County Volunteers RecognizedDuring National Volunteer Week
MARION COUNTY 2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Each spring during National Volunteer Week the county recognizes volunteers for service during the previous year. Departments nominate volunteers from county programs, and a selection committee reviews and scores the nominations. 2008 Selection Committee: Graham Morris, Salem Multicultural Institute/World Beat Festival Donna Gramse, Woodburn Berry Museum and Visitors Center
JUDGE REX HARTLEY VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD RANDY FRANKE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMISSION
The late Rex Hartley served as a county judge and commissioner for Marion County from 1951-66. Judge Hartley was dedicated to involving citizens in the development of the county. The volunteer receiving the Judge Rex Hartley award is given an engraved plaque, and his or her name is added to the perpetual plaque displayed in the commissioners’ reception area. As a volunteer board member Randy has been chair of the Marion County Children & Families Commission since the group restructured in September of 2005 and active on the commission since 1989. Randy has facilitated both the full commission and the executive committee through many complicated issues and tasks. He attends two monthly meetings, a monthly planning session with staff and he spends countless hours at the Capitol advocating for the commission system. Randy's dedication to improving the lives of children & families in Marion County is unprecedented. There are many passionate, dedicated members on the Commission. What sets Randy apart is his skill in facilitating and moving issues from being nothing more that a discussion around the commission table to solid action that can be supported by all members, despite their personal or professional views. The commission members are smart, determined and opinionated people! It is important and challenging to bring these folks to a consensus, to keep them motivated and to honor what they bring to the table. Randy has the ability to involve all people at the table, children and adults, make them feel valued and that they are part of the solution, not the problem. His length of service, his unfaltering commitment to improve conditions for all children and families in Marion County, his willingness to take on the hard issues in a way that respects all of the parties involved and his kind treatment of staff make Randy worthy of special recognition.
MARY PEARMINE OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER GROUP AWARD SHERIFF MARINE SAFETY VOLUNTEERS
This award is in honor of the late Mary Pearmine who served as commissioner for Marion County from 1991- 98. In addition to being the first woman commissioner, she was also a champion of volunteers and volunteer groups. This award is intended for those county affiliated groups with membership that consists of volunteers. Doug White and William “Bill” Foote have been providing assistance at Detroit Lake last summer. They conduct boat safety inspections, at the Mongold boat ramp and also Kane’s and Detroit marinas. They assist deputies with towing disabled boats off the lake and patrol the lake to remove large objects that could damage boats and boaters. Last summer they pulled one individual to safety after he fell off his water tube. If they had not been on duty, this person may have drowned. These two volunteers are on the lake almost every weekend and all holidays. They receive no pay and use their own vehicles and gas. Doug and Bill also help in training others during the year. They teach classes in boating safety and how to obtain a boating certificate card which is required by everyone operating a motorized watercraft on Oregon waterways. In 2008, their volunteer hours exceeded 240 hours each. Now they are adding disabled parking and radar patrol to their duties. These two volunteers are very important members of the Marion County Sheriff’s program because the safety checks that they provide in the summer allows deputies to focus on other aspects of enforcement and makes the county and Detroit Lake a safer place for people to enjoy.
PROGRAM AWARD
This award honors the unique and meaningful work done within a program or division. Volunteers in this category are honored for their contribution not only to the county and community but also to their division or program.
MARION COUNTY DOG SHELTER VOLUNTEERS
Marion County Dog Shelter currently has more than 50 volunteers who do a great deal of work in different areas. They walk dogs, organize and attend outreach /fundraising events, transport dogs to veterinary appointments and rescues, contact rescues to place special needs dogs, conduct volunteer orientations, assist with office work, and more recently, provide foster dog care in their homes. The extraordinary volunteers are able to answer questions and give a very positive face to the shelter. Citizens of Marion County benefit from volunteers walking, providing caring for, and performing outreach for the stray dogs at the shelter. Dogs at the shelter are lost or abandoned and subsequently very stressed during their stay. Without the affection and exercise volunteers give, they could become withdrawn or aggressive. Volunteers also schedule and attend weekly outreach events at local venues with a shelter dog and participate in larger fund-raising events which resulted in $7,493 in donations in 2008.
WYNN CUDMORE, PARKS COMMISSION
Wynn has been a member of the Marion County Parks Commission since 1997. During that time, he has acted as a true advocate for the Parks program. He has attended commission meetings regularly, served as chair, and provided thoughtful, open-minded, out-of-the box input in an effort to help guide improvements to the county parks system. In addition to his participation on the parks commission, Wynn utilizes the Marion County Natural Heritage Parks as resources for the environmental classes he teaches at Chemeketa Community College. The fact that the Natural Heritage Parks are intended to provide access to otherwise remote or endangered ecological settings makes them perfect for Wynn’s purposes. Wynn’s students yield valuable environmental information that is used by Parks staff to better manage these parks and the students have also dedicated time cleaning up the parks they have visited. This partnership has intrinsic value, both in its reliability and mutual benefit. Wynn exhibits investigative qualities in an attempt to find answers where none are apparent. His good humor and calm demeanor create a welcoming environment for the entire commission and for citizens who choose to attend meetings. Wynn’s approach is non-threatening and supportive, and he has the ability to converse with people from a broad array of backgrounds and beliefs.
ADVISORY BOARD VOLUNTEER AWARD TREVOR JACOBSON, BOARD OF PROPERTY TAX APPEALS
Marion County has a variety of advisory boards that make recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Volunteers from the community are appointed to serve on these boards. Nearly one hundred and fifty people contribute many hours meeting, discussing and reviewing issues to make informed recommendations to the commissioners. Trevor has worked tirelessly for the county for 18 years first as a volunteer on the Board of Equalization and then on the Board of Property Tax Appeals. He has served as both member and chair on both boards. Trevor brings to the board a thorough knowledge of how to determine the value of property. He is a willing listener and gets right to the heart of what needs to be decided. With the experience he brings to the board, he recognizes the needs of the county and the taxpayer. Being the chair of a board requires leadership, patience and skill in directing the flow of information being presented. Trevor is calm and kind, but he is still able to keep the people at the table on task. Petitioners may not always get what they hoped for, but they generally go away satisfied because they have had the valuation process explained to them. Trevor provides good customer service to the public and for the county. He has set a high standard for knowledge and conduct while on the board. Trevor remains a valuable leader and capable board member to the Board of Property Tax Appeals.
DIVISION AWARD
LINDA BROWN, JUVENILE DEPARTMENT
Always helpful to the juvenile department staff, Linda asks if there is anything that needs to be done and completes the task. She coordinates the all-department training day twice a year, contacts trainers for availability on various subjects related to the dept, coordinates the time and sets up and reserves available space for each class. On training day, she has necessary equipment such as Power Point, flip charts, etc. and prepares paperwork necessary for each class such as hand-outs, attendance sheets, questionnaires to get feedback from attendees, which later is compiled. This information is shared with trainers and helps with the next training day. And she also, coordinates food and beverages. In addition to all that, Linda gives department tours to various organizations upon request; the tours include the detention facility. Linda has also recruited three additional administrative volunteers and coordinates their work schedule so they are available when there is a need. Linda is a wonderful and welcome addition to the department with her many hats: helper, training coordinator, and volunteer manager.
SHEILA TWIST, DOG SHELTER
Sheila Twist became a volunteer with Marion County Dog Shelter in November 2007. In the past 1 ½ years, she has proven to be both friendly and dedicated. She is a committed dog walker, outreach assistant, and landscaper for the shelter. Although she and her husband started their own pet care business in 2008, she has continued to make the time to be at the shelter every week and has even found a forever home for one of our shelter dogs within her own family. Sheila is a dedicated dog walker; she comes to the shelter, rain or shine, to give the dogs much needed exercise and love. She also maintains the 95 rose bushes around the dog shelter, contributing much to its beautification. She returned twice during the summer to prune them and cut back the roses and other landscaping plants in the fall to prep them for winter. She has put a lot of work into these roses and it shows because they are beautiful. She is very organized and has also made helpful suggestions for easier customer flow with the adoptable dogs. And to further show what a kind and generous heart Sheila has, at her bridal shower last year she requested all gifts be in lieu of donations to the shelter. Sheila exemplifies what every organization looks for in a volunteer.
CCTV Volunteers
The commissioners also thanked the volunteers of CCTV who film board session each week. These amazing volunteers spend their Wednesday mornings behind the cameras making sure the public has access to the work of county government. Richard Gallagher, Ed Freydl and Joe Fabbri were called out from behind the cameras to be recognized by the commissioners for their volunteer work.