REM Award Honorees (2016) — Connie Napolitano (REM)
REM is proud to honor Connie Napolitano with the 2016 REM Award. Connie served REM for many years in many capacities . . . all reflective of her plethora of talents and interests. Connie, a native of Westbrook, Maine, lived in Waterville for 40 years and last year retired to Gorham. REM so values the gifts Connie gave REM that we sought to bring her back to celebrate with her those gifts at the 2016 REM Award Ceremony.
Connie attended Maine Medical Center School of Nursing and worked in the field until her retirement. This background of compassion and service attracted her to REM which is an all volunteer organization focused on helping others engage in their passions for a great variety of quality of life issues. Her area of expertise in nursing was quality improvement. She shared that knowledge with REM by chairing the Team Builders and the Policy and Procedures Teams. She worked to clarify and develop policies and procedures for the organization creating just enough guidelines to help people work well together while stimulating freedom and creativity.
Her multi-talented nature is reflected in her REM history of participation. She served on the REM Board setting the direction for REM . . . several years as Vice President. She helped develop the REM Craft Fair into a popular community event cherished by both the crafters and the community who comes to sample their wares. Connie could often be found helping cater events and was especially helpful in the development of REM’s Vintage Tea.
Rewards for volunteering? Connie says they are numerous and they are all based on the friendships she has developed over the years with REM. REM feels the same about Connie. We are so fortunate to have Connie in our lives . . . past, present and future. Connie often comes back to help REM look at issues of importance to the organization’s future and states that she wishes there was a REM in her new community so she could connect like she did in Waterville.