hockey program in her community,” reads the release from Funteam Alberta.
“She ensures fun and fair play, safety and respect for all funteam members through her promotion of no hit fun hockey and the funding of coaching and referee certification programs.
“The result of her vision and hard work is the gratitude of an entire community.”
Berling was presented with the award in Leduc last month.
