Another Busy Weekend...

This last weekend - September 27-28 - was another busy one for City of Columbia volunteers. Pictured here is a father and daughter who picked up trash near Flat Branch Park as part of the Hinkson Clean Sweep. Volunteers left their mark on our city several ways:

• volunteers assisted at the Columbia Festival of the Arts with set up, children's events, surveys, staffing the information booths and booth sitting for artists.
• the TreeKeepers planted trees at Auburn Hills Park, a new neighborhood park on the north end of Derby Ridge Road.
• volunteers from Karis Community Church and other concerned citizens worked to remove graffiti in the central city.
• more than 200 volunteers worked to pick up two tons of trash in our creeks through the Hinkson Clean Sweep.

We live in an amazing community where literally hundreds of people share their time each week. I invite you to view a slide show with more photos from Saturday.

Leigh Britt

Medical Reserve Corps

Who will help if we have a major medical emergency in our community like the pandemic flu? Who will provide medical assistance in shelters following a disaster? Who provides the extra hands during flu clinics? The Medical Reserve Corps!

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of volunteers who work in cooperation with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department. The group includes those with medical training as well as laypeople.

The Boone County MRC meets once a month, normally the fourth Thursday at 6 p.m. at the health department. Last night they met to talk about a state-wide volunteer database of medical volunteers and also to create a photo ID for each volunteer that will assist them in having access to sites where their help is needed. In this photo, they are working with the Elliot badging system.

The Medical Reserve Corps is gearing up for fall flu clinics and welcome new volunteers. To learn more, contact Betsy Smith in the Columbia/Boone County Health Department at 874-7285.

CARP Celebration

Last night we held a special picnic for volunteers in CARP - the Columbia Aquatic Restoration Project. Over the last two years, volunteers have shared Saturday mornings with parks staff planting aquatic plants, doing maintenance along shorelines (aka - weeding!) and other projects to enhance our aquatic resources. Much of their work has been done at Stephens Lake, Flat Branch Park and Twin Lakes.

Pictured here is Ken Torke (center) one of the dozen volunteers who was recognized for sharing at least 18 hours with the program. Councilman Chris Janku is to his left and Daniel Gibbins, Horticulturalist with Parks & Recreation, is on his right.

CARP volunteers begin the program by attending a three night class where they learn about aquatic management, plants, insects, stormwater, etc. - information that assists them during the volunteer experience. The 2009 class will be held on Monday evenings, March 2, 9 & 16 at the Park Management Center.

The CARP volunteers are hard workers - each dedicated to lending a hand in our parks. They also have a great sense of humor and like to have fun! I'm sure you would find being a CARPer quite rewarding and I invite you to join us as we start the program again in March.

Leigh Britt

Westwinds Park, Heritage Festival - September 21

Saturday was a banner day for volunteering! To start with, TreeKeepers volunteers and residents of the Westwinds Park Neighborhood Association joined forces for a work day at Westwinds Park under the leadership of the Parks & Recreation forestry crew. The group planted several trees to create a screen from Stadium Boulevard, mulched and composted around the trees, and then tackled re-graveling a section of trail damaged by the recent heavy rains.

In a little more than two hours, the group had all the work done, showing that many many hands really do make light work! When the work was completed, the group gathered at the Westwinds shelter for food and fellowship and a visit from Councilman Jerry Wade. This was a fantastic example of a neighborhood that got involved and made a difference! Thanks to the TreeKeepers the more than a dozen residents who came out to help.

After leaving Westwinds Park, I went to Nifong Park to visit the volunteers at the Heritage Festival. It was a beautiful day so the volunteers in the children's area were busy!! They were doing all kinds of things - making rope from yarn, creating mushrooms and pumpkins out of newpaper, and finding arrowheads in the sand and keeping them as necklaces. It took more than 75 volunteers to help with the Heritage Festival. Thanks to each of them who helped create a special memory for children and families.

Leigh Britt

Stream Extravaganza!

Last night the Stream Extravaganza was held at Flat Branch Park as part of Twilight Festival. This special event, organized by the Public Works Stormwater program, aims to educate the public about our streams, stormwater, and the animals that exist in the environment. Hundreds of people came to the event - including many families.

Events like the Stream Extravaganza don't happen without the help of volunteers! Pictured here are David Melegrito and Rachel Pia staffing a table on behalf of the Master Naturalists on the topic of ground and surface water systems. David and Rachel were among many volunteers who came to educate the public about their passion for the environment.

David and Rachel are active volunteers in many ways! David is active with the Fil-Am Association with an Adopt-A-Spot beautification bed in Rollins Road and Rachel is part of the city's TreeKeepers program.

To view more pictures from the Stream Extravaganza, visit our Flickr slide show. Thanks to the many volunteers who made last night's event a success!!

Leigh Britt

Meet the Aktion Club!

Let me introduce you to some great people - the members of the Aktion Club! Aktion Club was created about five years ago as a service organization for a special group of Columbia residents. They have been active City of Columbia volunteers by participating several years in Cleanup Columbia. You might also see their lovely Adopt-A-Spot beautification bed at the corner of Paris & Hinkson, just east of College Avenue.

Aktion Club members are some of the friendliest people I know! They nearly always remember my name and have lots of enthusiasm. John Pierce, past president of the club and current vice president, always asks how Mayor Hindman is doing and keeps up with City Council meetings by watching the Columbia channel.

The Aktion Club is a great part of the fabric of our community. I'm glad to know them and so appreciate their service to our city.

"Anybody can be great because anybody can serve." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.