Volunteer of the Month

City of Columbia volunteers recognized for extraordinary efforts!

The Volunteer of the Month program recognizes the efforts of some of the many volunteers who improve the City of Columbia. Visit this page to read about our volunteers of the month!

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Past Winners:

2012 : 2011 : 2010 : 2009 : 2008 : 2007 : 2006 : 2005 : 2004 : 2003 : 2002 : 2001 : 2000

February 2013 Volunteers of the Month

Columbia Golf Foundation              

With junior golf dying across the nation, John Westin, president of the Columbia Golf Foundation, came up with the idea to offer free golf camps to introduce youth to the sport.  For the past three summers, Columbia Golf Foundation has organized and offered these golf camps through Columbia Parks and Recreation at L.A. Nickell Golf Course. To teach the basic skills needed to play golf, camps run one day a week for four weeks and serve Columbia area kids ages 8-17.

“It’s fun to see youth on the course and pass the love of golf on,” Andrew Baier, who works for the city golf courses and teaches at the camps comments. “90% of the campers have never been on a golf course or held a club. Through learning the game of golf youth learn etiquette, honesty through scoring, and get plenty of exercise.” They also have fun. Returning youth to the golf camps is normal.

Through the Columbia Golf Foundation, over 100 youth each summer are introduced to golf in a fun and interactive format. The foundation is also key in helping fund Columbia area high school golf teams at Rockbridge, Tolton, and Hickman.

Because of the Columbia Golf Foundation, numerous youth have been introduced to the game of golf who otherwise would not have had access to the game. 

     ~Written by volunteer Theresa Nelson

January 2013 Volunteer of the Month

Bob Bailey              

A former chemistry teacher, Bob Bailey knew some of his self-worth came from helping others and doing something that mattered.  When he retired, he looked into volunteering. For over four years, Bob has been keeping Columbia's trees healthy as a TreeKeeper and keeping Columbia's trails clean and safe as a Park Patroller.

Park Patrol volunteers are extra eyes and ears on the trail.  They help with situations, pass information along, and monitor the trails.

Bob admits he chose volunteer opportunities that mirrored his pre-retirement interests: TreeKeepers for his enjoyment of gardening and the environment, and Park Patrol for his joy of biking.  Formerly, as Coordinator of the Environmental Club at Rockbridge, Bob participated in highway cleanups and planted trees around the school.  Now he participates in Cleanup Columbia and TreeKeepers.  He and his wife have cycled across the US. Now he bikes Columbia's trails as a Park Patrol.

“It allows me to do two things at once,” Bob says of volunteering. “You feel like you are part of a larger group. At the end of the day you feel better about yourself because you've done something for others.”      

~Written by volunteer Theresa Nelson