Nicolet System Director receives Patriot Award

Lori Baumgart stands beside Tracy Vreeke as she receives a certificate and handshake from ESGR volunteer Jim O'Neil.

Tracy Vreeke, the Director of Nicolet Library System, received a Patriot Award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) on Thursday, June 4.

Vreeke was nominated by Nicolet employee Lori Baumgart, a spouse of an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) Soldier, in appreciation of the support given to her over the years. “Military life is stressful enough with deployments and moves; I’m grateful for all that Tracy did to ensure I remained a part of the Nicolet team through the various hurdles over the years,” recalls Baumgart.

In late 2019, when Baumgart’s husband received orders to report to Fort McCoy, WI, Vreeke worked with the Nicolet Board of Trustees to ensure Baumgart retained her position on a remote basis. The work included drafting a remote worker agreement, which became the template for Nicolet’s Remote Worker’s Agreement when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020.

Vreeke recalls, "Lori was an excellent employee and such a great fit with our libraries and Nicolet team; it made perfect sense to find a way to keep her with us!"
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“Our country relies on the patriotic service of our guard and reserve soldiers to augment the active-duty armed forces,” stressed ESGR volunteer Jim O’Neil. “Ms. Vreeke’s well-deserved recognition and Patriotic Employer Award exemplify how a civilian employer plays a crucial role in supporting this mission. Lori Baumgart’s husband can continue to serve our country because of the continued support of Ms. Vreeke and the Nicolet Library System.”