The MOTAL Volunteer of the Year! Volunteer of the Year 2021

Organizations across Orange County gather once each year to celebrate volunteers through OneOC’s Spirit of Volunteerism Awards. The Museum of Teaching and Learning is pleased to announce that this year’s Volunteer of the Year is someone who has volunteered time and expertise to MOTAL in various ways over the years. This year, MOTAL's individual took on an intensive leadership role in the new oral history podcast project, “Teaching in Times of Covid.”


In years past, the museum has witnessed this person’s other enthusiastic efforts and endeavors. The volunteer connected MOTAL to acquire its huge moving van to transform when Covid will allow the exhibition Brain Odyssey: From Conception to Kindergarten to move forward. This individual also found a perfect venue for the banner version of A Class Action at the Kennedy Library once its run at the California State Capitol was over. MOTAL also enjoyed having help with artifact research and writing, and was happy to have an enthusiastic event participant who brought others along.


Readers should also know that in addition to helping MOTAL, our honoree is engaged in civic responsibilities and is one of the devoted volunteers in the Friends of the Fullerton Library, having recently served as the president of that group. Perhaps by now, many readers have guessed who it is, but just in case you aren’t sure, it is none other than . . . Denise “Dee” Steedman! Dee is a Fullerton resident whose deep interest in education started when she became a buyer and manager at a school supply retailer. This, along with working part-time in the theater department at Fullerton College, allowed her to assist teachers on a daily basis. Denise has spent most of her life in Orange County, raising a family and developing deep roots in the community. When Covid-19 hit, she looked around at the many teachers on her block, in her family and in the community and became interested in the ways their (and their students’ )methods of teaching and learning were evolving. Denise, an avid reader and music listener, attended Fullerton College and San Francisco State University.

Perhaps you saw MOTAL’s earlier podcast e-blast; Dee created and executed a fine oral history project that consists of multiple 25-minute podcasts that explore “Teaching in Times of Covid.” Stories will be revealed through interview questions that explore the personal experiences of a wide variety of educators and the families they serve. Dee designed the questions and serves as the interviewer. She helped find a wide range of interesting participants and worked with a small group of colleagues to purchase the best recording equipment, and find a suitable and safe recording site.


Our First Podcast in the Series is:
A high school assistant principal talks about the challenges
her school experienced during the pandemic
CLICK HERE


In 2020 ,and now in 2021, the pandemic precludes the usual OneOC event held at the Disneyland Hotel. Instead, an online celebration will take place.


Please join us virtually on
Thursday, April 29, from 1:00pm – 2:30 pm
for the 45th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards –
Extraordinary Circumstances, Everyday Heroes.


Volunteers are honored in a variety of ways before and during the event in front of a large virtual audience of over 1,000 people comprised of other volunteers, companies, corporate and community leaders.


To learn more, visit oneoc.org/sov2021. You can sign up to attend on Thursday and see the various categories in which volunteers perform their services. Dee Steedman is in the ENRICH category.


In closing, MOTAL wishes to express gratitude to the scores of volunteers who have made the museum’s nonprofit work effective and sustainable. Readers should know that last year’s Volunteer of the Year was Mary Deming, who serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors for MOTAL and has dedicated herself to dozens of helpful roles during the past dozen years. From leading yard sales in chilly parking lots to coordinating the Tenth Anniversary Gala, Mary has stepped up and organized things with diplomacy and caring. To read Mary Deming's board description go to MOTAL's Board of Directors Page on our website.


Reply to this email if YOU would like to be a MOTAL volunteer.
We would LOVE to have you!