Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Volunteer Reception May 21

Thursday, May 21 was the city's annual volunteer appreciation reception. More than 180 volunteers and staff gathered at the Elk's Lodge east of Columbia for a light meal, entertainment by Bill Thompson and Sherri Homan and a THANK YOU for all their hard work!
In the food line... always a popular place!
Ed Kaiser receives the plaque as the first Lang Award winner from Mayor Pro Tem Laura Nauser.

Farah and Barb enjoy the event. They are both Adopt A Spot Beautification volunteers!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

First Family Fun Fest





Last night was the first Family Fun Fest for the 2009 season. It was a lovely evening so hundreds of kids and parents were at Flat Branch Park having a fun evening enjoying the entertainment and activities.
Thanks to the many volunteers who helped with face painting and with the activities! You can see volunteering is fun, too!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Kids Bicycle Safety Challenge

Many thanks to all the volunteers who shared their time this morning to make the annual Kids Bicycle Safety Challenge a success! The event was held at Shelter Insurance with many groups making it happen: the Downtown Optimist Club, students from Jefferson Jr. High, the Columbia Parks & Recreation, Police & Fire Departments, the Columbia Bike Club, Walt's Bike Shop, community volunteers and Shelter employees. This is a popular annual event to keep our kids safe.

Boy Scouts work on the Blind Boone Home


This morning a group of Boy Scouts led by Cyrus Tague worked on demolishing the interior of the Blind Boone Home. Cyrus, a member of Troop 706, is working on the home for his Eagle Scout Project. I was impressed with how he welcomed me, provided me with safety equipment and gave me a quick tour of what was going on. This work is one step toward the restoration of the home. Thanks, Cyrus, and others who helped you!!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Adopt A Spots in bloom!

I don't get to the northeast edge of town often, but I was that direction last week and stopped to take a closer look at the Kraft Foods Adopt-A-Spot located at Paris Road/Route B and Waco Road. Their bed had just been mulched and some flowers were beginning to bloom... they have it in good shape ready for the coming growing season.

I often say the Adopters have one of THE toughest volunteer jobs in our town. They have a hard job to weed and water their beds and there's no cheating allowed -- everyone can see what gets done (or doesn't get done!) and usually by tens of thousands of people every day.

Kudos to our Adopters for all their hard work! I hope to share other pictures with you throughout the growing season.
Leigh Britt

Mayor's Challenge - Bike, Walk & Wheel Week


Ok, so Breakfast Station Day for the Mayor's Challenge: Bike, Walk & Wheel Week (last Friday, May 8) was another rainy day! Despite the rain, there were still nearly 1,000 people who stopped by a breakfast station while biking, walking or wheeling to work! Here are a few photos from the station at the Garth access to the Bear Creek Trail sponsored by the Columbia Kiwanis Club. Many thanks to all the volunteers who got up extra early to make this a special day! We'll keep our fingers crossed for the weather in 2010!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

More Cleanup Columbia Photos




Cleanup Columbia was held on April 25 with about 1,700 volunteers participating. I thought it would be great to share a few more photos since this is the city's largest single-day volunteer event! Many thanks to volunteer photographer Willie Jones for sharing his time and skills to catch the cleanup volunteers in action. You'll see Willie above in red taking photos! Isn't it cool how happy people are picking up trash? Gotta love it!!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Major League Baseball: Pitch, Hit & Run



Saturday, May 2 was the Pitch, Hit & Run event at Oakland Park. This year there was a girl's softball division along with the boy's baseball contest. Volunteers helped in measuring the hits, counting the throws and timing the running element. Many thanks to the Hallsville High School Spanish Club and four other volunteers who shared their morning to make memories for some Columbia kids!!


Mayor's Challenge Sponsor/Volunteer Breakfast - May 1


On Friday morning, more than 50 volunteers gathered at Shakepeare's Pizza on 9th Street for the annual Volunteer/Sponsor Breakfast prior to the Mayor's Challenge: Bike, Walk & Wheel Week. Volunteers were treated to made-to-order omelets created under the leadership of the Egg Lady, Jo Manhart.
A special treat was a visit by MU Basketball Coach Mike Anderson; he and his wife are honorary co-chairs for the event. Just goes to show you never know what great things you might be in for when you volunteer!!
Volunteers helped with Saturday's kickoff event at Flat Branch Park and will be helping at breakfast stations throughout Columbia on Friday.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Thanks, Police Volunteers!

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Columbia Police Department's annual volunteer reception. Our police department has a wonderful volunteer program made up of high school students who serve as cadets, the Neighborhood Watch board, reserve officers who have full training and the same equipment and authority as paid officers and the large cadre of Columbia Police Volunteers - 54 volunteers who assist the department in many ways! The police department has a well organized program where volunteers receive significant training and help with important tasks.

Last night, six volunteers were recognized for their dedication with a President's Volunteer Service Award. Receiving the Bronze Award were Mike Martinez and Ernie Lee. Recognized with the Silver Award were Chuck Lundquist, Gary Poelling, Richard Poelling and Jack Wohlman.

Congratulations and thanks police volunteers!