Volunteering in Rockville

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Volunteering in Rockville
Reprinted from Rockville Reports

There are infinite ways to share talent, experience, expertise and time with individuals or organizations that could use assistance by volunteering in the City. “Volunteer Time” in Rockville Reports highlights a different volunteer opportunity each month to promote an interest in giving back to the community.

Adopt-A-Stream	Leaders in Training
City Junior Leaders	Manna Food Center
Coach a Sports Team	Mentoring
Community Partners	National Night Out
Community Services Day	Pets on Wheels
Croydon Creek Nature Center	Rockville Art League
Docents Bring Glenview Mansion Alive	Rockville Jaycees
F. Scott Literary Conference	Rockville Jaycees Turn 50
"Grand Readers" in Rockville	Rockville Library
Helping Senior Citizens with Snow Shoveling	Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
Holiday Drive	Scholarship Selection
Holiday Help is Needed	Senior Center Awards
Hospice	Sports Officials
Interfaith Clothing Center	Volunteer to Be an Umpire!

Adopt-A-Stream
Residents can enjoy the spring weather by volunteering and helping the local environment through the City’s Adopt- A-Stream program. This program allows Rockville groups, such as civic associations, scout troops, religious groups, school groups, local businesses, neighbors and families, to adopt a stream segment in the community and conduct at least two trash cleanups annually.

Controlling trash buildup in City streams not only enhances Rockville aesthetically, but also improves local water quality and conditions for aquatic life. Trash and other pollutants travel from streets and parking lots through storm drains and into our local creeks, where it destroys natural beauty, diminishes water quality and endangers certain species.

“Even small groups of volunteers can remove a large volume of debris in a short period of time,” said City Environmental Specialist Nate Wall. “A team of five or six people can typically remove 20 or more garbage bags of debris in just three hours, making a direct contribution toward improving Rockville’s environment.”

The City will provide groups with all of the necessary materials for the cleanups and will coordinate the removal of the cleanup debris. Groups can get involved with additional activities such as water quality monitoring along their stream segment. Students can earn Student Service Learning hours with Montgomery County Public Schools.

For more information, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/residents/environment/adopt-a-stream or call 240-314-8872.

City Junior Leaders
As area teenagers head back to school, many may be looking for places to volunteer their time to fulfill their Maryland service learning requirements mandated for high school graduation. Opportunities still are available in Rockville’s Junior Leaders program, which has welcomed dozens of middle and high school students in the past.

Each semester 15 to 20 students sign up to help out with the City’s Kidz Club afterschool program. In summer, Junior Leaders also can assist with the City’s Playgrounds program.

Kidz Club assignments offer volunteers the opportunity to learn many skills. The teens are assigned to help City staff organize a variety of activities for elementary-aged children including trips, games, sports and creative play. During the school year, the older students also are asked to help out the younger children with reading, writing and other homework.

“The City’s Junior Leaders have a unique opportunity to use their skills to help someone younger them themselves,” said Karen Rawlins, community recreation programs supervisor. “Our coordinator, Tania Harriday, started as a Junior Leader herself not so long ago.“

The volunteer program is very flexible for teens, who must often balance their own schoolwork and extracurricular activities with volunteer opportunities. Students can volunteer one day per week or more at locations throughout the City.

For more information or to sign up to be a City Junior Leader, contact Rawlins or Harriday at 240-314-8633 or krawlins@rockvillemd.gov.

Coach a Sports Team
Nearly every day of the week, hundreds of Rockville youngsters are learning how to be productive team players, experiencing the ups and downs of competition and growing up to be confident, successful citizens through the City’s Youth Sports program. Key to the program’s success are more than 500 volunteers who coach nearly 6,000 children each year.

About 90 percent of the City’s current volunteer coaches are parents of children who participate in the sport. But anyone interested in serving the community can participate, including high school and college students.

Team coaches must be 18 or older and have an interest in the sport and working with children. Previous coaching experience and detailed knowledge of the sport are not required as all coaches participate in the National Youth Sports Coaches certification program, through the City of Rockville.

The certification program is a two-night class that discusses topics such as coaches responsibilities, how to organize a practice, offense, defense and sport specific tips. Volunteers will learn from a full-time expert coach in the field.

Safety is also a priority for the City, so all coaches receive a state and national background check and are fingerprinted.

Volunteers are accepted at all times throughout the year for a variety of sports including baseball, football, basketball, soccer, track and field, girls softball, teeball and boys and girls wrestling.

“One of the biggest benefits is seeing the children realize their goals and mature to become team players,” said Chuck Miller, sports program supervisor.

To participate call 240-314-8620.

Community Partners
Senior citizens in some areas of Rockville who find that independent living can become challenging now have an innovative option to remain in their familiar situations before considering alternative housing.

Community Partners, a program focusing on naturally occuring retirement communities (NORCs), and sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, uses a combination of federal funding and compassionate volunteers to help seniors with basic tasks, allowing them to more comfortably and successfully age in their place of choice.

Last year, the Federation received $1.2 million in federal funds to help finance programs and services for senior citizens who live in NORCs. The program is constantly seeking volunteers to help make its program a success.

“We create the activities, but we really need the volunteers to make it run,” said Sam Rosenbaum, Community Partners Volunteer Coordinator for the Federation. “The more volunteers, the more programs we can have.”

Rosenbaum added that the programs are for citizens of all religions and all volunteers are welcome.

He said volunteers are needed as drivers to assist seniors with errands and also to provide help with small household tasks. Volunteers also are needed as book facilitators to coordinate reading groups and help with senior outings.

There are five NORC sites in Montgomery County, three in the vicinity of Rockville Pike.

To find out more about volunteering with the Community Partners program, call Rosenbaum at 301-255-1971 or e-mail sam.rosenbaum@shalomdc.org. The group’s Web site is www.ShalomDC.org.
— Contributed by Mary Robbins

Community Services Day
Rockville participated in Community Services Day. Coordinated by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center, this annual event is designed to promote volunteering by matching people with community service projects that benefit public and private nonprofit agencies throughout the county.

In past years, several thousand county residents–including Rockville residents–have volunteered for a range of projects including grounds cleanup and fall landscaping, painting, food drives, tutoring and visiting nursing home residents throughout Rockville and the county.

This year, the City will sponsor trail and stream valley cleanup projects at the Croydon Creek Nature Center, Elwood Smith Park, Dogwood Park and Civic Center Park. Participants will remove litter and unnatural debris from these areas.

“The cleanup projects provide a great benefit for the stream valley environment,” said Mike Critzer, Parks Service Manager for the City. “Cleaning up the area has always been enjoyable for the volunteers. They have a chance to be outdoors and to do something great for the environment. The projects really are beneficial to everyone involved.”

Interested residents are encouraged to call 240-777-2600 to volunteer.

Croydon Creek Nature Center
Just 10 minutes away from Rockville Town Center, tucked amid 120 acres of beautifully preserved forest, is Rockville’s Croydon Creek Nature Center. Since its opening about two years ago, the Nature Center has blossomed into a central City resource for understanding and protecting our natural world.

The center’s success is due in large part to the volunteers who support its programs and services. The Nature Center is one of the largest volunteer locations coordinated by the City.

“We’re delighted that so many people throughout Rockville come out to support Croydon Creek each week,” said Emily Beach, a naturalist and the volunteer coordinator.

Community members of all ages and abilities assist with public programs and special events for more than 10,000 children each year, and also help with animal care. A commitment to help out regularly and a love of the “creepy, crawly and slithering,” is required for working with the center’s inhabitants. Volunteers also can use their identification skills to catalog the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and plants that live around the nature center.

Enthusiastic helpers also can choose to greet visitors to the center at the front desk and assist with office work. Outdoor opportunities also are available by helping to ensure the trails are safe and educational.

Docents Bring Glenview Alive
With a smile and a penchant for history, the docents at Glenview Mansion keep Rockville’s past alive at one of the City’s most notable landmarks.

“They provide a living history for people who are visiting by showing them the buildings and providing insight into the architecture and history,” said Lew Dronenberg, superintendent of the Rockville Civic Center, which is home to Glenview.

The group started out as greeters with the Rockville Art League, guiding lost visitors to the art gallery on the second level. When visitors started asking the greeters specific questions about the building itself, they realized they wanted to find out more.

“The Montgomery County Historical Society assisted us for a short period of time, and we were able to recover information from them,” said Carroll McIntire, president and charter member of the Glenview Mansion Docents. “From there, we got the idea of documenting a history of the mansion, and we started giving tours.”

Since then, the docents have become a full-fledged volunteer organization at Glenview, guiding visitors through the building and contributing to many of the decisions made about restoration projects, landscaping and furnishing the mansion.

“I feel as though we’ve helped save a piece of our history,” McIntire said.

Docents give daily tours from 12 noon-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and are only required to serve one day per month. The group is often looking for more volunteers. Training takes about a day and anyone is welcome to volunteer. If interested, contact Susanne Palamara or Nanette Belize at the Glenview Mansion Office at 240-314-8660.
— Contributed by Lindsay Pack

F. Scott Literary Conference
The annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference features workshops, panel discussions, famous and local authors, contests and an opportunity to indulge in the art of writing for a day with other enthusiasts. But the daylong event would not be possible without volunteers whose time makes all the difference for the event.

“It really is a mutually beneficial opportunity for those interested in the literary arts,” said F. Scott Fitzgerald Conference President John Moser. “Volunteers have the day to absorb themselves with the arts, meeting the authors and attending some of the activities. And they free up the board members to do more hands-on work on the day of the Conference.”

Volunteers can help with day-of tasks such as meet and greet, breakfast preparation, working as guides and anything else the staff may need.

“It really is a full day’s worth of work,” Moser said. ”But those who volunteer for at least four hours are invited to the conference.”
Pre-conference help also is needed on the administrative level as well.

Each year the conference honors a writer for Outstanding Achievement in American Literature.

Interested volunteers should call 301-309-9461.

“Grand Readers” In Rockville
The second graders at Twinbrook and Maryvale elementary schools appreciate nothing more than reading with their “grandparents.” However, these “grandparents” are not relatives. They are volunteers from the Interages Grand Readers program.

Interages, a nonprofit organization established in 1986, is designed to join young children and older adults. Six years ago, it created the Grand Readers program as a by product of its “Bridges” program, a service that connected newly immigrated children with older adults in order to better adapt to their new homes. Rockville elementary schools formed a partnership with Grand Readers last year.

The program pairs adults over age 50 with second grade students. “This program helps children who need an extra boost at this critical time in their reading,”said Sara Cartmill, the Interages volunteer manager.

Marcha O’Connel, a retired school counselor, is starting her second year as a Grand Readers volunteer. As a mother of five and a grandmother of 10, she still shares some time with her Grand Readers child at Maryvale Elementary.

“We warm up to each other over the joy of reading,” she said.

“Everyone has something to contribute to these kids.”

A love for children is all that is required to become involved. Ten to 15 volunteers are needed in both the Maryvale and Twinbrook schools to donate one hour per week of reading time. Times are flexible. Books, training, and on-site supervision are provided.

If interested, contact Cartmill at 301-949-3551 or Cartmill@interagesmd.org.
— Contributed by Rebecca Janoff

Helping City's Senior Citizens with Snow Shoveling

Warm October, cold November. With snow likely before this winter passes, Rockville’s Senior Services and the Rockville Senior Center are compiling names of volunteers who would be willing to help City senior citizens during a storm.

“When the snow falls, people generally take care of their own sidewalks and driveways, but to some of our senior citizens, not being able to clear snow is a critical situation,” said Lorraine Schack, the City’s Senior Social Services Coordinator. Schack’s goal is to have lists compiled of everyone who is in need of assistance, as well as those who are willing to help, before bad weather is expected. The Senior Center staff will then match volunteers with those in need.

“I cannot think of a better way for a person of any age to help a neighboring senior citizen then to clear some snow for them a few times a year,” said Schack. “For some senior citizens, trying to clear snow themselves puts their health in jeopardy. We think once people know we are organizing this program, they will respond in the typical Rockville spirit – neighbors helping neighbors.”

Those wishing to volunteer, and those seniors who may need assistance, should call 240-314-8810 to prepare in advance for snow removal.

Holiday Drive
For more than 30 years, the City of Rockville has operated an annual Holiday Drive to distribute food baskets and new toys to needy Rockville families. The Drive is currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help organize and manage the large quantities of food and toys gathered during the holiday months.

There are many ways people can support the Drive. For those who only have a few hours to spare, they can sign-up to be a part of a group of about eight to 15 people who help pack food baskets the week before Thanksgiving or help to deliver food baskets. Spending time assisting with the Secret Toy Shop in December is another way to participate for just a few hours.

People who want to make a larger commitment can sign-up now to organize a canned food drive or a drive to collect new unwrapped toys. The food drive should be completed by mid-November and the toy drive by mid-December so the items can be packed and distributed.

“The Rockville Holiday Drive is a wonderful way for people to volunteer their time before and during the season of giving,” said Mary Lou Jacobs, Rockville’s community services program manager.

In addition to personal time, the Drive also encourages people to sponsor a family or individual by buying a group of gifts and food. Another way to support the Drive is by sending a tax-deductible contribution to purchase turkeys and fresh produce as well as toys and gift certificates.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Jacobs at 240-314-8303 or at mjacobs@rockvillemd.gov.

Holiday Help Is Needed
The holiday season tends to spark a desire to help others, the Rockville Holiday Drive is a fine outlet for residents to “take part, give from the heart,” which is the motto for the Holiday Drive. There are many ways in which groups and individuals may donate toys, money or food to the Holiday Drive.

In addition, the Holiday Drive has several volunteer opportunities during the month of November for those willing to donate their time and service to help others have an enjoyable holiday:

• Sorters* are needed to sort canned food donations for Thanksgiving baskets.
• Food packers* are needed to assemble Thanksgiving baskets. Packers must be able to lift a 20-pound box of food.
• Delivery people with their own cars also will be needed to deliver holiday baskets primarily to disabled and elderly residents.

Anyone able to dedicate time to these volunteer opportunities should contact Mary Lou Jacobs, Community Services Program Manager in Rockville’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, at 240-314-8303.

*Volunteer opportunity is suitable for individuals who want to donate their time, or for service groups seeking a holiday activity. Volunteer opportunity is approved for Student Service Learning credit.

Hospice
The last part of life’s journey should be as satisfying and comfortable as possible. However, many people can not afford special care. That is when the nonprofit Montgomery Hospice steps in.

More than 150 area volunteers ranging in age from their 20’s to their 80’s work at various locations beside hospice professionals to help make terminally ill people’s last months as comfortable and fulfilling as possible.

Montgomery Hospice, whose headquarters are located on Piccard Drive in Rockville, helps match volunteers with assignments that include flexible hours and the opportunity to help both children and adults. Volunteers serve as companions and helpers in nursing homes, private residences and at Casey House, the area’s only all-hospice hospital.

“Hospice families are so grateful for the respite we provide and they always find ways to make me feel useful,”said Lee Ann Blank, a Rockville resident.

In addition to assisting patients, volunteers help in Montgomery Hospice’s offices. Others organize fundraising events that ensure Montgomery Hospice can continue to serve patients regardless of their ability to pay for services.

Hospice volunteers receive a thorough training to become effective team members, including a 24-hour orientation, to acquaint them with the practical and philosophical basics of comfort care and help them build skills to increase their confidence.

They often find their service positively impacts others, as well as themselves.

“Anyone thinking about hospice volunteering should try it,” said Terry Stewart, a Rockville volunteer whose mother had hospice care. “The training is excellent and the service you will provide is incredibly rewarding and necessary.”

To volunteer, contact the Montgomery Hospice at 301-921-4400 or visit its Web site www.montgomeryhospice.org.

Interfaith Clothing Center
The old cliché goes, “One person’s unwanted items are truly another’s treasure.” But when it comes to the clothes and household items donated to Rockville’s Interfaith Clothing Center, those items can be important in improving the quality of life for some Rockville adults and children.

The Interfaith Clothing Center, located at Rockville at 751 Twinbrook Parkway in the former Edwin W. Broome Middle School, could not operate without the help of volunteers.

The nonprofit organization is operated by the Community Ministries of Montgomery County and is supported by the City of Rockville, the City of Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, private foundations, individuals, churches, synagogues and the United Way.

This time of year, when residents all over the City are devoted to spring cleaning, is a particularly busy time at the center and volunteers of a few hours or more or highly welcomed.

Volunteers sort the numerous goods donated and prepare them for direct distribution to thousands of low-income Montgomery County residents free of charge. [There also is an Interfaith Clothing Center in Gaithersburg.]

“By providing some of the basic necessities free of charge, we enable our clients to use their scarce financial resources for other pressing needs, including rent, food, transportation and healthcare,” said Julie Maltzman, director of the Interfaith Clothing Center. “We are proud to provide the link between people in our community who have things they no longer need or want with people in the same community who are in desperate need of the same items.”

The Center accepts a wide variety of household items, except computers and large furniture. Clothes and shoes for men, women and children are needed, as are children’s books and houseware items ranging from curtains to vacuums.

“It’s like a department store,” said Jean Luke, a volunteer for more than two decades.

Household donations are accepted Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Rockville. Volunteers are needed at the Rockville location primarily on Saturday and Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings and are asked to call 301-424-3796.

For more information, visit http://www.communityministrymc.org/IFCab.htm.

Leaders In Training
The temperatures may be chilly, but it is already time for teenagers around Rockville to plan for their summer. For ambitious teenagers, the City offers an opportunity to learn responsibility, gain Montgomery County Public School Service Learning credit and to have fun as a volunteer in Rockville’s summer camp program.

Every summer, dozens of Rockville’s 13-to-15 year olds pack up their swimsuits and lunches and head off to camp. What makes this group of teenagers unique is that they are no longer campers – they are camp leaders, known as L.I.T.s, (Leaders in Training). Some of their time will be spent leading 5-year-olds in arts and crafts or directing fifth graders in activities such as pottery or sports such as basketball and swimming.

“The program is designed to prepare teens for leadership opportunities in the future,” said Nina Herndon, Rockville’s director of teen programs. “It also is a productive way to spend their summer vacation.”

Volunteers are encouraged to stay in the program for at least two weeks and may continue working for up to seven weeks. These hours can be used toward the 60 hours of community service that are required for high school graduation in Maryland.

“I really enjoyed volunteering at pottery camp,” said former L.I.T. Liana Montes. “I was able to go on to work as a paid staff member when I was 16. I learned a lot.”

For more information call 240-314-8634 or visit www.rockvillemd.gov.
— Contributed by Mary Robbins

Manna Food Center
Manna Food Center, Rockville’s nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, advocacy, and education, has created a new volunteer program for families.

Children over age 5, with their parents or other family members, are invited to Manna’s warehouse to sort and pack food on select Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The new program is intended to help feed the hungry of Montgomery County and help families enjoy some quality time together. Middle- and high-school-aged children can earn hours credited toward their graduation. Families interested in participating must register in advance.

The program began on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, when the center asked families from Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center to sort food and pack boxes.

“The children and their parents had such a great time volunteering together, and they were so amazingly productive, that we decided to formalize the program by holding special family volunteer days,” said Amy Gabala, the new executive director of Manna. “It is a perfect match because without volunteers we simply would be unable to distribute food. It also helps families learn how prevalent hunger is in Rockville and in Montgomery County.”

In addition, Manna is looking `for a dedicated volunteer to help coordinate all of the center’s volunteers.

For more information about the Family Volunteer program, the volunteer coordinator position or to give food or financial support to Manna, call 301-424-1130 or e-mail info@mannafood.org.

Mentoring
The City of Rockville’s Division of Community Services and College Gardens Elementary School run a mentoring program that pairs at-risk elementary aged children with adults who will provide vital support to their learning and social development. The City of Rockville needs caring volunteers to lend a hand to these children in need.

The mentoring opportunity gives adult and high-school aged volunteers a chance to work one-on-one with students and help develop their academic and social skills. Mentors are matched with students who share their general interests and strengths. The program is designed to improve the selfesteem and confidence of the students, to motivate them academically and in other avenues, assist them with problem solving and teach life skills.

“Not only do the children benefit from the extra support, but many of the mentors say they learn just as much, if not more, from their mentees,” said Cynthia Bangali, Community Services Program coordinator. Each mentor participates in an interview and screening process. Workshops are provided to support the mentors, and there are celebratory events planned as part of the program. Mentors must commit for the school year and be available on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. (with some flexibility). Interested volunteers are welcomed throughout the year.

For information, or to sign up, contact Bengali at 240-314-8317 or cbangali@rockvillemd.gov.

National Night Out
One evening each August, Rockville’s citizens can be found on closed off City streets and in parks enjoying tasty treats, carnival games and jovial conversation. That evening is the City of Rockville Police Department’s National Night Out.

National Night Out is when Rockville joins the nation in recognizing the importance of safety and security in neighborhoods and encourages citizens to step outside and get to know each other.

From moon bounces, music and shared desserts in King Farm to a hamburger and hot-dog cookout in the Americana Centre courtyard, there are parties small and large throughout the City. But the events don’t happen by themselves. They are the work of many behind-the-scenes volunteers.

The Police are searching for even more community volunteers to help make this year’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 2, the best yet. National Night Out activities generally take place between 6-9 p.m. and volunteering can be as simple as asking neighbors to bring a dish to share at a community picnic. Residents can also take a role in helping the homeowners association organize a community-wide cookout, complete with carnival games for children.

Rockville Police will provide necessary support to all community party hosts, which may include give away items, street barricades, free flyers to promote the event and visits by McGruff the Crime Dog during the party. Hosts also receive a free National Night Out T-shirt and/or hat.

Every community is encouraged to participate. To volunteer to host a block party, or to volunteer on your neighborhood’s committee, contact Community Service Officer Jan Seilhamer at 240-314-8922.

Pets on Wheels
For the past three years, Kerry and Bentley have brought joy into the lives of the area’s elderly in local nursing homes.

These two are no ordinary dogooders — they are English Sheep Dogs.

Every Sunday, their owner, Bobbie Havel, transports them to the National Lutheran Home in Rockville to take part in “Pets on Wheels,” a nonprofit organization located in Rockville that pairs pet owners with elderly residents.

“You can tell that the residents really enjoy the dogs,” Havel said. “They introduce us to their relatives and they bond with them.”

Pets on Wheels is sponsored by the Mental Health Association and is made up 150 volunteers who take dogs and cats to visit 72 nursing homes, hospitals, group homes, assisted and independent living facilities, adult day care centers and a hospice.

“I think the main reason our volunteers are so enthusiastic is because we get to see changes in the residents we visit all the time,” said Lezlie Crosswhite, program coordinator. “Just by seeing the dog or cat, they’ve gone from bored and lonely to awake and animated.”

Pets are prescreened to ensure their personality and behavior fits the program’s needs. The owners are provided with training and must commit to visiting their assigned facility twice a month for at least a year.

“The owners are always nervous, thinking we’re looking for perfect obedience, but that’s not the case at all,” said Crosswhite. “Most of all, the dogs have to enjoy meeting strangers and be friendly. And we are always looking for friendly cats as well.”

To volunteer for Pets on Wheels or to make a financial contribution, contact Crosswhite at 301-424-0656 ex. 104 or lcrosswhite@mhamc.org.

Rockville Art League
Rockville Arts Place (RAP), a unique and diverse visual arts center temporarily located in Gaithersburg until its new space is completed in Rockville Town Center, has many volunteer opportunities available for those passionate about the arts.

Rockville Arts Place features a gallery exhibiting the works of local and international artists working in a broad range of media. Many studio artists also create their works on site. RAP has ceramic, glass and photography labs and an education program with more than 100 classes and workshops offered each semester.

Volunteers are needed to perform a variety of duties at RAP. From helping with office work, such as mailings and answering phones, to assisting the new director of exhibitions with setting up galleries, there is a volunteer post to fit any interest and time availability. RAP is currently recruiting teens 14 and older to assist with summer camp programs.

“Volunteering gives people of all ages the chance to gain exposure to the arts in an exciting and real-world arts complex,” said Debra Moser, RAP’s executive director. “In addition to working in this exciting environment, volunteers can earn credit toward discounted or free classes.”

Rockville Arts Place is located at 9300 Gaither Road in Gaithersburg. To volunteer call 301-869-8623 and ask to speak with Holly J.M. Haliniewski. For more information, visit www.rockvilleartsplace.org.

Rockville Jaycees
Gathering for camping, wine tasting, biking or learning to cook gourmet food does not seem like much to ask from a group of 21-39 year-old volunteers. But these social activities are just one component of what makes up the Rockville Jaycees.

In addition to some character building and fun activities, the Rockville Jaycees primarily participate in numerous volunteer activities such as holiday drives, back-to-school supply collections and bicycle donations to the Character Counts program for children. A nonprofit organization, Rockville Jaycees stresses leadership skills training, individual development, chapter management and overall community involvement.

“Our organization is one with several objectives,” said Andrew Field, the newly elected president of the 2004 Rockville Jaycees. “We provide value to the community through the projects we do … We develop our members’ leadership abilities by organizing and operating those projects.”

Joining Field on the board are Management Vice President Patty Landolt and Membership Vice President Russell Acosta. Patricia Gallalee served consecutive terms as president in 2002 and 2003 and will serve in an advisory role to Fields as Chairwoman of the Board.

The membership meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of the month. For more information, visit www.geocities.com/rockvillejaycees.

Rockville Jaycees Turn 50
Volunteers in white shirts with blue “We Help People” lettering on the back can be found at almost every major City
event.

But who are these helpful volunteers? They are members of one of the most active community service organizations in Rockville, The Jaycees, who are celebrating its 50th anniversary.

The Rockville Jaycees, targeted for members ages 21 to 39, have a long history of assisting citizens in almost every way imaginable. Helpers do everything from selling funnel cakes at Rockville’s Haunted Happenings in October to assisting with coordination of the Annual Rockville Memorial Day Parade.

For the City’s Holiday Drive, which is held each winter to raise money and goods for needy families in Rockville, group members hold food drives and pack Thanksgiving baskets. They also take deserving children on holiday shopping sprees.

But assisting others is not the only purpose of the organization.

“We focus on doing good things for people, but there is this other layer to it,” said Tricia Gallalee, member and former president. Jaycees members develop leadership skills by managing volunteer projects.

“We even give awards to people who failed to recognize that they tried,” she said.

The group builds bonds among members that range from new business contacts to long-lasting friendships.

For more information about the Rockville Jaycees, call 301-251-8982, send an e-mail to RockvilleJaycees@yahoo.com, or visit www.rockvillejaycees.org.

Rockville Library
The Montgomery County Humane Society (MCHS) will open the refurbished doors of “The Ark” this fall, giving it the ability to save more than just two of every animal.

The Ark, a private retail and pet grooming store whose total proceeds benefit the MCHS, was established in 2002 to raise extra funds to help the homeless animals of the county. Thanks to an anonymous $100,000 donation, the store has since been able to turn half of its building into a kennel where animals will be adopted from the shelter and housed until adopted by the public.

“Having this kennel space will allow us to save the lives of more animals,” said Sharon Kessler, executive director of the MCHS.

With the expansion of the facility, however, comes a need for many more volunteers, which are a commodity that the humane society needs desperately.

The shelter, founded in Silver Spring in 1958, was moved in 1976 to its current Rothgeb Drive location in Rockville, where it annually services 10,000 animals and the animalrelated needs of about 100,000 Montgomery residents.

Jobs in most need of volunteers include information desk helpers, animal handlers, the shelter’s Mobile Adoption Unit (MAU) and positions at the new Ark rescue facility.

Volunteers can be as young as 14 for some jobs, and are only required to commit two hours of their time per week.

Check out opportunities to share your time at www.mchu mane.org. To volunteer, contact Megan Sproles at 240-773-5969 or email at mchsvolunteer@comcast.net.
— Contributed by Lindsay Pack

Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
For more than 80 years, the men and women of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) have protected the City of Rockville. RVFD formed in 1921, when a group of 51 community members decided they needed to better safeguard the City, especially its stores, from quick spreading flames.

Today, the RVFD not only suppresses fires in everything from buildings to cars, but also provides emergency medical services to citizens in and around the City of Rockville.

“RVFD is a true community service,” said Russell W. Dawson, chief of the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. “It is citizens serving citizens.”

There are more than 120 active volunteers who perform 12-hour duty shifts each week at two of the four Rockville Volunteer Fire Department stations.

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and legal U.S. residents. To be an emergency medical technician, Maryland requires individuals to be 18 years old, although younger members can participate in training and observe during rides in the ambulance.

But there are many other ways to volunteer for the RVFD. “Behind the scenes” positions include Auxiliary volunteers who provide meals and support as well as administrative members. They provide valuable services to the department such as Web site design, Web maintenance and assistance with paperwork and records.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, visit www.rvfd.org/volunteer, call 301-424-4407 or e-mail volunteer@rvfd.org.

Scholarship Selection
There are many ways to volunteer your time and impact the life of someone who needs help. Usually, people do not associate making tough decisions with the joy that comes with volunteering.

The non-profit Rockville Scholarship Foundation, which for almost two decades has been awarding college scholarships, is looking for volunteers to fill its board of directors. Foundation President Bill Ferguson said that being an RSF volunteer can be just as rewarding for those who make the decisions as it is for the recipients of the scholarships.

“It is tough to pick who should get our scholarships because you hate to tell anyone, ‘No,’” said Ferguson, who is the Chief Financial Officer for Investment Properties, Inc.

RSF’s main sponsors include the City of Rockville, the businesses of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, and corporate sponsors such as MAMSI and Pepsi-Cola.

The eight-to-10 RSF scholarships are given to students with high academic achievements, as well as those who have faced obstacles in trying to get a college degree.

For each scholarship, there are often five times as many applicants, making decisions even more difficult.

“It is a bit of work to be part of the Foundation,” he said. “But when our volunteers meet the eventual winners, they all get this wonderful feeling. You think, ‘Wow, we just made some great choices.’”

To apply to become a volunteer member of the RSF board, contact Ferguson at 301-424-4727.

Senior Center Awards
Last month, the Rockville Senior Center recognized the efforts of more than 270 volunteers who have given their time and talents over the past year. The volunteers, who were honored during national Older Americans Month, have donated a combined total of nearly 24,000 hours in the past year.

“Without our volunteers we wouldn’t be able to provide so many high quality services to Rockville’s seniors,” said Jill Hall, Senior Center supervisor. “We want them to know that we appreciate and thank them for all of their efforts.”

A highlight of the day’s events was the announcement of the first annual Estelle Berberian Volunteer of the Year Award. Stuart Crump received the award for his efforts in the Computer Lab, delivering Entenmann’s bakery products to the center, working during the Spring and Holiday Bazaars and serving on the Senior Citizens Commission. He volunteered more than 300 hours last year.

The Volunteer of the Year Award was established on Berberian’s 100th birthday last July for her integral involvement in the center’s creation in 1982.

Lois Darling, Frances Loveless and Frances Martin also were honored for many years of service to the Center as this year’s three Lifetime Membership awardees.

The Corporate Appreciation Award went to Suburban Hospital for providing guest speakers and monthly health screenings for Center members, as well as staffing the center three days a week with registered nurses.

Volunteers support the Senior Center primarily between the hours of 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., helping with the Center’s multitude of services and events.

For more information, call 240-314-8800.

Sports Officials
There are hundreds of people who volunteer for Rockville’s youth and adult sports programs. The greatest compliment to their work, ironically, is if no one notices their presence.

Unlike some volunteers, the game officials who rule over the 10 youth and 15 adult sports programs run by the City’s Department of Recreation and Parks do get paid. For example, umpires for adult softball games get about $23 per game, officials at youth basketball games get paid in the range between $18-35 and football game officials get paid about $30-35 per game.

However, the pay is nominal compared to the efforts these volunteers must exert in technical game knowledge and staying in shape to keep up with the pace of play. In most sports, the officials are the only ones who never get to leave the field for breaks.

An outstanding day for these volunteers is if they get through games quietly, with hardly a notice by players because most of their calls seemed to be the right ones.

“All of our officials take pride in what they do,” said Chuck Miller, a sports program supervisor who is in charge of a number of adult and youth programs. “They get upset if someone complains. The players know the officials are trying hard and know the games could not go on without them.”

However, Miller said that there are occasional moments that can be trying for recreation league officials.

“Every once in a while, there will be a parent or a participant that can make an official’s day miserable,” said Miller. “That is not what our programs are about, but in the real world, it happens. And those days are difficult, no matter what an official gets paid.”

Overall, Miller said becoming an official is a great way for former athletes to stay close to the game — and get exercise. To learn more about becoming a Rockville sports official, call 240-314-8600.

Volunteer to Be an Umpire!
Warm weather and outdoor sports are right around the corner! Don’t strike out this spring and miss a great opportunity to be involved with sports in Rockville.

The City of Rockville is in search of men and women to share their time and talents as umpires for its youth baseball and adult softball leagues. Both leagues begin play in mid-April. Youth softball season runs through June, and youth baseball runs through November (broken into two seasons: Mid-April to mid-July and September to early November).

“This is a great opportunity for someone who is no longer able to play the sport, but to still be involved in the sport,” says Chuck Miller, sports programs supervisor for the City of Rockville.

Umpires do receive a stipend per game they umpire, depending upon the sport and level of play. And umpires who attend training classes in March and April and become certified by the National Youth Sports Coaches Association will be eligible for $500,000 liability insurance.

Sounds like a lot of fun? Registration forms are available online (under the Recreation Department at www.rockvillemd.gov), or drop a note to the City of Rockville, Department of Recreation and Parks, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850, Attn: Sports Division. A packet of information, including dates for the training clinics, will be sent to you.