The following individuals have been nominated by their department for
Volunteer of the Year and as true examples of the VIP spirit.
Animal
Shelter - Kathi Cavanagh
Kathi is a real go getter! She has a vibrant personality which makes
people feel welcome when they enter the shelter to visit the animals. She has
completely overhauled the volunteer
program. She leads volunteer orientations, trains new volunteers and tracks
volunteer hours, she revamped the volunteer handbook and hasd written job
responsibilities. She is currently working on creating a fostering program.
Kathi also helps with the Adoption Counselor program and off-site events.
Douglass Community
Center - Loretta Revely
Loretta has provided outstanding and dedicated service to the Douglass Center for the past 15 years. As a
single mom of three, Loretta finds time to help organize workshops and leisure
activities for the center’s young ladies’ organization. She also counsels the
young girls on life skills, helping them with very difficult decisions. The
positive attitude she brings into any group is uplifting and her love for
giving is unconditional.
Plano Fire Rescue
Association - Barbara Homrighauser
Barbara has made such a positive impact on
the Plano Fire
Department and the PFRA that it’s hard to believe she has been involved for
only two years. She is always enthusiastic and her upbeat attitude is
contagious. Barbara is the Secretary for the PFRA, a member of its Board of
Directors and Co-Chair of the 2008 Plano
Fire Department Picnic. She still finds time to volunteer many hours at Fire
Administration either manning the front reception desk or helping with various
office duties in the Public Education Office. Barb’s work is organized and
thorough, and she always walks in the door with a smile on her face and a
willingness to help out where needed. Barbara was also instrumental in the
formation of the Station of the Month program to honor our Plano firefighters and is one of the most
active drivers in the Paramedic Shuttle program.
Literacy
for Life - Janice Schieffer
Janice strives to help adults become
productive members of the community by building literacy skills and
self-esteem. For the past 7 years, Janice has been an invaluable asset to the
Literacy for Life program. Her patience, understanding and appreciation for
other cultures have enabled her to create special bonds with her adult students.
Therapeutic
Recreation – Dawn Hassell
Dawn was one of VIP’s first volunteers,
starting back in 1986. She is one of the foundation pillars of the Kids Night
Out program and has been volunteering for the program for over 20 years. She is
the resident craft lady. Each month she brings a different creative craft for
the kids to make. She loves working with the kids and is very patient and
understanding of their needs.
Plano Senior NET - Dick
Trankle
Dick is one of the main reasons the Plano Senior
Recreation Center
has a successful SeniorNet Computer Program. Since 2005 he has taught the
Introduction to Computers classes to seniors. He also facilitates a Digital
Camera Club. Without Dick’s help, the Senior Center
would not have been able to get hundreds of seniors started using computers.
Few know this, but Dick has helped many seniors in purchasing their first
computer and helped set them up in their homes. Dick has also been an enormous
help with special events that are offered at the Center. He can motivate and
lead a group of fellow volunteers like no other!
Library
Links with Seniors Group
This group of volunteers brings
library programs to senior care homes, touching the hearts of many seniors. The
volunteers meet monthly to share ideas, materials, and concerns, and then
design a program especially for their senior care home. The bonds that are
created from visiting the seniors leave a lasting impression on all those
involved. In 2007 the LLS volunteers contributed 782 hours to the program and
reached 1, 141 residents at numerous facilities. A typical program involves a
fun topic that encourages the residents to talk about their own memories and
experiences. While enjoying music, food, photos and jokes, the residents are
reminded of the good ‘ole days.
Live
Green in Plano
- Jan Eppard
Jan has enthusiastically stepped up to help
with every type of project that the department as offered. She has taken a
leadership role within Plano
Community Garden;
she comes to every work day, pitches in, and helps to keep everyone on task.
She has a keen sense of humor that makes work parties fun. We really appreciate
her devotion to organizing the Plano
Community Gardeners. Her leadership and her vision for the garden have helped
to move the project forward and have been instrumental in building a gardening
community. Jan also serves on the Live Green in Plano Advisory Board. She has worked at the Reuse Center,
trade shows, city events and the Environmental
Discovery Center
since 2005.
Plano Citizens
Police Academy Alumni Association
Since 1991, the alumni association has
provided trained citizens volunteers who assist our police department with
designated activities’ answering phones in the chief’s office, helping in
records administration, Open Garage Door Patrol, Motorist Assistance, homeland
security checks, Skywatch, handicap patrol, warrant calls, collecting toys and
money for abused children, and event assistance. All programs help enhance
relations between the community and the police department and assist our law
enforcement agencies. This past year 170 members donated 6, 010 hours of
service to the COP.
Keep
Plano Beautiful
Commissioners
Keep
Plano Beautiful (KPB) is a Plano City Council appointed commission that
empowers individuals to take responsibility for enhancing their community
through community development and litter awareness and prevention. Commission
members have done an outstanding job on identifying the needs concerning litter
prevention and beautification in our community and taking the lead in finding
solutions for those needs. Through their involvement during Homeowner
Association meetings and community events, KPB Commission members have
encouraged adults and kids alike to think about how to protect the environment
in innovative and fun ways. They are a group of very dedicated and professional
individuals.
Volunteers In
Plano - Award Winning Team.
Plano has
achieved outstanding results in 2002 with the effort of VIP’s. Over
86,000 hours were donated, and the programs value this year alone is over
$1.1 million. For almost two decades, the City has sponsored an excellent
volunteer program that strategically targets the needs of its staff and
community.
Volunteers assist with data entry, marketing, web design, filing, and
translation of letters, tapes and booklets. The assignments vary widely
– Office volunteers include clerical assistant, ordinance clerk,
Police and
Fire
Academy
Alumni assist at public events, man the fire shuttle and handicap patrol
parking programs, help with crime prevention, Senior Center uses
100 volunteers to serve meals, teach line dancing, teach computer
classes, Therapeutic Recreation and Douglass Community Center
continue to expand programs for the underprivileged and for special needs
people of all ages, and enhance services to diverse populations in camp
programs and homework. Libraries have programs to help students
with homework, link seniors at residence homes, teach new immigrants how
to speak and read English, help citizens with genealogy, and mend books to
keep them looking like new. Public Works programs teach children
and adults about recycling, composting and water quality through stories,
puppet shows, and classes.
Teen Group
The City
of Plano is honored to work with the next generation that will lead our
great country. The 1600 individuals that volunteered in 2002 made a
positive impact on our community, teen peers, younger students,
parents and families, and of course City staff.
The youth of Plano are dependable, respectful, intelligent and hard
working. They have shown the ability to commit to a task and overcome
challenges. Their dedication to the various departments of the City of
Plano is invaluable. Many of the departments they volunteer for would not
be possible without their gift of their time and energy. They are role
models for their peers, teaching them to give back to the community. Our
volunteers have great communication skills, are able to break down
barriers, utilize listening skills and present proper courtroom
etiquette. They present a positive mind set to the community. They span
all ethnic and racial boundaries. These youth volunteers are punctual,
enthusiastic, willing to learn, and are able to prioritize and accept
constructive criticism. All of these volunteers draw on their own
experiences to help fellow peers strive to excel. The integrity of these
teens has proven to be a gift to themselves as well as to the world.