EDC Members Rick Bova, Grace Sloan and Chris Nava were honored for their contributions to the Democratic Party at recent events in Sacremento and San Diego.

Phil Hanneman presents the award to Rick Bova

Rick Bova honored at State Party Convention

Rick Bova was recognized as Volunteer of the Year for Region 20 (73rd, 74th and 75th ADs) during the State Party Convention, held in Sacramento April 25-26. In presenting the award, Region 20 Chair Phil Hanneman listed Rick’s considerable volunteer activities, including extensive involvement with EDC, helping with the endorsement process for Region 20 and EDC, running special events at the North County Unity Democratic Campaign Office in 2008, and helping many times with the EDC booth at the Escondido Street Faire.

Chris Nava, Grace Sloan honored at County Party Dinner
Chris Nava and Grace Sloan received the “Sylura Barron Volunteer of the Year Award” at the San Diego County Democratic Party’s Eleanor and Franklin D. Roosevelt Dinner, held May 2 in San Diego. Chris and Grace were recognized for their work managing the busy Democratic Unity office on Grand Avenue in Escondido during the 2008 election campaign.

SD County Chair Jess Durfee presents award to Chris Nava

Chris accepted the award for Grace, who was unable to attend the dinner. A video allowed each of them an opportunity to describe their experience and to thank the Party for the recognition. Chris said one of the highlights of working at the office was meeting “the wonderful volunteers” and the candidates, particularly successful City Council candidate Olga Diaz, who “represented those of us who had been neglected for a long time in the city” and “the Democratic values that were so important to so many of us.” “I know in accepting this award I am accepting it for a lot of wonderful people who were at my side the whole time,” she said.

In her videotaped remarks, Grace described how she would greet visitors to the office and gently turn them into volunteers. “I didn’t expect to be honored for this,” Grace said. “It was something I felt every citizen should be doing. I’m going to do like they do at the Academy Awards and the Emmys. I’d just like to thank all of you — so many of you out there are deserving of this award. And it’s my honor, and Chris’ honor, to be receiving it and we thank all of you,” she concluded.