Iris Brzezinski is 2007 Outstanding Auxiliary Member.

Iris Brzezinski, Auxiliary Unit 13, Las Vegas, Nev., has been selected to receive the Past National Commanders' Outstanding Auxiliary Member of the Year Award for 2007. She will be presented the highest individual Auxiliary award at the opening session of the National Convention in New Orleans on Aug. 11.

"For more than 22 years Iris Brzezinski has dedicated herself to helping build better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families," Auxiliary National Commander Donna M. Tanner said. "Through her work on behalf of disabled veterans and her community involvement, Iris reflects the very best traits of our organization. It is therefore an honor to recognize her as the 2007 Outstanding Auxiliary Member of the Year.

"The Past National Commanders' Outstanding Auxiliary Member of the Year Award recognizes the dedication and contributions made by an Auxiliary member to enhance the goals of our organization and promote community service. Iris is exemplary in both areas time and again."

Iris' membership eligibility is through her husband William, a medically retired Vietnam-era disabled veteran who served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He is also a Past Department Commander and Adjutant.

Helen Parcelle, Adjutant/Treasurer of Unit 13, has known Iris since 1985 when Iris and Bill came to a Unit meeting to see her son, Matt, accept an essay award. The essay contest was sponsored by the Unit.

"It wasn't long after their first visit that Bill and Iris became members of our Chapter and Unit," Helen said. "Since then, Iris has done a lot of work for the Unit. Even with a full-time job, she never says no to helping with Chapter and Unit activities.

"She is a very intelligent woman and a wonderful leader of our organization who works very hard to assist disabled veterans and their families. She is truly deserving of this award, and we are all so proud of her."

Iris became active in her Unit as soon as she joined, and in 1989 became a volunteer driver in the DAV Transportation Network. She often drove veterans needing medical care round-trip from Las Vegas to the VA medical center at Loma Linda, Calif. The 520-mile-trips were made in one day, starting at 6 a.m.

"I had a chance to be come a part of the new van program started by the DAV," Iris recalled. "I was already volunteering at the Las Vegas VA Outpatient Clinic and I didn't mind driving, so I became a volunteer driver. My reward was hearing a disabled veteran say 'Thank You. Without your assistance, I would not have been able to get to my appointment.' That made it all worthwhile."

Iris discovered a lot more worthwhile about being an Auxiliary member. For more than two decades she has served in nearly every leadership capacity in the organization, including Commander and Adjutant of her Unit and the Department of Nevada. At the National level, her involvement includes banner bearer for six conventions; service on the Nominations, Mae Holmes and History Book committees; a member of the National Executive and Finance committees (she chaired the Finance Committee 2003-2004). Additionally she has attended eight National Auxiliary Fall Conferences and several Auxiliary Commander Testimonial Dinners. She was also named the Nevada Auxiliary Member of the Year for 2005-2006.

Iris is employed as an officer in the Nevada Department of Taxation, but finds time for plenty of family activities, which include having been a Cub Scout Leader and Director of the area Central Little League Board of Directors.

Being selected to receive the 2007 Past National Commanders' Outstanding Auxiliary Member of the Year Award was a surprise and an honor for Iris.

"I was shocked," she said. "Surely there was someone more deserving than me. Bill and my family are very proud; my DAV and Auxiliary family are all thrilled; and I am truly honored and humbled. I have never 'volunteered' for rewards. I learned very early in life that you help people, not for reward but because it is the right thing to do."

One of those "right things to do" is among Iris' most notable achievements. It is her work on behalf of Women helping Women in Southern Nevada, a program to support wives of disabled veterans.

"I became involved with Women Helping Women when a group of Auxiliary members got together and in discussion discovered they all had different ideas about caring for their disabled veterans and families," Iris said. "Women were struggling to cope with everyday situations, and the group we formed was able to assist."

Iris has always been on hand to assist disabled veterans and their families, because she believes building better lives for America's disabled veterans and their families starts with the willingness of one person to act. Iris Brzezinski, the Outstanding Auxiliary Member of the Year for 2007 is that kind of person.