Vocational Service Awards Presented

Vocational Service Awards Presented

Molly Merrigan, a commissioner for the Jackson County Family Drug Court, and Sherri Wattenbarger, a trial attorney in the office of the United States Trustee, were presented last week with the Club's Vocational Service Awards for 2012-13.  The awards recognize non-Rotarians who are active volunteers in the community and who are engaged in "Service Above Self" activities.  Greg Vining, Vocational Service Chair, presented the awards.

In cooperation with lawyers, social workers and child advocates, Molly has helped create one of the country's model drug courts.  Outside of court, she is active in the Association of Women Lawyers, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.  She has served on the board of the Mental Health Association in Kansas City, including two terms as president.  She was nominated by Cassy Venters.  (Shown L to R: Cassy Venters, Elizabeth Thomas, Greg Vining and Molly Merrigan.  Visit "Photo Journals," at left, for more pictures.)

In addition to being a frequent legal seminars speaker, Sherri has been much involved with women's athletic programs in Kansas City.  From 2001-06, she was a member and chair of the Women's Commission, U.S.A. Triathlon, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of triathlon, and she was a founding member of "360 of Giving," a program of the Women's Foundation of Greater Kansas City, a program to fund internships for women and girls. She has led food drives at the federal Courthouse and been a key leader in a financial education program for teenagers.  She was nominated by Jerry Venters.