National Volunteer Month: Pinellas County thanks volunteers
Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
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| Ken Rowe, left, volunteers as a bird watcher at Brooker Creek Preserve. |
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CLEARWATER - Ken Rowe is one of the hundreds of volunteers who work throughout Pinellas County. Because of his work as a Brooker Creek Preserve bird watcher, he is one of the winners of the 2007 Pinellas County Partners in Public Service Awards.
Rowe, who met his wife and fellow volunteer, Marge, through his work at Brooker Creek, also received an award from the county’s Environmental Lands Division and, in addition, was nominated for the United Way of Tampa Bay Volunteer of the Year Award.
But any volunteer will say that they don’t donate their time to be awarded. Volunteers love their work, and Pinellas County loves them because they help with everything from pushing paper to shoveling mulch.
During 2006, county volunteers donated 98,208 hours of service. If they each made $18.77 an hour, that would equate to a value of $1.8 million.
Other public service awards will be presented to five teams who regularly volunteer at Pinellas County Extension, Weedon Island Preserve and Heritage Village. Individuals earning awards are Linda Campi for office support in communications; Marc Romano, co-anchor on Pinellas 18; Brandy Spillman, general support for Pinellas County Extension; Emma Mason, Weedon Island Preserve; Thelma Powell, a volunteer at Heritage Village; Sylvia Ellis, Ft. DeSoto; and Nova Bickell, trail ranger on the Pinellas Trail.
Sandra Crist-Apple will receive a commendation as she retires after eight years of volunteering. Three youth awards, given to volunteers ages 14 to 18, will be awarded to Stephanie Parrish, Pinellas County Extension; Brandon Dropic, Heritage Village; and Lauren Wittine, Weedon Island Preserve.
In addition, two Heritage Village volunteers, Betty Heath and Beth Kaiser, have each completed more than 30 years of service for the county.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Pinellas County should call 464-3945 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/volserv/default.htm
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Article published on Thursday, April 19, 2007
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