values of others. I remind myself that we are all doing the very best we can with what we have; each person, in his or her own way, seeks to belong and make a contribution. When I remember this, I conduct myself with far greater ease and grace.

Your team membership may require working with people who have vastly different life experiences, beliefs, and personalities from yours. Your team may be people you see daily or people who are spread out across the country. In any case, team effectiveness will be enhanced by consistently applying the five tenets of teamwork.

VASTA is populated by remarkably talented individuals; in community with each other, working as a team, you are unstoppable! Celebrate and appreciate what each of you offers.

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP

Dorothy Runk Mennen,
Chairperson, Awards and Scholarships

1986 is the charter date of VASTA, but prior to that, a nucleus of dedicated persons worked together on many ideas for the structure of our organization. They followed through with a set of By-Laws and a Constitution and we were incorporated in 1987. The desire for establishing Honorary Membership was an idea that persisted in all the discussions.

From the Procedures Manual:

Awards and Scholarship
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: This ongoing award is not made every year, but when appropriate.
(As stated in the By-Laws)

"1.B.2 The Board of Directors may award Honorary Membership in this association to those individuals who are considered to have made a uniquely valuable contribution to the field of professional voice and speech training.

Honorary Members shall have all the privileges of embership and shall be exempt from paying dues.

The Board of Directors shall have the power to revoke Honorary Membership by a unanimous vote."

Our first Honorary Member was Evangeline Machlin. Her contribution to the forming of VASTA and her leadership in our profession made her an impeccable first choice.

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The Board, through its changing constituency, has discussed frequently the criteria for selection.

Members have asked about the standards for choice. We have always held to the opinion that there should be no doubt in our profession as to the wisdom of the choice. Though each candidate has had a different background and experience, each candidate was a superior choice in our deliberation. No formal criteria has been established. Each nominee seemed unique, but we considered the impact of each candidate's contribution to the profession of voice and speech and the national or international reputation and the individual's contribution to VASTA.

As you review the list of honorees it is evident that each one has made a special contribution to VASTA.

From time to time prominent actors have been considered, but the question became one of judging their contribution. At this point we have not selected one.

We would expect that active members of VASTA would have their personal choices and we welcome their input. Submitting a name to the Board should follow the same procedures as the other awards.

Conditions for Recommendations:

1. Candidates for any of the awards may be recommended by one who has been a member of VASTA for at least two years (dues paid).

2. Each recommendation must be submitted in writing, including the rationale for the choice.

3. If a nominee for any award is not accepted the year nominated, that name may be submitted again.

(The final choice is made by the Board of Directors.)

Honorary Members:

*Evangeline Machlin 1988
*Dorothy Runk Mennen 1990
Arthur Lessac 1991
Sue Ann Park 1991
Kristin Linklater 1992
Cicely Berry 1993
Patsy Rodenburg 1995
*Mary Corrigan 1996
*Carol Pendergrast 1996
*Bonnie Raphael 1996
*Lucille Rubin 1996

*Charter Board Members