Honoring volunteers

What would life be like in Nevada and Vernon County, if all of the volunteers stopped volunteering?

Life without the many volunteers cannot be imagined. There are a large number of volunteers contributing to our quality of life in a variety of ways. These people are devoting large numbers of hours of their personal time.

The volunteers are doing all type of tasks including serving on boards, foundations, commissions, committees and using their talents to make this a great place to live. We have a large number of caring and unselfish people.

Volunteers are contributing a great amount of time. There is no way to put a financial value on their time and talent. It would be difficult to determine how many volunteers there are and the number of hours contributed. Most likely the 20/80 rule applies to volunteers as it does with many other things. If a study was made, expectations are that the study would find that 20 percent of the volunteers are doing 80 percent of the volunteering. There are many people who do not volunteer in any way and make sure they are not involved. Many of the volunteers are volunteers in several different programs or in different ways.

This week, April 23 through 29, has been proclaimed by President George W. Bush as National Volunteer Week. He has called "on all Americans to recognize and celebrate the important work that volunteers do everyday." He "also encouraged citizens to explore ways to help their neighbors in need and serve a cause greater than them."

That is what our volunteers are doing -- serving causes greater than them.

It would be easy to write more than 52 columns devoted to volunteers and the way different groups and different individuals contribute to the area. Look around and you will find volunteers involved in nearly anything that is taking place. Only a few of these will be named in this column, recognizing that there are many more that need to be named. Today's column and next week's will be a two-part series paying tribute to many volunteers.

In recent months we have seen heroes at work as volunteers in the volunteer fire departments in Vernon County. Each time they go to a fire, they are putting their lives on the line. These volunteers are exhausted and are in need of more support and more volunteers. With the high price of gasoline, these departments have or are about to exhaust their funds. Many of the firefighters are digging into their pockets to enable the fire departments to be available for their department to function. They and their families volunteer at fund-raising events as well. Certainly, much more needs to be said about these great volunteers that are heroes of the community.

Naturally, I also think about all of the great volunteers that I worked with during my extension career, regardless of whether they were volunteers in 4-H, the youth fair, or in some other way. The volunteers were essential to the program and contributed in a variety of ways. It is great, what they did. Many of these are still active, and many others have picked up the load and are carrying out needed duties. An example of what the volunteers are doing for the Vernon County Youth Fair currently is the construction of a new barn for sheep and goats exhibits.

During the week there will be several press releases. In a press release Carol Parmenter, 4-H youth specialist said the following about the volunteers: "Vernon County 4-H volunteers who tirelessly work to improve our community will be honored during National Volunteer Week, April 23-29. Vernon County 4-H will recognize their volunteers at both the April 4-H Council meeting and the annual Share the Fun program on April 29. Members would like to thank all of the many volunteers who assist with the 4-H program.

The National Volunteer Week theme, "Inspire by Example" truly reflects the power volunteers have to inspire the people they help and to inspire others to serve! National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network.

"Volunteers perform countless acts of service and are one of America's most valuable assets," said Robert K. Goodwin, president and chief executive officer of the Points of Light Foundation, sponsor of the national program. "During the past year, volunteers nationwide have reached out to their neighbors both near and far especially during the aftermath of the hurricanes on the Gulf Coast. Vernon County 4-H sent more than $700 to Kids Helping Kids to assist 4-H families in both Missouri and the Gulf Coast.

"Locally, Vernon County 4-H clubs participate in many community service programs such as making Christmas baskets, caroling during the holidays, Miles for Meals, making weighted vests, donations to the Children's Center and canned food drives. Other projects include supporting military personnel, assisting with Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army and helping at the Moss House in many ways." When thinking about the Nevada/Vernon County Chamber of Commerce, I think about the board, the committees and volunteers at events. Charlene Winfield, tourism coordinator, discussed some additional volunteers: Volunteers are a vital part of the Chamber of Commerce operations here in Nevada. Traditionally they are in our office from 9 a.m. to noon one or two days a week. Answering the phone, they take messages for chamber staff and more importantly provide information about member businesses and the community to callers. They contact chamber board members and ambassadors to remind them of upcoming meetings and events. They help visitors find information about the community and surrounding areas.

"Typically, our volunteers are professionals who have retired from the business world, but still have a desire to be involved and make a contribution to the community. Often when they leave our office, they are headed to help at another organization," Winfiel said.

It was my intention to include information about the volunteers for the city of Nevada and for Nevada Regional Medical Center. These two programs have a tremendous number of volunteers and will be included in next week's column.

All of the volunteers in Nevada and Vernon County are to be thanked for what they are doing; each one deserves a bouquet of four-leaf clovers.