By Derryanne Hubbard:

It was with a huge bag of emotions (one being embarrassment) , I hesitantly accepted the nomination for Vernon Woman of the Year.  Who was I to be saying, I am great, look at me????  Kathy Morgan thought so (but she works for me so I think it was a job security strategy)!  Letters of support are required as part of the nomination package.  As I read the letters that started pouring in, I was shocked.  First of all I really wanted to meet this Derryanne woman, she sounded incredible!!!  Seriously though, I just couldn’t believe what people were writing about me.  My ordinary, although sometimes dramatic life, had actually touched other people’s lives.  I am not trying to sound falsely humble here.  I know that everyone’s life is meshed together with many other people’s lives.  But I guess I had never thought my life was anything special or had real impact on those people around me.  And except for my close friends and family that love me no matter how I act, or what crazy thing I do, I just didn’t believe I was impacting those around me.  It was almost surreal.

Yesterday I attended the Woman of the Year nomination tea held at Cherie Montgomery’s beautiful home in Coldstream.   Cherie is the president of Vernon Woman in Business. The head of the Woman of the Year committee, Courtney Pitcher was there along with the rest of the committee that will have the incredibly difficult task of reading all the nomination packages and picking a winner.

I had the honor of meeting the other 11 nominees and their nominators.  Brenda Hala took our photographs and Shaw Cable asked our nominators why they chose to nominate us.  I was overwhelmed with the lives these womem have lead.  Overcoming incredibly challenging adversities, their stories filled my heart with admiration and respect. Being part of this group is very humbling.  I am so glad I accepted the nomination just to have the opportunity to get to know them.

I can sense, even at this stage, that being part of this event is going to be an experience I am going to treasure.  The gala evening is May 28 when the winner will be announced.  Thank you Kathy and Caroline Radics for all the work you put in organizing my nomination package and for chosing me to be part of this event.

Respectfully,

derryanne�