Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame selects its 2015 inductees

Longtime community volunteers Shirley Black and Nancy Canfield have been selected to be the 2015 Rancho Bernardo Hall of Fame inductees.

They will be formally welcomed into the organization during an invitation-only dinner set for May 9 at Bernardo Heights Country Club.

Black and Canfield become the organization’s 108th and 109th inductees since its first group of members in 1974. The membership selected the duo on Friday.

Unlike in recent years, where inductees were installed representing the previous calendar year, members decided to have the installation ceremony and year inductees represent be the same, hence there will not be any 2014 inductees. There were no inductees for 1988 and 1991 either.

The current selection criteria is for living individuals who contributed six or more years of outstanding volunteer service to the Rancho Bernardo community. At least three years must have been in a leadership role that resulted in significant contributions to RB. The efforts could not be religious or political, nor could they have been paid. Eligible organizations include those designed to serve others in RB, enhance its quality of life, improve health or education in RB or foster the community’s civic or cultural life.

Black, a Poway resident since the early 1970s, was selected for her efforts with the Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library. She was nominated by Frances French, who wrote, “(Black) is an inspiration to us all as she demonstrates how much good one person can accomplish and how to improve the lives of others.”

“I’m so excited,” Black said. “Totally overwhelmed. ... It’s just wonderful. I never expected it. What an honor. My children are absolutely elated.”

Black said she volunteered in Poway Unified School District for more than 20 years before joining the Friends. At the time, she was working part-time at Barnes & Noble in Carmel Mountain Ranch when the school’s librarian told her about the Friends group that was forming.

A self-described “book lover,” Black said she joined in 2007 because the volunteer organization would be “good for the students and the school.” Over the years, her grandchildren attended RB High.

A few years after joining, Black took on leadership positions, including chairwoman of the Friends’ used book sales, gift wrap fundraiser and core literature book sales.

“Before Shirley was in charge of these activities there was little actual money raised from these events and they were viewed as mostly for publicity for our organization,” French wrote. “Used books sales and the gift wrap fundraiser raised about $100 or so per event pre-Shirley’s leadership. After Shirley became fundraising chair, our revenue from selling used books and doing holiday gift wrapping at Barnes & Noble jumped significantly.”

Under Black’s leadership, the used books sales typically raise $400 or more each time. The sales are held at least six times a year in conjunction with school and community events. During each of the past two years the gift wrap fundraiser — where for a donation members wrap purchases made at Barnes & Noble — has raised more than $3,000 each time.

“It’s giving something back, it’s not tangible, but comes from the heart,” Black said about her motivation to volunteer. “It makes me feel good, volunteering for others. It’s my way of passing on my feelings for other people. I don’t expect rewards.”

Black said she passed her love of volunteerism on to her children and grandchildren, who have followed her example. They have also inspired her as well. For example, after Black was diagnosed with cancer years ago, a granddaughter decided to volunteer at the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Shop in Rancho Bernardo. That led Black to collecting goods for the shop and volunteering in it each Friday since 2007.

Canfield, a Rancho Bernardo resident since 1985, was selected for her leadership with the Rancho Bernardo Historical Society. She was nominated by Ted Gaasch, a 2000 inductee, who wrote that Canfield’s efforts as president and fundraising committee chairwoman “resulted in making the RB Historical Society such a positive aspect of the RB community.”

“I’m humbled,” Canfield said. “I have mixed feelings about the honor. I’m pleased, but could not have gotten here on my own. There was a team behind (me) — the museum board and volunteers. ... So many have contributed to this.”

Canfield said in 2006 she visited the museum, then located in a storage shed at Bernardo Winery. She was writing a book and due to her interest in history wanted to become a member. When longtime member Tom Cook found out about her success in raising money through her Rancho Bernardo Honorary Mayor campaign, he told her about the historical society’s goal to raise $100,000 for a permanent museum and asked her to spearhead it. That goal was quickly raised to $300,000 for the museum and an additional $300,000 for an endowment to fund its continued operation.

From 2006 to 2010, Canfield led the fundraising committee’s efforts, not only to raise money, but awareness of the historical society and museum.

“I knew we had to build our reputation in the community as worthy of their contributions,” Canfield said. “People would not give if they never heard of us and/or did not know what our mission was.”

To do this, she focused on increasing membership and museum visitors. The museum — now in the winery’s bunkhouse with a 20-year lease — had 10,000 visitors last year. Under her leadership the volunteer organization developed a newsletter, website and e-blast; started holding its annual pancake breakfast and monthly speaker series; hosted receptions; and participated in the Spirit of the Fourth parade and cultural fair during the RB Alive! Expo.

Canfield also posted flyers about the museum at local businesses; sold numerous fundraiser items like the museum’s cornerstones, brick pavers, benches, blankets, ornaments, books, postcards, visors, tote bags and prints; and engaged a local writers group to write about Rancho Bernardo’s history.

From 2007 to 2010 and since 2013 Canfield has been the historical society’s president. With the museum settled in a permanent home, Canfield’s focus has shifted to its infrastructure, including policies and procedures, exhibit planning, recruiting a volunteer museum director and forming an acquisition policy for its accessioning and collections program.

Canfield said her preference is to lead each committee when it forms, then get a chairperson to continue its leadership while she moves on to the next committee needed for another task. As for why she volunteers, Canfield said it represents an extension of one’s self, family and neighbors — a way to reach out beyond one’s own responsibilities.

“I am thankful I am able to do it ... and consider it a blessing as well,” Canfield said.