volunteer Mrs. Jean Kelly are no longer with the organisation. But the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse's Volunteer of the Year yesterday pledged to continue their fight against substance abuse.

Mrs. Kelly, who calls herself a "behind-the-scenes'' volunteer at NADA, has worked at the organisation since its inception in 1986.

She helped get the Employee Assistance Programme off the ground, and watched as it grew into an effective organisation for helping workers with substance abuse problems.

"I basically do anything I'm asked,'' she said. That includes paperwork, answering telephone lines, organising conferences, errands and fundraising.

Mrs. Kelly said she strongly believed in "giving back to the community for the good of all''. It was the late Mr. David Critchley, a former Health and Social Services permanent secretary, who was instrumental in her becoming a NADA volunteer, she recalled. They had been discussing the drug problem at a dinner when he suggested she give NADA a call since she was interested in helping.

Once she signed up, Mrs. Kelly worked under the direction of Mr. Cal Ming, who left the post earlier this year for heart transplant surgery, from which he is still recuperating.

"Cal was the most energetic person who would give up any spare time he had to talk to groups, especially children -- he had a great compassion for children,'' she said.

Once NADA is enveloped into the National Drugs Commission "superstructure'' to collectively fight Bermuda's war on drugs, she said she would still like to work for the organisation.

Council executive director Mr. Gordon Johnson said: "The hours she puts in are simply staggering.'' Chairman of the Council's executive committee Mr. Cole Simons added: "She is a tireless volunteer every organisation dreams of and whom we in this community are grateful for the contributions of.'' `DREAM' VOLUNTEER -- Mr. Cole Simons of the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse presents a cedar plaque to NADA volunteer Mrs. Jean Kelly, named yesterday as Volunteer of the Year.