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City of Columbia volunteers recognized for extraordinary efforts!
Kudos 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! Read about past recipients:
Our December Volunteer of the Month, Keely Long said, “Public Health was fairly unknown to me before I began to volunteer with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. I love to learn and enjoyed learning of the variety of programs that come under the Public Health umbrella.”
Over a six-month period during Spring 2004 Long volunteered more than 400 hours with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services. She wrote grants to help with tobacco education, developed web pages for the Medical Reserve Corps and other disaster preparedness programs and assisted with the teen pregnancy workshop. Her hard work permits better access to the public for the volunteer agencies who work with the Health Department as well as for the public who use those agencies. Long’s ability to easily work with a variety of people helped expand and integrate the area’s volunteer agencies involved in the Citizens Corps programs.
Article by Debra Hardin
Bill Crum, a Household Hazardous Waste Aide, has been a city Public Works volunteer since 1996. Crum greets and answers questions for citizens about hazardous waste and recycling when they participate in the HHW days held on eight Saturdays annually.
Crum retired in 1996 after working for 34.5 years with the City of Columbia. Though he is involved with other volunteer organizations he finds time to help keep our city a safe and healthful place to live because he believes protecting the environment is important.
Crum has never met a stranger, as they say, but rather friends he has not yet met. “I like to talk to and interact with people,” says Crum, who also officiated regional high school basketball for 32 years, “I’m a people person.”
Article by Debra Hardin
Sondra Hopkins, the City of Columbia’s October volunteer of the month, has served on the City of Columbia Cultural Affairs Festival of the Arts (FOA) steering committee for three years.
As volunteer co-chair Hopkins attends meetings throughout the year in preparation for the highly-anticipated annual festival. Hopkins facilitates the placement of volunteers into appropriate positions as the festival approaches. The FOA requires nearly 100 volunteers. Hopkins schedules, relays task and set-up instructions as she works closely with these volunteers to ensure a seamless and successful event. The annual FOA attracts visitors from as far as Russia and Canada to view the displayed artwork of area and regional artists.
“It’s nice to be part of the effort that brings cultural events and people to Columbia,” said Hopkins.
The City of Columbia thanks Hopkins for her volunteer spirit.
Article by Debra Hardin
Norma and Ernie Falloon have been named September's volunteers of the month for their participation in the Columbia Hospitality Corps. The Columbia Hospitality Corps was established in August 2003 and is designed to improve visitor relations in the City of Columbia. Volunteers help staff the Lake of the Woods Visitors Center on St. Charles Road where they answer questions about Columbia, provide information to travelers, and restock brochures.
Norma and Ernie first joined the program upon its inception and together have acquired more than three hundred volunteer hours. Norma said, “I am impressed by how nice the other volunteers are and it is exciting to have the opportunity to promote Columbia as it has so much to offer visitors.”
In addition to their commitment with the Columbia Hospitality Corps, the Falloons are remarkably active in other volunteer activities such as Meals on Wheels, the Red Cross, Central Missouri Food Bank, and the Show Me State Games. They were named “Volunteers of the Year” for the 2003 Boone County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
Columbia thanks Norma and Ernie for their enthusiasm and dedication to making the City a better place to live.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
Brian and Joy have been active in the Public Works Adopt-a-Spot litter program since its inception when they responded to a city-wide litter challenge. Currently they maintain two spots. Together they maintain a section on the MKT trail at Stadium Blvd, and Brian J. Pape Architect and Consultant business maintains the MKT trail head at Stewart Road. Brian and Joy have had their spot since October 1997 and Brian's business has had a spot since February 1997. The Papes help with litter control as well as planting flowers to beautify the prominent and highly-visible areas.
The Papes commitment throughout the years has seen them picking up litter on Christmas Day of 2003. Brian said, “The benefits of the Adopt-a-Spot program are satisfying to us by helping to keep Columbia clean and the trails more enjoyable.” Joy added, “I love helping to keep Columbia beautiful because we love living here.” The City of Columbia thanks Brian and Joy Pape for their dedication to our city environment.
Anyone who is interested in participating in the Adopt-A-Spot litter or beautification programs may contact the Office of Volunteer Services on 874-7499 for more information.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
The City of Columbia recognizes Evan Karl as the July Volunteer of the Month. Karl, a Columbia Police Department Cadet, helps police with public safety at community events. Cadets participate in events such as parades, the air show, Show-Me State Games, children’s safety and bicycle safety events. Along with volunteer duties, the program promotes good citizenship and responsibility. Cadets collectively contributed over 530 volunteer hours to the City of Columbia in 2003.
Karl, a junior at Rock Bridge High School, has been with the cadet program for four years after he became interested in a law enforcement career. Karl has contributed more than 115 volunteer hours. “Interacting with police officers and being part of the police department is my favorite part of being a Police Cadet,” said Karl.
The City of Columbia congratulates Evan and thanks him and all the cadets for their service to the community.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
The City of Columbia honors Rebecca Thompson as Volunteer of the Month. Rebecca earned her nursing degree at University of Missouri-Columbia. During the 2003 fall semester, she managed the “Health Assessment Outreach” for the Health Department at the ARC. The program provides free health assessments to ARC users and helps to reinforce healthy life style habits promoted by the ARC.
As she worked weekday mornings, the time when retirees most use ARC facilities, she completed hundreds of assessments. The assessments check blood pressure, blood sugar, and use body mass index tests. Rebecca continued to volunteer after graduation which gave the Health Department staff the opportunity to spend time toward other Public Health activities. Supervisor Chris Hoffman of the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services says simply, “Rebecca is just a very good person.” The City of Columbia thanks Rebecca for her dedication.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
Scott McCumber and Brittany Bias are Columbia’s May 2004 Volunteers of the Month. Both students are participants in the Youth in Action (YIA) program sponsored by the Office of Volunteer Services. YIA is aimed at young people ages 12-15. The program offers a variety of supervised volunteer opportunities for Columbia youth during the summer. Past activities have included a litter pick-up along Ash street and Flat Branch Creek, caring for abandoned pets at the Central Missouri Humane Society, and helping with preschool activities for HeadStart. YIA’s 86 members have made a great impact on the community with volunteer hours totaling more than 700.
Scott, a freshman at Jefferson Junior High School, and Brittany, a freshman at Oakland Junior High School both got involved in YIA last summer when they had a lot of free time. “The program is great because participants are in it for a good cause but it is still fun,” said Scott. Brittany and Scott’s favorite volunteer event was Christmas in July, an annual event, which benefits Mid-Missouri people.
Learn more about the YIA program.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
We honor Allene Bledsoe as the April Volunteer of the Month. Allene is active in Columbia Parks & Recreations Older American Klub.
Allene became involved in OAK in 1982 when she joined the Singles Club. After retirement she was elected to the OAK council and has served as secretary, vice president, and her current role as president. Allene said, "My favorite thing about OAK is how pleasant working with such a friendly group of people is. I like being around many different people who are about the same age. It is a great way to make new friends."
OAK activities, designed to provide activities for people over fifty, takes place at the Community Center in the Parkade Plaza at 601 Business Loop West. Ceramics, painting classes, dances, potluck dinners, weekly Bingo, billiards, aerobics, different clubs and bands are all part of the programs offered. "The Parks & Rec. staff is so pleasant and enjoyable to be around," said Allene.
The City of Columbia thanks Ms. Bledsoe for her generous involvement in the OAK program.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
Diane and David O’Hagan are March’s Volunteers of the Month for their participation in the Columbia Hospitality Corps. The program is designed to promote local events, businesses, and activities to travelers by greeting them and answering questions. Hospitality Corp volunteers staff the Lake of the Woods Visitors Center seven days a week all year round.
The O’Hagans have been volunteering at the visitors center for over a year. As Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and overseer of the Hospitality Corps, Lorah Steiner says "The O’ Hagans provide leadership, training, and encouragement to our volunteers. The Hospitality Corps has blossomed under their direction."
Diane O’Hagan says her and her husband first became involved in the Hospitality Corps because they like to travel and use other communities’ visitors centers. She enjoys promoting Columbia to travelers and explaining everything the city has to offer. "It feels good saying positive things about the community, we just love Columbia," she says.
The Visitors Center, besides welcoming travelers and providing information about Columbia’s amenities, has also become a popular stop for local residents. The dedication of the O’Hagans and Hospitality Corps volunteers help make Columbia a more tourist-friendly community.
Article by volunteer Sara Rechtin
February Volunteers of the Month, Sharon and Dick Hanson, participate in the City of Columbia’s Citizens on Patrol (COP). The Hansons have been COP volunteers since February 2002. Together they have accumulated over 117 volunteer hours.
Sharon and Dick are two of sixty volunteers who patrol identified community areas to curb crime. Volunteers patrol in their vehicles which enables patrol officers/cars to attend to more hazardous police duties. COP volunteers do not engage in direct intervention. Columbia Police Department provides cell phones to report suspicious activity.
The Hansons became active in COP after moving from Jefferson City, where they participated in a similar volunteer program. Dick Hanson says “We learned there is not enough public safety force to do everything, and this is a problem for everyone.” The Hansons agree Columbia is a bigger city than most people realize and that volunteering is a way to get to know the community better. “I couldn’t speak better of the program,” says Sharon Hanson “it is community minded and professional.”
The City of Columbia extends thanks to Sharon and Dick for their volunteer spirit.
Teresa Kight, a long-term Columbian resident, began her widely varied City of Columbia volunteer duties in early 2001 as a Park Patroller. " I walk a lot for exercise and enjoy spending time on the trails and parks. Being a Park Patrol volunteer is perfect for me," says Kight. By the spring of 2002, Kight’s physical fitness interest naturally led her to volunteer for the annual Mayor’s Bike, Walk, Wheel Week. " Volunteers in Columbia accomplish a lot," said Kight, "and while not everyone notices, we all benefit in some way. I feel like I am making a difference in my community."
Spring of 2002 presented Kight, a nature-lover by trade, the opportunity to join the city’s TreeKeeper program. Within a short time after graduation, Kight fulfilled her required 36 hours of volunteer time in that program. She then went through training which allowed her to adopt a section of trail for maintenance purposes which Parks & Recreation offers to graduated TreeKeepers. "I love working outside," said Kight, "and have always wanted to improve my knowledge of trees. TreeKeepers is a perfect fit for those interests. Even when volunteering in a specific program, variety and opportunities are available to get involved in other projects, so it's always interesting."
We extend our thanks to Teresa for her volunteer spirit and improving our community.
Article by Debra Hardin
For more information on volunteer opportunities, call 874-7499 or write to volunteer@GoColumbiaMo.com.
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