Current Events and Volunteer Opportunities

The Volunteer Center has launched 1800volunteer.org, check it out at http://www.1-800-volunteer.org/1800Vol/CFVC/ !!!

Volunteer of the Year Award Winners Announced, You too can Volunteer at these places!

2007 Volunteer of the Year Award Winners Announced The following five profiles are the winners of the New Hanover County Volunteer of the Year Awards, they have also won the distinguished honor of NC Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service 2007, Leon West is also New Hanover County’s Governor’s Medallion of Honor Nominee, we should hear shortly if he has won one of the two coveted medallions. 

1) Leon West- 

This volunteer is a member of the Wilmington Area rebuilding ministry (WARM). As one of the founding members of this organization, he has taken on the role of project manager. He saw a need for this organization after the destructive damages caused by Hurricanes Fran and Bertha. They found that many low-income homeowners did not have the financial ability to make needed repairs and their homes were in disrepair. This individual personally interviews the clients, assesses the repair costs and coordinates a group of volunteers to get the job. To date, more than 335 homes have been repaired with almost 40 done in the last year. This man has the patient and the talents to complete interviews and assessments in a timely manner as WARM covers 5 counties in North Carolina. He gets many different types of groups involved including those that can provide manpower and funding. He is tireless in his efforts for others and is willing to operate outside the box to meet the needs of others. WARM is Leon West and Leon West is WARM. 

2) Eileen Skane Ryder- 

This woman has been a volunteer at the Cape Fear Hospice and Lifecare Center for over five years. Here, she has taken on the position of Meals of Love Coordinator. Her job is an ongoing one as even when she is not at the center, she spends hours on her home computer adding and changing times of donors. She is constantly calling donors and keeps a detailed record of their donated time and miles. She goes out of her way to make everyone feel important and make sure they know how much their contribution means not matter how small it is. Her best attribute is her consistency in always getting the job done. She finishes everything she starts to the best of her abilities. She makes sure families in need have a home cooked meal from the heart. Her generosity not just touches the lives of our patients but their families. Eileen Skane Ryder is someone the Lower Cape Fear Hospice and the Lifecare center are fortunate to have. 

3) Dennis “Denny” Smith-

Over the past more than seven years, this volunteer has taken initiative and responded to the needs of children, families, the GAL Program and its staff without hesitation. When there is a gap in the needs of abused and neglected children, he will focus on resolutions and intervention. He has worked with victim children whose cases overlapped in the needs of abused and neglected children; he will focus on resolutions and intervention. He has worked with victim children whose cases overlap into the criminal court system, as well as those whose families have abandoned them and helped them secure and embrace adoptive families. When volunteers and agency professional might be ready to give up, this volunteer doesn’t. He keeps his focus on the child and remembers always that without adult advocates they would be left without options and he forges on. He also works with other agencies including Life Guide Program and Guardian ad Litem Program. Here, he helps youth learn job skills and interviewing skills while helping them to find employment and housing. Denny Smith is always giving back and giving more with a warm smile, an easy laugh and a readiness to act. 

4) SCORE- 

This organization has been instrumental in the success of number of new businesses in the Greater Wilmington area. Their 29 counselors have been a vital help in servicing our existing area businesses facing specific challenges and they have put on six workshops over the past year with over 85 attendees. Each counselor has specific areas of expertise and they are assigned to cases as appropriate. These skills include: advertising, promotion and public relationships; accounting, insurance, banking and financial anaylsis; food service management, food production and farming; hotel management and travel; retail, wholesale and manufacturing; e-business and websites; international business; non-profit organizations; business development, sales, marking and strategic planning. No one in this organization is compensated for his or her efforts in any way. The Wilmington Score and its counselors have been quietly but effectively sharing their wealth of experience with any small business in need of advice for other 35 years. 

5 Doug Darrell- 

This nominee is the founder of S Solutions Inc. He founded this nonprofit organization from his desire to do more for the youth of our community, specifically those at-risk. The foundation includes many programs specifically the Inner-City Sports clinics, Educational Edge, and the Street Safe Teen Driving Program. In addition to this, this individual mentors teens on an individual basis. He has spent countless hours in the community raising money to support his programs and enlisting the help to sustain them and many more hours making his visions a reality. Hundreds of our young people have received the benefits of his tireless efforts to help at-risk youth. In addition to this, he also volunteered for the Red Cross during Hurricane Katrina. Doug Darrell is a humble, soft-spoken man who has touched so many lives and his sincerity and enthusiasm make people want to go out and be involved in the community. 

For more information contact Annie Anthony, Cape Fear Volunteer Center Director Cell 910-200-2201

Volunteer!!! 

Kids Voting Seeks Volunteers!

Election Day 2008 is not too far away we need to start signing up those individuals and groups willing to take a shift sitting at the Kids Voting Booth assisting the Youth of Wilmington as they caste their ballot for the candidates this fall. Hundreds of volunteers are needed for three hour shifts the entire time the polls are open at all polling places. Teen volunteers are welcome for this opportunity. Sign up early. Call 392-8180 today!

• VOLUNTEER OPORTUNITIES WITH THE FIRST TEE OF WILMINGTON While we appreciate all efforts on our behalf, we do ask that before you commit, you do check your schedules and make sure that the time you are offering is realistic to your availability. Everyone has to cancel now and then, but please understand that frequent last minute cancellations and schedule problems are not always able to be filled and then children are left without the proper volunteer staffing necessary to their program. Please commit yourself at a comfortable, sustainable level. Range/Course Volunteer As a TFTW volunteer on the range, putting green and the course, you should arrive at Echo Farms as close to 4:00 (or a little before) as you can on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year. These times will change in the summer. It would be ideal if volunteers could be in place by 3:50, but with many volunteers coming from work, we understand that your arrival may not always be exact. We need supervision and assistance on the range, putting green, and bunker and occasionally to take a group out on the course. We need those well versed in the rules to take out groups on a rules tour. That’s when a group is sent out to talk about rules on the course, discussing the rules of etiquette, hazards, tee boxes etc. while actually standing in those locations. Once in a while, you may be asked to take a group out to actually play a few holes. Range/course volunteers should know their way around a golf course from the perspective of rules, etiquette and an adequate playing ability. You do not have to play perfectly, but you should be able to stand back and notice areas of difficulty for the children and direct them toward the pro for evaluation. You should be enthusiastic in your praise and encouragement, firm in etiquette and realistic in your estimation of the youths’ abilities. Offsite Volunteers Offsite volunteers perform many of the same duties as range/course volunteers and the life skills volunteers. They just perform these efforts at one of our sites away from Echo Farms. The one most predominant right now is the YWCA. We run regularly scheduled programs in their brochure. We will also have some programming at Inland Greens and other affiliates as these other courses offer to open up to us in programming areas. The times and days of the week will be more flexible here, but we still do have a Tuesday/Thursday program at the YWCA. There are Target programs meeting on Wednesdays and we have Monday or Friday programs that meet with other organizations. If you are a dedicated volunteer, I may even be able to set up a program around the time that you are available and willing to commit yourself. Life Skills Instructors This is probably the volunteer effort that takes the most commitment. While all volunteers are expected to understand the basic life skills core values program of The First Tee, actually putting these values before the children takes a higher degree of familiarity with the coursework. The best way to train for this position is to shadow another instructor for one class to see how the values should be presented and to help get your creative ideas flowing for other ways to encourage their understanding. The actual curriculum will not change, but the presentation can be as inspired as you are. Shadowing another instructor allows you to have a bank of ready ideas for your less inspired days. It is best for students if one instructor stays with a class, so that there is never any confusion as to what has been covered in the past class time. Also, there is that bonding/mentoring aspect to a continuing teacher/student relationship. That continuity withstanding, substitutes are essential to any program. It is expected that, while life skills instructors are not always experienced golfers, they will need to develop an understanding of the basic progression of skills necessary to ready their students for the range. These volunteers are not even required to demonstrate those skills (although it is convenient if they do have the ability) but they do need to know when to schedule “guest demonstrators” into the class or to take the kids out to the course for prearranged and targeted instruction. This will become very clear during the shadowing process. In fact, if you listen to the pros when they give their instruction to the children, it will soon be a skill that you can claim as your own and quickly develop the ability to check the children on the very basics yourself. Volunteers in the life skills arena will grow quickly in their comfort level and basic golf understanding. It is one of the most rewarding volunteer positions because the group you teach becomes “yours” and the relationships can be very fulfilling. These life skills positions will be available soon on both the PAR and Birdie levels. Wouldn’t it be fun to take “your kids” on to the Birdie level and continue the mentoring relationship. Target Instructors This is a position working with the younger set. Many of these children have never held a golf club and may have to be taught not to swing it like a bat. But, the amazing progression of their skills, interest and personalities will keep you hooked, it you are a 5-8 year old fan. Hugs and smiles are part of this volunteer effort. If you can’t replace a bad day with smiles and enthusiasm, then Target is not the program for you. A high degree of energy is necessary here. But, you get to use your imagination to the maximum. We do still put forth The First Tee life values, just not in a classroom atmosphere. We concentrate more on making the nine core values a thread woven into the games and activities. Skills touch on some rules, but not to the extent of the Par class. As you assist or teach the Target II class or the Target to Par progression, you will become a bit more formal with rules, etiquette and equipment, but there is no classroom curriculum in the Target arena at TFTW. As a Target volunteer you may be asked to travel with our presentation to a school, church or organization that requests a demo day. The children in these instances may be older and it will be beneficial to understand the life skills curriculum from the point of view that even though it is not being presented formally, you still need to represent it and weave it into the demonstrations. Shadowing a lead instructor as an assistant will be the best way to train for this position. Soon your own ideas will jump in and you’ll feel confident to lead your own class. However, please do understand the Par lessons for your own instructional background. Knowledge of the Par class will influence how you present and design activities for the little ones or for outside demonstrations. Office Assistance The current staff is very small and we rely on volunteers to keep the wheels turning. Computer entries and mailings are constant as are requests for information on the telephone and via mail. Office assistance can range from work you take home to answering phone for a period of time to coming in for special mailings, or delivering brochures. It would be wonderful to have one or more volunteers who were available to keep regular office hours so that staff might be able to depend on the phone being answered. Outreach/Fundraising Presentations to outside organizations and approaches to likely donors and sponsors is an especially helpful effort and can be entirely on your own schedule. It is a way for you to tap your own special contacts in the community and unite them with a program which we hope is near and dear to your heart. Presentations by committed volunteers, parents and affiliated business leaders are probably more effective than a staff person. Donors like to hear your story and the background of your commitment. Special Events Volunteers Special events always take a lot of bodies to help with everything from supervision, to registration, to set-up and tear-down, to activity presentation, to toting equipment around. Most times no special skills are needed. Just being there to fill in where needed and to facilitate the kids moving from activity to activity is what is called for from the desperately needed volunteer. You may choose to get in on the ground level planning of an event or your assistance may come by saying, “I’m going to be there, put me where you need me.” We need both types of help in a special event. Staff Volunteers Do you wish to be more involved and have time to commit to a cause that is near and dear to you. Then become a staff volunteer. You may be able to tie into ongoing media, event, teaching, fundraising or office responsibilities. In these positions your efforts are appreciated on a continuing basis and you will be looked to as “the one to go to.” Your name will be listed on our website as a staff member. Come tell us what your talents are and we’ll find a position for you. Substitutes We are always in need of substitutes with a variety of skills. Even those volunteers who have only a day or so a month to offer are of tremendous value to us. Whether it is as a scheduled substitute or as a “call me when you need me” volunteer, your time can make a class time work. We have many businessmen who volunteer in our program, but know ahead of time that they will be out of town for one particular week or class period. Your time to fill in for them may make the difference between offering a class and not offering a class. Your 1 1/2 hour substitute commitment may make ten or twelve kids very happy. Your availablilty to substitute will also make others more confortable to take on volunteer positions if they know that there is a source to cover them if their own children get sick or have emergencies. Head of The Cape Fear Regatta 2005 is in need of volunteers to help with event set up  for details please call 

• NHCS Experiential Education :“Fun stuff with a point” 2:30-4:00 at various elementary schools and middle schools seeking males and females. 

• Communities In Schools of Cape Fear needs 80 volunteers to tutor at Virgo and Murray Middle schools for their after school program, Challenge Academy. This 14-week commitment runs from September 15th - December 15th. Volunteers are needed to tutor at each school from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Sign up for 4 hours a week, or 1 hour a month. 
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•  Good Shepherd Ministry kitchen work, dish washer loading 10:30am 12:30pm Monday –Friday Heavy Lifting Pots and Pans 8:30-12:30 Monday – Friday 
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• Celebrate the Arts  at Hugh Mac Rae Park November 9 AM - 5PM. Need to recruit 30 volunteers for each day. Provide lunch from food vendors and a tee shirt.
• YMCA working with special needs children in the pool YMCA working with students after school 
• at several local elementary schools New Hanover County Schools Experiental Learning working with elementary and middle school students 2:30-4:00 at local schools with Don Osterbo 
• TOPS Soccer working with special needs children on Sundays at Ogden Park 1:15-3:00 
• Greenfield Lake Resource Center working with students after school, requires a background check 
• Brigade Boys and Girls Club after school tone on one utoring working with students 
• Haunted House to Benefit Wilmington Interfaith Hospitality Network What: A Haunted House. We need volunteers willing to help build the haunt, help haunt (can you be scary?) and help guide visitors once they arrive. (But set-up will be evenings the week of and during the day of the haunt...and you need some haunt training as well) Builders need to help during October weekends/ask Dave for details. 
• Communities In Schools of Cape Fear needs 80 volunteers to tutor at Virgo and Murray Middle schools for their after school program, Challenge Academy. This 14-week commitment runs from September 15th - December 15th. Volunteers are needed to tutor at each school from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Thursday. Sign up for 4 hours a week, or 1 hour a month - whatever you can do!

If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities contact: 

The Cape Fear Volunteer Center Annie Anthony, Director 

910-392-8180  www.capefearvolunteercenter.org 925 South Kerr Avenue Suite K Rooms 2/3 Wilmington North Carolina 28403

October 19	NC  Volunteer of the Year Reception