Having completed more than 130 shifts and 165 volunteer hours, Sequim resident Bobbie Dahm was voted “Volunteer of the Year” by the Puget Sound Blood Center during the organization’s Partners in Life recognition ceremony in mid-April.

Dahm began volunteering with the Puget Sound Blood Center in June 2008 and has grown to be an “asset to the organization,” Puget Sound Blood Center volunteer coordinator Cecilia Stevens said.

Originally from Seattle, Dahm moved to California, but in 2002 returned to Washington and settled in Sequim. Dahm began her career at Boeing and later worked for Lockheed where she continued to work within the aerospace industry until retirement.

“I am giving back to the community,” Dahm said. “I worked a long enough and now it is fun to be able to give back.”

Although Dahm admits she is quite busy throughout the community, she makes Puget Sound Blood Center her fist priority.

“The job she (Dahm) does for us is a very important one and not one that just any volunteer can do,” Stevens said.

Dahm volunteers her time as a registration and donor monitor, and went through extensive training, provided a background check and two references to qualify for the position. Dahm is responsible for monitoring donors and inputting accurate and detailed information into the organization’s database.

However, Dahm “goes above and beyond her position” and assists with events, travels far distances, transports blood to airports and regularly donates blood herself, Stevens said.

As her supervisor, Stevens nominated Dahm for Volunteer of the Year because she “really stood out among the volunteers” Stevens works with.

Dahm not only provides hours upon hours of personal time, she also helps get people involved with the Puget Sound Blood Center, Stevens said.

In addition to volunteering at the Puget Sound Blood Center, Dahm is involved with the Sequim Community Christmas Chorus, Shipley Center,

Sequim Senior Singles and makes blood drive announcements for the local radio station.

For more information on the Puget Sound Blood Center, contact Cecilia Stevens at 360-308-7345 or Cecilias@psbc.org.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.