Volunteers are Priceless

Coalition honors volunteers at luncheon

By Angela Ward award@news-journal.com | 1 comment



Posted: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 12:32 am | Updated: 8:11 am, Wed Apr 21, 2010.

Branden Johnson on Tuesday wore a lot of different hats at the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Johnson, nonprofit coalition board president, donned hard hats, cowboy hats, chef's hats and other forms of headgear as he honored local volunteers for the myriad ways in which they helped the community's nonprofit agencies.

Several hundred people attended the event at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center at which 24 volunteers were recognized.

"I can't say enough about all of you," Johnson said. "Not just the individuals we mention by name today, but everyone who volunteers their time at any of the many agencies that help our community to run more smoothly."

"Without volunteers, Longview wouldn't be the city it is," Mayor Pro Tem John Sims said.

"I applaud all of you, and you should applaud yourselves; we're lucky to have such commitment to so many causes from so many of our residents."

Agency volunteers

American Red Cross: Suzette Alexander

ARC of Gregg County: Darrell Howanitz

Artsview Children’s Theatre: Bonnie Capshaw

Buckner Children and Family Services: Ann Gibson

City of Longview (Paula Martin Jones Recreation Center): Barbara McDaniels

City of Longview (Partners in Prevention): Lewis Thompson

East Texas Child Advocates: Sara Norfleet

East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse: Cheryl Chandler

East Texas Literacy Council: Kay Naugle

Eden Place: Votto and JoAnn Gaddis

Greater Longview United Way: Ray Stroud

Longview Community Ministries (Meals on Wheels): Cissy Ward

Longview Community Ministries (Learning Lab): Joyce Roberts

Longview Habitat for Humanity: Bill Charles

Longview Interfaith Hospitality Network: Linda Eaves

Longview Partnership: Teresa Crisler

Outer Court Ministries House of Hope: Shaye Caffey

Page Place I: Earlie Fitts

Page Place II: Margaret Walling

Pathstones Counseling Center: Melissa Woodson

Presbyterian Children'€™s Homes:Ruth Ann Camp

SeeSaw Children's Place: Sharon Graham

Wellness Pointe: Ada Moses

Source: Longview Nonprofit Coalition, http://www.news-journal.com/news/local/article_f8215c2e-e28d-5778-bd6c-3d0fb78337d2.html

Volunteer Spotlight: Ray Stroud

Ray Stroud is Special Projects Manager, Olefins Chemicals Division for Eastman Chemical. He has been a Greater Longview United Way volunteer for 10 years. Ray began working in the United Way campaign in 2000. He served on the GLUW Board of Directors from 2001-2007. He also served on the allocations committee from 2002-2005

Leadership positions Ray has held with United Way include, Campaign Co-Chair, Campaign Chair, and President. In 2009 Ray began chairing a new GLUW committee which seeks to identify potential volunteer leaders. This committee is responsible for recruiting and developing volunteers for GLUW and our community. Ray helped to implement a volunteer leaders’ succession plan, which is critical to GLUW’s future.
In addition to being an outstanding GLUW volunteer, Ray is active in the Longview Greggton Rotary Club, is a former Board Chair for the Longview Salvation Army Advisory Board and has previously served as director of the Louisiana Tech University Science and Engineering Foundation.
Ray has been a dedicated leader for GLUW for many years. His current position as Chair of the Leadership Development Committee will ensure GLUW has well equipped volunteer leaders for years to come.

April 15 happens this week and...

Final days to receive FREE Tax Preparation through the VITA Program are right around the corner!

This service is available at no charge to qualified individuals or families that earn $50,000 or less. The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program helps individuals take advantage of the tax credits they are eligible for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Education Credit.

IRS trained volunteers and LeTourneau University student volunteers will be at the Boys & Girls Club of Gregg County this evening from 6-8:30 pm!

For more information call the Gregg County INFOline @ 903-236-9211 or visit www.longviewunitedway.org/media/VITA_Flyer_2010.pdf for complete details!

Staff Spotlight: Leta White

Leta White will be observing her 22nd anniversary with GLUW May 1st !

Here are some comments from her colleagues about what Leta means to GLUW.

Leta means so much to GLUW – to our volunteers, to the staff and to our community. Leta has dedicated her time and energy to GLUW. Whether it is managing the donor database, sending out thousands of letters or preparing for a special event, Leta always makes certain that every detail is covered. Organized, dependable, conscientious, and loyal are just a few of the words that describe Leta’s work style. GLUW has certainly benefited from her knowledge and experience over the past 22 years, as have I. -Donna

Do you want to know anything about GLUW? Ask Leta! It is truly amazing the amount of information about events, donors, protocols, volunteers, etc. that she can remember! Do you need an excellent proof reader? Leta is! Do you need a new idea for a project? Leta will always come up with something new! Do you have an extra piece of chocolate? Leta will take it! Are you cold either in winter or summer? Leta’s office is always warm and cozy! -Eloisa

In a couple of months, I’ve seen how dedicated Leta is to GLUW. She is very knowledgeable and her contributions help shape GLUW to what it is today! Thanks Leta for what you do! -Janelle

Leta, thanks for being such a great part of the GLUW team. Congrats on your 22 years here. We appreciate so much all you do and look to you for our historical data!! Appreciate you so much. -Love you, LaDelle

Leta is our corporate memory. She has a vast knowledge and experience that add immeasurable to the GLUW. -Phyllis

Give. Advocate. Volunteer.

By: Darren Groce, Former GLUW President

Our Greater Longview United Way makes a huge difference in our community, affecting the lives of tens of thousands of our neighbors. With this in mind, I had a fair amount of trepidation when I assumed the responsibilities of President of the GLUW Board last year. A prime concern of mine was to make sure that all of the good work of GLUW continued without skipping a beat.
We all know of the annual fundraising campaign facilitated by GLUW. Last year, GLUW received pledges of some $1.3 million dollars during the campaign, which is a phenomenal sum. But, GLUW is more than just a fundraising campaign. We are out to actively address and solve community issues. For example, two of our initiatives last year sought to successfully launch a home repairs program and a legal assistance program. When GLUW last conducted a Community Needs Assessment, two critical needs were identified that up to that point were not being met – low cost home repairs and affordable legal assistance. We are proud to say that a minor home repairs program is now up and running, and we partnered with Lone Star Legal Aid to provide funding to hire another paralegal. The home repairs program has now completed 16 projects, and Lone Star Legal Aid (“LSLA”) has been able to just about double their case load (for 1st five months of GLUW funding, LSLA was able to resolve 175 cases, compared to 89 cases resolved during the same period for the previous year).
We also modified the format last year of our annual campaign kick-off luncheon. It’s a little tweak, but we like it. Historically, we have brought in speakers from outside Longview to impart some words of wisdom to the 600 or so in attendance. We decided, though, to instead use the words of a number of individuals who benefit from the programs GLUW helps fund. In particular, one speaker gave a personal account of his life with drug addiction and how his life has been completely turned around through a GLUW-funded program. A dry eye could hardly be found on the faces of those in attendance.
GLUW does change lives. It changes the lives not only of those who are in need and participate in one of the many programs GLUW helps fund, but also of those who volunteer behind the scenes. I have been affected because I have seen the positive difference our volunteer efforts make. I have seen the incredible programs administered by incredible local agencies. And I have seen how hundreds of volunteers can get pledges from thousands of individuals and companies of about $1.3 million dollars to help fund those incredible programs. I am honored to be able to give back through volunteering with GLUW.