Sandy Richards, a long time member of the Delta Co-op Board has earned the 2013 Saskatchewan Co-operative Merit Award for Lifetime Co-operative Achievement.
Oct. 15, as part of Co-op Week celebrations in the province, Sandy attended an awards ceremony where she accepted the award.
This award is given to individuals for long, varied and meritorious service as volunteers as elected officials. Sandy has been a long time volunteer in the community of Unity.
Sandy and her husband, Deryl, are volunteer "meals on wheels" drivers. Sandy offers her help in the office of the local Courtesy Car, where Deryl has been a volunteer driver.
Deryl is a member of the Unity Ag Society organization. Sandy volunteers often at the events they host throughout the year, most notably the Unity and District Fall Fair and Trade Show. While it is not clear the number of years Sandy has served this organization, it is known it has been a long standing commitment that has been appreciated.
Sandy also served on the Federated Co-operatives Ltd. board, also volunteering for a couple of provincial projects including Agribition where the co-op has a booth.
In her years serving on the Delta Co-op board, Sandy could always be counted on to volunteer for a number of events that Delta Co-op has hosted. Whether it was serving coffee during Co-op Week, or serving at any one of the fundraising barbecues hosted by co-op staff. Sandy and Deryl were also committed to the hands on work offered by Delta Co-op during "Co-operative Week of Volunteering" as part of the International Year of Co-ops celebrations. Sandy is also a Delta Co-op volunteer who takes part in the annual sorting, wrapping and delivering for the Secret Santa campaign. She is one of the most recognizable board members because of her commitment to being part of volunteer events and activities hosted by Delta Co-op.
Sandy has served on the Delta Co-op board since 1986, starting as a delegate and moving to the board four years later. Sandy has served as Delta's board president since 1997. Her term on the FCL board included one three-year term and one two-year term, ending her position on their board in 2010.
Sandy has held numerous executive and volunteer positions for a variety of organizations such as minor ball, school of dance, figure skating, Unity Western Days, parent driver for numerous sports events, canvasser for Unity's Donor's Choice as well as long term care facility projects. Sandy is also part of the Tako Community Club and Unity United Church Women. Sandy also served on the former Greenhead Health District, now known as Heartland Health, from October 1995 - October 1997.
