Where the Rubber Meets the Road

And the winner is...

I love the Oscars. I love the fashion, the speeches, and the whole red carpet experience. I love watching celebrities in their gowns and tuxes celebrating great achievements. It’s just … fun! We don’t have enough extravagant fun in our busy and obligation-filled lives, what with the economic downturn and the struggles our communities endure.

Last fall we tuned in with anticipation as our favorite television shows celebrated service by incorporating it into their story lines. We popped popcorn and put our feet up while we watched the cast of Grey’s Anatomy giving blood and the doctors from Private Practice head down to the homeless shelter to provide free health care. In full disclosure, I love Private Practice. But as fun as it was to watch my favorite stars participate in my favorite pastime, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was another way to bring Hollywood and service together.

Haven’t we all wanted to walk the red carpet at one time or another? Haven’t we all thought about wearing amazing clothes, having our picture taken, mingling with great people and being honored like celebrities? I have, and on Friday I’m going to Cinderella’s Closet to pick out a gown so that I can do just that.

Next week the Volunteer Center will be honoring volunteers as if they are celebrities. The first ever Voluntonies Award Show will feature outstanding volunteers who inspire service in the community. Clarice, an 86 year old volunteer who has made a profound impact on the Drexel House will have her picture snapped by paparazzi and will be cheered as if she were Angelina Jolie for her win in the category of Inspirational Achievement. Lena Hammon, who travelled to Olympia from Australia because of her commitment to the mission of GRuB will be honored for her win with a Global Thinker Award. Winners and nominees from countless agencies will get attention as if they are celebrities, complete with a live band and red-carpet interviews.

It was really fun to watch television stars celebrate volunteerism, but it’s the Voluntonies I’ve been waiting for all year. To all the volunteers in our community who make so much impact: We like you, we really like you!

Washington Volunteer Appreciation Week

Booker T. Washington once said, "A volunteer is a person who is a light to others, giving witness in a mixed-up age, doing well and willingly the tasks at hand-namely, being aware of another's needs and doing something about it." National Volunteer Week has embodied the energy and power volunteers evoke on a daily basis as they lead by example-not only encouraging the people they help, but motivating others to serve as well.

This year's theme, "Celebrating People in Action," coincides with Governor Chris Gregoire proclamation that April 18th - 24th be set aside as "Washington's Volunteer Appreciation Week."It's a week about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities - to put themselves at the center of social change. The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties encourages everyone to take advantage of this special week and reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors in whatever capacity you can and say thank you.

So in an effort to lead by example, I want to take a moment to say thank you to the people I'm surrounded by who volunteer their time.

My Uncle Bill who gets teary eyed when he talks about teaching a wounded soldier how to fly fish through Healing Waters. My Aunt Trudy who told me about her introductory training in Hospice and said that sometimes things turn out to be better than you could have ever dreamed. My Mom who reports with excitement how much she sold at the hospital gift store, or my Dad who talks about his advocacy for education reform. I Admire the determination and persistence of my friend Mat when he talks about coaching his volleyball players. I appreciate calling my friend Julia an hearing the latest update on her foster parenting classes.

Our staff and volunteers who have driven miles and miles to take people to doctors appointments or filed numerous tax returns. The ones who hold down the office and who didn't bat an eye when we asked them to spontaneously dance in the streets. Those who compare bruises from giving blood with a VISTA in the hallway or smile as a staff member comes in with bloodshot eyes after doing an overnight at the family shelter.

The countless community leaders who I've had the privilege to spend time with and seek advice and encouragement from as we transform the Volunteer Center and as I grow as a professional.

Thanks to all of you and countless others! I hope this will inspire all of you to take the time today to say thank you, 

Sara Ballard

Executive Director

The Volunteer Center of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties