Fall 1996 Newsletter

Formatting Update: July, 1998

Executive Director's Message

by Maggie Potter

I'm concerned. I know we regularly - even daily! - say thank you to volunteers. But I'm concerned about whether we really communicate the depth, breadth and magnitude of the contribution.

It has come to my attention again, because we have lost one of our dearest volunteers. Our Group Coordinator, Floyd Hanna died Tuesday, October 29. We miss him terribly of course, because he was such a special person and joy to have around.

But we miss him also because of the complete and thorough way he did his volunteer work and the great strides he made for this organization. That's what I mean. We appreciate each and every one of our volunteers for their gift of time to SHfH -- no matter how short. But there are so many who take on a job, straighten it out, set up procedures, outline process, create the forms or materials and make something work where before it was incomplete and/or limping along.

Suddenly, we are tremendously improved because one person took the job for their own, took care of something that needed to be done and kept it working. A simple thank you doesn't seem to express the gratitude we feel; acknowledge the contribution made; the gift given.

I'm not sure what we should we do or say. But please know we thank, appreciate and are indebted to all volunteers, and especially to Floyd and those like him, who have bettered our organization with their spirit and dedication to a task that needs to be done.