DBMS ACCESSAIL Director Earns 2010 DBMS Starfish Award
Since Duxbury Bay Maritime School launched the ACCESSAIL program for disabled sailors in 2001, dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers have been key to its success.
The spirited 2010 ACCESSAIL team, under the direction of program director Gene Orosz, made the annual ACCESSAIL regatta on August 21 a truly special day for the 26 sailors and 12 volunteers who participated. It didn’t hurt that Mother Nature came through with absolutely perfect weather to put the cherry on top of a day of great sailing, great food and lots of laughs on Duxbury Bay.
The day ended with the awarding of medals to sailors and a surprise presentation by DBMS Executive Director Chuck Leonard of the 2010 DBMS Starfish Volunteer award to ACCESSAIL Director Gene Orosz. Few people involved with ACCESSAIL were aware that Orosz has directed the program for the past two years as a volunteer—in addition to serving as a volunteer skipper for two years before that. His lifelong love of sailing, coupled with his passion for connecting physically and cognitively disabled youth and adults with the sport, make him a perfect fit for the job and a great ambassador for the program. Leonard estimates that Orosz has logged more than 2500 hours as an ACCESSAIL volunteer!
The Starfish Award is awarded annually to an exceptional DBMS volunteer. The 2009 recipient was Shawn Dahlen, a longtime board member who helped to oversee construction of the beautiful and fully handicap accessible Smith Building that has made a comfortable and welcoming home for ACCESSAIL participants.
In addition to Gene Orosz, the 2010 ACCESSAIL team includes staff instructors Steve Day, Will Holt and Bill Jewell and the following volunteers: Emily Shane, Sarah Leonard, Anna McGeady, Arthur Perkins, Jo Perkins, Dan Perkins, Steve Williams, Ken McCarthy, Maria Varonko, Elisabeth O’Toole, Sean Healy, Ashley Magnuson, Bill Hooper, Bruce Garrow, Chandler Rodriguez, Chris Baeckstrom, Joe Petrucelli and Max Wheeler.
DBMS Policies. Photos by David Grossman and site design & development by Mark Lewis.