RYAN OMENSKI

Three years ago, Ryan Omenski’s aunt was given 90 days to live. The doctors said that she would not survive unless she received a kidney. Her aunt’s family scrambled to find out as much information as possible. They began communication with the Alabama Organ Center, where Ryan’s aunt was put on a waiting list. On October 5th, after an unfortunate accident involving a boy from Mobile, organ donation made a kidney and pancreas available for Ryan’s aunt and saved her life.

Since that time, Ryan’s aunt has devoted her life to teaching people about organ donation. She also sparked a fire in Ryan, who has also dedicated her life to volunteering and educating the public about organ donation. Ryan wants the state and national community to be informed about the organ donation process so no family will have to endure the fear and uncertainty that her family did.

When Ryan began college in August of 2002, she began two projects entitled “Project Aware” which involves adults, and “Project Share” which involves children. She attends Alabama Rotary, Optimist, and Kiwanis meetings as well as college events, Organ Donor Awareness meetings and luncheons speaking out about the importance of organ donation. She also visits high schools and has candid discussions with students, telling them about how to become a donor. When speaking to elementary school children through Project Share, Ryan brings a large cloth doll that has removable organs! She reads the children a book about the organ donation process and teaches them the different organs in the body. Her focus is to teach the children that organ donation is sharing a very special gift with someone, and she hopes the children will go home and discuss it with their parents.

Not only does Ryan speak to adults and children about organ donation, she also raises money for the Alabama Organ Center (AOC). The AOC is partially funded by the government; however it is in dire need of money. Currently, Ryan is preparing for a fundraiser to be held in February of 2004. This project will be a dinner and raffle for South Alabama, where she recently won a Miss Alabama Preliminary. She looks at the Miss America Program as another way to reach out into the community and share the message. It has been a wonderful springboard for public speaking events as well as fundraising events. Her goal is to raise $3,000 at the event.

Ryan has also been asked to be a full-time volunteer during the month of January 2004 at the AOC. During that month she will be invited to view an actual transplant as it takes place, travel on public speaking events with the coordinators of the AOC, continue her public education project, and work on fundraising for the AOC.

LESLIE TANNER

Leslie Tanner is a teen volunteer that is in the background, getting things done, and keeping things going. When you come to a program, you do not notice her at first. But she is there. And she continues until everything is finished.

Leslie has been one of the faithful volunteers at the Farm Safety Program. Developed over several years, this program is designed for kids who visit, live on and/or work on the farm. Safety is discussed in many different forms. Safety on an ATV (four-wheeler), safety with small and large equipment, safety with large animals, and safety around ponds and water are a few of the topics.

Leslie started as a program participant. She learned about safety and applied those principles. In a couple of years she became a group leader for different age groups. She helped the adult presenters with the questions that the children asked. She also helped the children realize the importance of what they were learning.

Leslie also has served as a seminar assistant, working with her mother and brother on a visual demonstration of what happens when a person is entrapped within a hay bailer. The explanation and the demonstration gave emphasis to the need for farm safety. Leslie gave the demonstration a true to life explanation.

As a 4-H teen leader, Leslie Tanner continues to complete her project work as an example to younger members. She has entered foods, handicrafts, wood science and many other projects. Leslie does more than just meet the minimum standards. Leslie strives to set the highest levels for herself and for those she works with.

Leslie has helped with the County 4-H Programs and with the Cattlewomen’s Beef Cook-Off. Her service as a young person in her church and community brings information to many people. She is ready to begin and then to continue until the project is completed.

Leslie Tanner was a homeschooler for most of her education. She chose to return to Danville High School for her senior year. She had interacted in many of the programs with the young people with whom she now goes to school. She has continued to keep up her grades, pass the graduation exams, participate in school and church activities, and to hold a part time job.

Leslie has learned to make wise decisions. She was chosen to participate in a 4-H teen leadership retreat. A week before the event, she was hired for a new job with training starting on the same weekend as the retreat. Though it was hard to make the decision, Leslie chose wisely and began her new job. She missed the retreat and fun with her friends, but she learned that adult decisions are made with priorities in mind.

Leslie Tanner has been involved with the Farm Safety program for at least five years. Each year this event finds 100+ youth learning about safety. Leslie has moved from a participant, to a group leader, to a seminar presenter. She has impacted the lives of many children with her words and actions.

EXC!TE BATON ROUGE AREA EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER TEAM

In 1992, EXC!TE (ExxonMobil Community Involvement Through Employees program) was designed by a group of highly motivated local employees under the sponsorship of Public Affairs and approved by area managers. It is a unique team within ExxonMobil in that it operated independently under management-approved bylaws. EXC!TE’s goal is to encourage employee and family volunteerism in the local community.

The EXC!TE employee volunteer team is led by an elected Board of 21 employees who approve projects and manage its volunteer resources to pursue the following goals:

• To enrich the quality of life in the community through volunteer service;
• To build a quality relationship with the community and enhance the ExxonMobil public image;
• To provide a vehicle for informing and encouraging interested employes, annuitants, families, and friends to support community projects through individual service.

In July 2003, EXC!TE surpassed 40,000 hours of total service to the community since its inception. During 2003, more than 350 employees, families and friends have volunteered 4,000 hours at more than 70 community projects for more than 30 area nonprofit agencies. All volunteer efforts have been pursued on the employees’ personal time. The company supports EXC!TE with a modest budget and time for Board planning activities.

EXC!TE activities during 2003 included, but are not limited to, the following:

ANDREW HUSCHKA

Andrew Huschka is an outstanding youth volunteer. He is very active in Ottawa’s Youth Action Council (YAC) and Youth in Government (YIG) programs, and currently serves as the Vice-President of YAC. Within the last 10 months, Andrew has completed more than 150 hours of community service with YAC, doing things such as working on Habitat for Humanity houses and attending sporting events with at-risk youth. In YIG, Andrew has donated more than 200 hours of volunteer service.

Through YAC, Andrew has served on several committees. He was an active participant in the National Volunteer Week planning committee and helped plan activities for the seven-day event. He also participated in each of the activities. He serves on the Fundraising committee, where he has helped raise more than $1,000 for several projects. He has participated in all of the National Days of Service and has been to numerous other communities, including Topeka, Arkansas City, Junction City and Washington D.C. to speak about youth involvement. Andrew has also been selected to serve on the Kansas Volunteer Commission.

Andrew’s participation in YIG has been remarkable. The eight YIG members spent five months planning a 7th and 8th grade Youth Leadership Camp. They wanted to show youth that they could be leaders in their own community, no matter what age they are. Andrew was one of the most active organizers of this event. He worked three days a week on the project, spending as much as 10 hours a week organizing everything. Andrew single-handedly recruited 20 students for the event, along with four volunteers and raised more than $10,000. With the money raised, they were able to make the camp very inexpensive, so as not to discourage low-income youth from participating. The camp lasted three days and two nights and Andrew was there throughout the entire event. He did all of this while fulfilling his other duties for YIG.

Andrew was also selected by his peers to serve on the Recreational Task Force Commission. He spent 40 hours designing, distributing and analyzing a survey, which the entire middle and high school took. The results of the survey were instrumental in the final recommendations of the task force. He not only took on the responsibility for the task force, but went above and beyond his duties.

Andrew’s participation in YAC and YIG meets a real community need. He is connecting youth with opportunities to serve. He plans service projects and recruits his peers to join him in improving his community. As a direct result of the Youth Leadership Camp, five new youth joined Youth Action Council, and all have applied to join Youth in Government. Through promotion of the program by Andrew and several other members, 40 youth have expressed an interest in joining YAC. Andrew has always been concerned with adults’ negative attitudes and opinions of youth. He strives to break down the barriers that separate youth and adults by showing them youth can make a difference if they are given the opportunity.

GREEN RIVER AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT HOMELAND SECURITY CORPS

The Green River Area Development District (GRADD) Homeland Security Corps was established September 1, 2002, to address disaster response needs in the Green River Area Seven-County District. It exceeded everyone’s expectations for the first year of service. The agency committed the members to educating 1,000 community members with regard to disaster preparedness and response – they educated 38,000! The agency committed the members to recruiting and assisting in training 600 volunteers over a three year period to serve with disaster affiliated agencies – they recruited 375 new volunteers in just the first year! The agency committed the members to establishing a network of community rapid responders who would collaborate to create a Citizen Corps Council and begin training Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). Again, they achieved their goal!

Finally, members were able to take a mapping system that the local government had established but had never utilized, and enter data to create maps that all emergency responders have access to. This bridged a gap between city and county governments by sharing information.

All these exceeded goals were part of a work plan for the AmeriCorps grant, but no one anticipated the grant would pause on August 21 in its first service year of a three-year grant award, and not begin again until November 2003. The agencies that have grown to depend on these members were at risk of losing all assistance and putting programs like the Citizen Corps Council and CERT teams on hold. GRADD Homeland Security members refused to let this happen..

Among other tasks, GRADD Homeland Security Corps Members:

• Continue to maintain the Citizens Corps meetings every other month
• Educate an additional 3,000 individuals with regard to Small Pox vaccinations, West Nile Virus, and SARS.
• Assist in coordinating a statewide training for firefighters to be attended by nearly 2,000 firefighters.
• Attend training to continue their service,
• Continue entering in mapping data for emergency responders to use.

Since September 1, 2003, the members of the GRADD Homeland Security Corps have continued going to their service site, without the AmeriCorps living allowance of $9,800/year or reimbursement of travel costs, or even the ability to count their time as anything other than volunteer. They have put in a cumulative total of 1,036 hours just since September.

SISTER RUTH QUINN

Sister Ruth Virginia Quinn, S.S.J., is a person with boundless energy. She is always ready and willing to extend a helping hand and gives one hundred percent effort to assist others with immediate or long-term needs. Her many acts of kindness over the years have impacted and still continue to positively influence the lives of the young and old, the rich and poor, the educated and uneducated, as well as the healthy and infirm. She reaches out with love to her neighbor in need of physical or spiritual assistance – reaches out without counting the cost.

Sister Quinn, a born teacher, spent years in the classroom educating youngsters who were preparing to take their rightful places as leaders in our society. She taught many age groups, and her example of service inspired her students to reach for the stars, and her success stories are numerous and inspiring.

At one point during her teaching career, she was asked to consider working with special needs children. Along with her affirmative answer, she realized the need to improve her teaching methods and hone her skills, so she enrolled in a Master’s program at Fitchburg State College. A full four-year Joseph P. Kennedy scholarship enabled her to receive, with honors, a Master’s Degree in Special Education. As she continued her daily work in the academic classroom, she also made time to establish and set up 13 diocesan learning centers to help children with learning needs to receive training in religious education.

Her dedicated efforts blossomed into a joy for parents seeking Christian values and guidance for themselves and their children with special needs. Her work continues to live on in the hearts of needy families.

Sister Quinn has a hard time saying “No’ to anyone who calls upon her for assistance, and she has been blessed in many ways because she truly cares and shares. Although she is retired from full-time teaching, she has used every minute to the fullest by volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House since 1991, Holy Name Rectory, Holy Name School, and Mont Marie Health Care Center. In addition, she works tirelessly for the annual Community Festival of the Sisters of St. Joseph. She certainly shows the character of Christ in her daily living.

CHARLENE RIDDLE

Among the corps of volunteers at Ogden Regional Medical Center is Charlene Riddle, an outstanding example of one who gives remarkable service. Volunteering is a natural extension of Mrs. Riddle’s personality. She exhibits an exceptional commitment to Ogden Regional Medical Center where she serves in both the Volunteer and Senior Friends programs.

Having begun volunteer service in 1992, Mrs. Riddle can be found at the hospital working in one area or another almost any day of the week. Her enthusiasm for the hospital mission and its hallmark of caring is contagious. She has been an excellent example, and the impetus for others to volunteer or expand their service. She is obviously one who lives and loves her volunteer work.

Over the years, her contributions have lightened the emotional load for many patients, eased the stress for staff members, and improved the functions of the St. Benedict’s Auxiliary. Mrs. Riddle’s current duties at Ogden Regional include:

• Coordinating “You Are A Star” employee recognition program assembly and distribution of gifts monthly
• Coordinating the Senior Friends “Get Fit” exercise classes twice weekly
• Serving on the Staff Liaison committee responsible for employee social events
• Purchasing and preparing refreshments for Senior Friends events weekly
• Providing transportation for one employee on a regular basis
• Supervising the Volunteer & Senior Friends booth at the Weber County Fair
• Managing the “ Lick and Stick” committee to collate, fold and mail over 1000 newsletters bi-monthly

Mrs. Riddle’s past Ogden Regional Medical Center volunteer accomplishments include, but are not limited to, serving as 1998 President of the 200 member St. Benedict’s Volunteer Auxiliary, serving as 1997 President Elect of the 200 member Volunteer Auxiliary and starting a “comfort bears” program in the Emergency Room, providing plush toys for distressed toddlers. She has also served as a Recovery Room Volunteer, Family Birth Place Nursery Volunteer, Transport Volunteer, Pain Clinic Volunteer, Senior Clinic Clerical Volunteer, and has completed the Total Quality Management training.

In addition, Mrs. Riddle has numerous community service contributions outside of the Ogden Regional Medical Center. She is the first Vice President of the Clearfield Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARF) where she helps retirees obtain benefits and serves as a volunteer member of the congress. She is a leader in the Altrusa Club of Ogden, a service organization, where she accepted a long-term commitment to read to latchkey children after school, donated a decorated tree to the Christmas Tree Express for a fund-raising auction, helped organize fund raising events to provide scholarships for underprivileged women and participated in provided support services for single women and their families.

DR. JIM REISZ

Dr. Reisz has volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BBBS) of Morgan County for almost four years. He has been matched with Bryan Gomaz for the entire time. Matches with BBBS usually only last one or two years at most, so this in itself is a great accomplishment.

Bryan lives with his grandmother. His father is in jail in another state. Bran’s grandmother says that Dr. Reisz has been a godsend for Bryan. Bryan looks to him like a father figure and Dr. Reisz talks to Bryan like a father would. Dr. Reisz and his family welcomed Bryan with open arms. He and his wife have two sons in college and when they are home, they always spend time with Bryan. They get together every week for at least 3 ½ hours. Dr. Reisz and his wife invite Bryan for supper at least once a month and Dr. Reisz attends all of Bryan’s school functions, birthday parties and Christmas gatherings.

Some of the activities that Bryan and Dr. Reisz do include going fishing, bowling, hiking, camping, playing with the computer and putting model cars together. Besides doing “fun things,” Dr. Reisz is also available to help Bryan with his homework and do other “fatherly” things. He has taught Bryan how to throw a baseball and football and Bryan’s grandmother says that they could not ask for a better Big Brother. Dr. Reisz and Bryan attend nearly all of the activities that BBBS of Morgan County has, including the Easter Egg hunts, Christmas skating party and summer swimming party.

TONY WASHINGTON

Tony Washington, a graduate of Frostburg State University, was accepted as an AmeriCorps *VISTA member in V.O.I.C.E. (Volunteer Opportunities in the Community Environment). His year of service focused on the rebuilding and expansion of a volunteer clearinghouse providing service-learning and volunteer opportunities for students, area youth and community members. As Allen HallSTARS! Program manager, he grew the program while he continued to be student focused serving as a mentor and role model for his 90 AmeriCorps members. At the same time, he led the Allen HallSTARS! Advisory Board, instituting procedures for his AmeriCorps members that were well-thought out and consistent and recruiting community partners.

Mr. Washington gained the respect of his colleagues, students, faculty, staff and community members through efforts such as:

• Collaborating with more than 60 non-profit agencies in Western Maryland to facilitate volunteer and service-learning opportunities.
• Managing and designing the V.O.I.C.E. Clearinghouse a web-based volunteer reporting system.
• Founding of the Faulty Vs HallSTARS! National Volunteer Week Service Challenge
• Organizing more than 50 service projects for clubs and organizations, which led to more than 9,000 hours of service in Western Maryland communities.
• Organizing and leading the first Frostburg State Univerist5y’s first Relay for Life raising over $8,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Although it is evident that Mr. Washington supervised and coordinated many programs, his volunteer effort of note is the Frostburg State University Sponsor-A-Family for Thanksgiving program. Mr. Washington created and designed the program, in partnership with the Western Maryland Food Bank Director, which recruits FSU departments to join together to donate items for a Thanksgiving dinner for a needy family in the tri-state region (western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia). In the first year, 8 baskets were delivered. This year, in its fifth year, 21 baskets were delivered. The number of baskets delivered has grown in proportion to the enormous generosity of FSU staff, which continues to increase. Many times the baskets are filled with a weeks worth of food, many included cash donations, cards, hats, mittens and homemade cards. A total of 108 baskets have been delivered in the past five years.

Mr. Washington now travels back to western Maryland from Baltimore each year, which is 2 ½ hour drive, to deliver the baskets to the families.

TRI-STATE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

In a disaster or emergency, communications are critical! During an emergency, there are large increases in the volume of radio traffic per channel on public service radio systems and that means there is a waiting time to gain access to pass a message. Often there are equipment problems at key locations or the need arises for one agency to talk with another agency they normally do not talk to or radio systems are incompatible or they need an unattainable frequency or they may need to contact a location at a distance far beyond the range of their radio system. The first 72 hours of an emergency are the most important, as it can take so much time to get everything set up and working. It takes time to activate the mutual radio system.

The Tri-State Amateur Radio Club works with the Red Cross and Salvation Army and, during an emergency, sends hundreds of emergency radio telegrams for people in the affected area, to their family and friends – at no cost!

During an emergency, when the public radio system is overloaded, that is when there is the greatest need for information. This lack of information results in further attempted use of the telephone and cell phone system, which is already overloaded. The Tri-State Amateur Radio Club helps with all of these problems.

During an emergency, the organization’s volunteers meet a very important community need. They serve the whole community by demonstrating how effective amateur radio is and encouraging others to become involved so the next time there is an emergency they can handle it themselves. They give hands on training on the spot and as people become trained and licensed, they are better prepared to deal with the next emergency which gives them an even better connection to their community.