HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-04-24, Page 6Sidelined from work, due to illness, Harry Lear of
Londesboro finds fulfillment in his volunteer efforts, such
as working in the back offices of Blyth Festival's
administration building.
On call
Now retired Bev Brown of Brussels gives almost half of
her day to volunteer work. However, even while she was
still employed donating time for good works was always
a priority.
`Satisfaction of is to line up
contributing is currently on a
worth it' —Lear board, whose
term is ending,
she says
an organization
• • people
And all that friend asked
Before he was gone
Was when I felt better
I pass his help on.
— submitted by the Palliative Care
Organization in recognition of and
gratitude to their dedicated
volunteers. It is indicitive of the
selfless efforts of many such
individuals who give of
themselves to help community and
others.
SCHIZOPHRENIA
IF You THINK SPELLING IT 'S HARD,
IMAGINE LIVING WITH IT.
Legacy I'll shoulder your burden
I'm going your way, And give you a rest.
Let me help you along,
You seem to be tired
And my arms are strong.
Let me carry your load,
I'm up to the test.
I was once troubled
With problems and grief
Til a friend held me closely
And offered relief
PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1996
Celebrating Volunteer Week April 21-27
Pair symbolizes the spirit
of community volunteers
By Bonnie Gropp
Volunteers. They are the flames
that fuel community spirit. They
can be a spark that ignites others
to follow their lead or be as subtle
and steady as the glow of a
candle.
In rural communities the
selfless efforts of volunteers are
invaluable. Featured in this story
are two who are representative of
the rest.
It was eight years ago that
illness resulted in early retirement
for Londesboro resident Harry
I ear from his position as clerk of
Hullett Twp, a job he had held for
nine years. "After my heart illness
I was unable to go back to work
and too young to sit back and do
nothing."
Two years later he joined the
board of Clinton Public Hospital,
with which he will soon be named
chairr, and became a volunteer
with the Blyth Festival. His duties
with the latter were ushering in
the beginning, then later mailing.
Two years ago, when the burden
of debt was weighing down the
administrative staff, Harry helped
in the office, filing tickets,
serving as assistant house
manager and even house manager
for one day performance.
The Festival, he says, is a "great
place to work. They make their
volunteers feel welcome. Getting
that kind of greeting helps set the
tone for your service with an
organization."
Though Harry"s "serious"
volunteering began six years ago,
he has always played an active
role in community organizations.
He was a member of the Lions
club for a number of years and
the Federation of Agriculture.
Also, when his children were
younger, he did his part for minor
sports.
He even filled in as storekeeper
once for a local businessperson.
"I guess I've pretty much
always been a volunteer," said
Harry. I was brought up with the
idea you should give something
back to your community."
While his parents couldn't
actually be called volunteers,
Harry says they did their part. "It
was a different time when my
parents grew up, but my volunteer
spirit came from their sense of
community."
"Professional" volunteer Bev
Brown of Brussels agrees that the
practice of volunteerism is
instilled in an individual through
example. "I think I learned this
from my mother. My father was
involved on boards and
committees, but my mother was
in the community. I can
remember as a very young girl
delivering a custard to a sick
neighbour."
For as long as she can recall
Bev has been giving her time to
community efforts. "If you call
selling cookies for Girl Guides
and war stamps then I have been
a volunteer all my life."
From the time she moved to
Huron County in 1970 Brown has
continued with that focus first as
a member of the Federation of
Agriculture, which she refers to a
"a great learning opportunity",
then with Town and Country
Homemakers as one of the
founding board members.
"Those were the loyes of my
life for many years."
The next big move for Bev was
her introduction to the Mennonite
Church which "thinks and teaches
how to live in community," she
said. "It wasn't long before I was
involved on the Missions
COmmittee and am now a
member of the Youth Ministry
team."
In addition to her church work,
Bev's "big push" for the past 10
years has been specialized
transportation.
Having retired in
June of 1995 from
the Huron County
Health Unit, she
has also been a
member of the
Wingham
Hospital board
and dedicates a
great deal "of her
time presently to
Wheels Away.
Acknowledging
that she spends at
least half of her
time volunteering
in one capacity or
another, Bev says, "My
philosophy is that we are put on
this earth to, in some way, help
out, to work with other. I don't
believe we were put here to sit in
a rocking chair."
While many people shy away
from the idea of giving precious
time to volunteering, Bev notes
there are many different ways to
give back to community. "The
person who watches you
struggling across the ice and
helps you or someone catching a
dog that has run away. They are
all volunteers. We need to watch
out for other people's needs
because when that stops, it all
stops," says Bev.
In addition to the satisfaction of
knowing that you have done
something for someone else, Bev
said volunteering is also an
opportunity to meet some
"fantastic people" with whom you
may not have crossed paths
"Networking is something a lot of
people do naturally while others
have to learn, but it has to be
done."
"We really have to encourage
volunteerism because we're in an
economy now where I believe we
can maintain services if people
will help. "
"Volunteering is actually a
selfish act. The psychic salary is a
great thing to receive."
Harry adds, "You have to give a
lot, but the satisfaction of
contributing is worth it. I would
advise anyone who can make
time to get involved in volunteer
work. There are so many different
ways, whether visiting with shut-
ins or on organizations, so many
opportunities to help and give of
yourself."
***
. you're seeking this earth to .sat from people
otherwise.
"Harry says, "Volunteering
means working with a lot of
interesting people who are sincere
in what they are attempting to
do."
"Most people don't recognize
the gifts God gave them," says
Bev. "They're hiding them under
a basket and it takes someone to
lift it off. Acknowledging each
other's gifts is very important and
that starts with children."
Harry agrees. "Volunteering
starts as children. If they learn to
help when they're growing up,
then the next phase is just to keep
on helping."
For individuals who are looking
for a way to donate their time, but
don't know where to start, Bev
suggests contacting a volunteer
organization or information
service, such as the Huron
Information Directory, which taps
into every organization in the
county.
Bev, who has currently been
working on recruiting new board
members for one organization
says networking is the best way to
get this task
`I don't believe done. "Call
your allies, tell we were put on them the talents
chai r' — Brown to
Another idea
in recruiting for
in a rocking anyone comes
• and see if
`Legacy' touches on volunteer spirit HELPING THE
WORLD WRITE
NOW
•
CODE
Self-sufficiency through
literacy in the developing world
For information, call 1-800-661-2633