Guy David has been so helpful with tech support on the member forums, some folks were surprised to find he wasn't on the payroll. His visual tutorials are still in use daily, and we plan to get them added to our official FAQ in the near future!

When we told him about being honored by his peers, Guy, the techgeek of the bunch, sent me the following response via Twitter: "Wow, thanks. I am truly honored. What's so amazing about this is the timing, since I'll be talking about EBSQ on my next Night Guy episode. Night Guy is my autobiographic podcast. I've been telling my life's story in chronological order and it so happens that this week I've reached the EBSQ chapter in my podcast. EBSQ and especially the EBSQ forum have been a factor in how I view web communities and I'm forever grateful for the part EBSQ played in my life." (If you know Twitter, you know that statement was delivered over 4 tweets. And if you want to check out Guy's podcast, you'll find it here)

Longtime EBSQer Linda Falge has touched so many lives as a mentor. When people felt lost or confused, or just wanted an extra nudge, Linda has so often come to the rescue. Thanks, Linda!

When I emailed her about the honor, she shared the following with me: "My time at EBSQ has been extremely rewarding. I have seen so many positive changes over the years. The growth spurts and expansion of the group in general have been amazing, and I attribute much of it to the networking abilities of the individuals in the group. Each one of us participates in a truly cooperative effort, thereby creating a complete and functioning entity. The rewards are endless: new friendships, creative workshops, career development, web/auction tutorials, exchange of ideas, and so much more. My contributions to the group have value, but they pale in comparison to what I have received in return. I am proud to be a part of EBSQ."

In addition to serving as a peer mentor, Tracey Allyn Greene has been invaluable helping to organize so many of the past EBSQ swaps such as Ripped Off and the Pet Portrait Swap (a favourite of hers for obvious reasons) Thanks, Trace!

Tracey shared the following about her volunteer experiences at EBSQ: What have I gotten out of being a mentor on EBSQ? Simple. I am more than happy to give back anything I have learned in my time here from other artists at EBSQ and my own life and artistic experience. For I have learned a lot in the years I have been a part of this wonderfully creative and sharing community. I feel I have gained so much that it is important to share it. For that is the point of a community like this, is it not? The sharing of ideas, technique, the true love of artistic expression? That is what we, as artists, all have in common.

Harlan has put her considerable experience as both an artist and a forum moderator to good use here at EBSQ. Along with fellow honoree Kris Jean, she's helped to completely reshape much of the EBSQ forums and get people talking by focusing on the things that bring us together. Her out of the box thinking has been a huge boon to this community, and if you're a member of the EBSQ forums, you'll see she received an overwhelming vote of support to be on this list!

The always-eloquent Harlan shared her thoughts on being being chosen as an outstanding EBSQ volunteer:

A lifetime membership to EBSQ!! How can I even begin to express my gratitude? I feel greatly honored and tickled pink!!

I grew up in a very art conscious family and with students of the Cranbrook Art Academy so I was used to that wonderful interaction and stimulation that artists talking to one another creates. I did have some formal college instruction in art but by the early 70s I had elected to teach myself and left school. Back in the early 80s I was active in a local art guild but since that time I've had very little contact with artists on a regular basis. While those years were very productive I greatly missed the opportunity to rub shoulders with other artists until I found EBSQ.

I joined EBSQ years ago after happily discovering it via someones Ebay listing. EBSQ soon became my "second home"! Finding the forums on EBSQ was a true blessing! Here were opportunities to talk with artists, artists of so many different backgrounds and interests, genre and skill levels. I love to talk about art!! I love to see what other artists are doing and have my appreciation for art grow and grow! I love to share all the things that I have worked hard to learn over the years. The forums have allowed me to do all of those things.

As wonderful as all that is what I have gained most from participating on EBSQ are not just many incredibly wonderful friends but a much larger FAMILY, an amazingly creative, caring, talented FAMILY of Artists!!!

Kris Jean has brought both her wit and skills to great use on the EBSQ forums. She helped to bring about EBSQ's own version of Freecycle, is running an Elvis challenge on the FanimeGoCo board, AND is running the very popular HTML 101 workshop. Whatever would we do without you, Kris?

Kris was unable to control her exuberance when I informed her she'd been honored by her peers: Wow thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me!!!!

To be honest, I simply enjoy hanging around with the other artists on the forum. I never really thought of it as "mentoring", just an open flow of ideas to spark some new creativity. I just try to help out when I can.

What do I get out of it? I get to see others grow, as I've grown over the years.

Not just as an artist, but as a photographer, a web designer, a marketer, a writer, a programmer, a goofball, and as a person.

It is a great sense of satisfaction to know that I helped, even if it was just a little bit, even if that means making fun of myself to chase those gloomy clouds away.

EBSQ has given me so much, I just try to give a little back each day.

Veteran EBSQer Vicky Knowles has been working quietly behind the scenes for years as a mentor. For a long time, she was our sole mac support person, and helped us help so many people (as well as found lots of site bugs for us to fix). In addition to her role as mentor, Vicky is greatly appreciated for her work with Nibblefest, which isn't an official EBSQ thing, but is greatly appreciated all the same!

Vicky was very excited to be recognized by her peers and said she'd try to compose her thoughts after she gets back from Dragon*Con!

Another veteran EBSQer, Kim Niles, has done so much for EBSQ over the years. In addition to serving as a mentor, Kim has helped with a ton of projects including Pass it Forward, producing the first EBSQ t-shirts, and is currently one of our marketing whizes, who is extremely generous in sharing her know-how.

From Kim, on being told of the honor: "I still remember what it felt like to be brand new and thoroughly overwhelmed at everything I had to learn in order to sell my art online. Sharing info and tips I've learned along the way allows me to contribute to the community and perhaps help others learn things faster than I did, so they'll have more time to learn their own lessons and come back to share them with us. I don't think of myself as a "mentor" though, just an EBSQ member... To me, they're one and the same."

On behalf of all of us here at EBSQ, we thank you for all that you've done for this community. Your contribution has truly been outstanding!