YMCA Southcoast honored its best employees and volunteers from the past year while looking ahead to the future at its 148th annual meeting, held at the Mattapoisett YMCA last Thursday.

Gary Schuyler, president and CEO of YMCA Southcoast, honored Peter Bullard as YMCA Southcoast’s “Volunteer of the Year.”

Bullard has served three years as the chair of the board for YMCA Southcoast and has been a driving force in helping to recruit community leaders and supporters for the Y. His commitment to the association and expanding the awareness of the Y’s mission in the community were contributing factors to Peter being chosen for this award, according to YMCA officials.

Rhonda Veugen, Wareham resident and development director at the YMCA, spoke about how the new Y nationwide branding and marketing helps define the Ys mission to giving back to the community.

In following the Y’s mission two young scholars were presented with scholarships to continue with their higher education. Emily Holmes was presented with the Dr. Samuel W McFadden II Scholarship and Lizzie Machado received the Dr. Robert H. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship.

Executive directors from each of YMCA Southcoast’s five branches recognized individuals who best represented the “Spirit of the Y” for their branch with an Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Helen Graves was nominated at the Gleason Family YMCA. Anita Moses was given the award at Dartmouth YMCA, Julie Crosby at the New Bedford YMCA, Carolyn Novo at the Fall River YMCA and Robert Muse at the Mattapoisett YMCA.

Nancy L. Bonell, COO/vice president of operations, presented the “Employee of the Year” Award to Samantha Fagundes from the Dartmouth YMCA.

The following individuals were voted in as officers of YMCA Southcoast at the meeting: Peter C. Bullard, chairman; Steven Romsey, first vice chairperson; Margaret Xifaras, second vice chairperson; Dr. Brian K. Bowcock, treasurer; Kathleen R Corkum, clerk. The Nominating Committee of YMCA Southcoast also elected Kelly M. Baldwin, Anna Christina Cabral, Arthur DeAscentis, Charles N. Decas, Gerard Kavanaugh, Dr. David Milstone, Vincent J. Murphy, James A. Muse, John F. Quinn, William D. Roth, Kenneth A. Shwartz, Lawrence T. Wilson, and David W. Wright to a two year term on the Board of Directors.