Resolutions for the New Year:2011

As the New Year fast approaches it is important to take the time to recognize all the great work that was accomplished in 2010 and to greet 2011 by challenging ourselves with new goals and motivating ourselves to continue to improve and impact the Marin communities we live in. With the present economic hard times our commitment to service is more valuable than ever before as nonprofit capacity shrinks while community needs rise and I want to commend all our volunteers for the time they donated this year. The numbers in the blog post below speak for themselves to illustrate the value and the impact our programs have in Marin and these accomplishments are the direct outcomes our volunteers support. I want to pay special homage to our Volunteer Leaders, who are the backbones to our volunteer programs. They are loyal, determined volunteers who sustain our programs and build our programs scopes and capacity so that our programs achieve the success they have.

I joined the Volunteer Service Department at our Center in August, since which I have been running our Flexible Volunteer Program and have had the chance to work with our Flex Project Leaders. Our Flex calendar is quite extensive and continually growing and the program could not be as far reaching without the help of our Project Leaders. Project Leaders help with project planning and development, volunteer recruitment and communication, and management of our Flex projects. Project Leaders bring their enthusiasm and passion for improving their communities to lead volunteers in meaningful projects, and they are all very inspiring individuals. I want take a moment to recognize their wonderful work. As a result our English Conversation Club Project Leaders, the success of the clubs have surged; the numbers of volunteer tutors and students have immensely increased and Project Leader interest has risen because these club leaders do such an inspiring job. The Project Leaders are persistently thinking of new innovative ways to develop and better the clubs to ensure the clubs are as effective in helping the students improve their English as possible. Our project Leader for Knit Your Part has led volunteers and clients from Whistlestop in knitting squares and now is nearly ready to begin knitting the squares together into two afghan blankets that will be donated to charity! The Davidson Middle garden is growing tenfold, and thanks to our Project Leader has recently just planted trees and is preparing to install new irrigation!

I have also had the opportunity to work with cohorts of new Project Leaders. Some who’s passions align with existing Flex projects and other Project Leaders enthusiastic about working with our Center and nonprofit partner agencies to develop new projects inspired by their interests. To all our Project Leaders, whether you have recently come on board or are a long devoted Project Leader, I want to thank you for all you have accomplished and will accomplish through your Flex project. It is your dedication to the cause which inspires the continual development and improvement to each Flex project and allows our Flex program to have the impact it did in 2010. When thinking about how our Flex program will expand and grow in 2011 and as I set new goals for the Flex program I want to give credit our valued Project Leaders!