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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Three special women just received lifetime honorary memberships to an association they have invested their time and hearts into.

Yellowknifers Vicki Tompkins, Marsha Argue and Lorraine Sampson are the recent recipients of honorary memberships and longtime service awards.

Lyda Fuller, executive director of YWCA Yellowknife, said the recipients are usually no surprise.

"It is usually pretty obvious who the recipients will be, based on the work completed in the previous year."

Last year, the YWCA chose to recognize only one woman, Barb Paquin, who has worked with the local Meals on Wheels for more than 30 years.

Each woman was recognized this year for their range of contributions to the YWCA and women's organizations in the North.

Vicki Tompkins, a Yellowknife business owner, has been a board member since 2003 and fulfilled a two-year term as president. More recently, she has focused on fund developments and member recruitment, as well as building the relationship between the board and staff.

"I've worked hard for and with the YWCA, and I really do believe in what they do for the Northwest Territories," said Tompkins.

" I feel very honoured to be associated with the YWCA for life."

Marsha Argue, has done tremendous work in aiding the creation of YWCA Agvvik Nunavut, the newest member association to YWCA Canada, in Iqaluit. This chapter, thanks to Argue, now looks after the Qimaavik Transition House and the Sivummut Homeless House, which Argue helped start.

"Marsha has been working in women's organizations for at least as long as I've been around," said Fuller, who has been with the YWCA for 15 years.

The Yellowknife and Iqaluit YWCA work closely together.

Fuller said each member association is legally its own, but do a lot of pan-territory partner information.

Recently, a meeting was held in Yellowknife for all shelters across the territories, where Fuller and YWCA Agvvik Nunavut executive director, Suny Jacob were able to discuss mutual needs.

Lorraine Sampson declined to comment to Yellowknifer. She has a long association with the Yellowknife YWCA, dating back to 2000. She has previously worked with the women's Children's Healing and Recovery Program, and with Alision McAteer House, according to the YWCA.

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