The Volunteer Newsletter - Human Resources

Our monthly newsletter features the many contributions of our volunteers and student interns and keeps our hundreds of participants connected.

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2022
September

Featured Article: A youth volunteer who’s a first responder for search emergencies in Marin

Also in this Issue:
- Two volunteer stewards who make it their mission to clear tons (literally) of invasive plants
- CBS coverage of Marin’s volunteer fire lookouts. Missed the broadcast? Watch the video now
- An Oak Hill School intern who is learning while helping with a massive scanning project
- A Redwood High senior whose love of history fits with the county’s Restrictive Covenant Project
- Career Explorer photos, including the 2022 spirit award winner
August

Featured Article: A volunteer whose love of flying led him to the Marin Air Patrol

Also in this Issue:
- A writer who enjoys telling stories about fellow interns and volunteer
- A sustainability student who believes moving to electric appliances can cut fossil fuel use
- A high school intern who spearheads a card-writing project to connect patients with their community
- New participant names and roles and photo of summer interns and staff at a meet-and-greet event
- August anniversaries! Two volunteers are going strong with 21 years of service: emergency radio operator Frank Klebanoff with the Sheriff’s Office and volunteer firefighter Dennis Sarantapoulas at Marin County Fire’s Tomales Station. See all anniversary honorees
July

Featured Article: The outstanding supervisor of volunteers and the top mentor of interns for 2021-2022, both on page 1

Also in this Issue:
- Career updates from former interns in Volunteer Notes, page 1
- A combat veteran who helps peers find useful resources, page 2
- A photo of the first docent-led tour since the pandemic shutdown, page 5
- Five volunteers with over 20 years of service in July: Sheriff’s emergency radio team members Jerry Foster, 37 years, and Stuart Dake, 25 years; loyal Marin County Parks patrol volunteers Linda Comella, 24 years, and Linda Novy, 20 years; and Marin County Fire lookout Doug Kunst, who has purposely scanned the horizon for 20 years. For all anniversaries, see page 6
June

Featured Article: The Covid-19 Field Testing Team is the 2021-2022 Volunteer Team of the Year. These 12 medical professionals logged over 300 hours at more than 25 sites.

Also in this Issue:
- Where Are They Now? Interns share career updates.
- A mighty team of two law school students is the Intern Team of the Year. The duo impacted their clients and their own careers.
- Interns work to reduce harm from drugs misuse.
- Volunteers boost a Marin County Parks landscape project.
- Marin Center staff win praise for supporting the volunteer usher program during the pandemic.
May

Featured Article: Everyone who joins the Marin Sheriff’s Search & Rescue (SAR) team gets to know the Volunteer of the Year: SAR Boot Camp manager Michael Synard.

Also in this Issue:
- Intern of the Year Marise Thadani is a post-grad epidemiology student who analyzed data for two Covid-19 research projects while working full time.
- College student Ryan Vilefort Barbosa is lead intern for the Crisis Text Line, which offers free, confidential crisis counseling via text.
- Catch up with two former interns, one working in her chosen field and the other recently promoted. See Volunteer Notes.
- Check out names and hometowns of new volunteer ushers, nursing students, restrictive-covenant project volunteers, and more.
- Four volunteers have 20-plus years of service this month! From the Sheriff’s Office team, Richard Fay has 25 years in emergency radio operations. Marin County Fire’s Eric Cutler has 24 years as a volunteer Tomales firefighter. Cultural Services is next, with Civic Center Tour Docent Noel Ryan at 23 years, and Marin County Parks comes in strong with Alice Wallace, a patrol volunteer for 21 years. See all the May anniversary names and roles.
April

Featured Article: Who steps up when communication systems go down? Why Radio Communications Volunteers like Skip Fedanzo, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- Find an error in an article? If not, credit a student copy editor’s keen eye, page 1
- Yes, county employees can volunteer. Meet a Public Works office assistant who volunteers with the county library and has discovered a new career path, page 3
- You can help! Check out the Teens Lead Sock Drive picture on page 3. New socks for homeless Marin residents are being accepted through March 31 at county library branches
- The Marin Medical Reserve Corps from the Health and Human Service Department has its own 2021 Volunteer of the Year, page 4
- Who’s new? See the many student intern names along with volunteers, page 4
March

Featured Article: An expert volunteer is developing a digital access roadmap so everyone in Marin will have affordable, reliable internet, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- A high school junior helps spread the word about the Great Redwood Trail, an exciting 300-mile project, page 1
- A MarinShares volunteer remembers veterans – and you are welcome to attend a special memorial service, page 1
- Volunteers and interns made significant impacts in 2020-2021, page 3
- How many volunteers mark 20-plus years of service in April? Marin County Parks has six, and the Sheriff’s Office has one! Parks Stewards Mary Bowles, Roger Felton, Helen Lindqvist, and Rosine Reynolds each have 25 years, Mark Nordquist, a Sheriff’s Air Patrol Volunteer follows closely with 23 years, and Parks Patrol Volunteers Al Baumann and James Malaspina have crossed the 20-year Rubicon and now have 21 years each. See all March anniversary names, page 3
- For the names and roles of our many new volunteers and interns, scroll to page 4
February

Featured Article: Learn how interns help plan the annual Marin Teen Girl Conference, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- Read about a student whose desire to improve health in her community led to nutrition wellness internships, page 1
- Cheer a former intern with a new job and volunteers returning to serve at the heart of our program, Volunteer Notes, page 1
- Read about a high schooler who helps give peers a sense of community, page 3
- Check out three generations of smiles from Balderama family members with different county roles, page 3
- Take note of February anniversaries, with Sheriff’s Office volunteers leading the list, page 4
January

Featured Article: The 2021-2022 staff honorees are featured:

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Supervisors of the Year: Two staff supervisors support a team of volunteer counselors who meet with older clients as they go through the journey of life, page 1
- Intern Supervisor of the Year (new category!): A Board of Supervisors aide helps youth align their interests with their intern roles, page 1.
- Where are they now? Read about a former volunteer who was hired by the county and has now retired, plus a former intern working in our nation’s capital, page 1
- Who’s new this month? See page 2
- Two volunteers have 20-plus years of service in January: Rich Carbine is a 40-year (yes, 40!) emergency radio communication volunteer with the Sheriff’s Office and Steven Post has volunteered 28 years as a Fire Lookout with Marin County Fire. Plenty of others celebrate anniversaries this month. Recognize any names on page 4?
2021
December

Featured Article: Volunteer Team of the Year: The Marin Medical Reserve Corps, whose members continues to fight the spread of Covid-19, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- Intern Team of the Year (tie): The Covid Response Mobile Testing Team, who were on the front lines in the early days of the pandemic, page 1
- Intern Team of the Year (tie): The Library Teen Leadership Crew, who created virtual opportunities to connect with socially isolated peers, page 2
- A former District Attorney Fellow has joined the US Army JAG Corps. See Where Are They Now? on page 1
- For names of new MarinShares volunteers and Marinterns students, see page 3
- Though fire season is over, the Mt. Tam Lookout tower is spreading good cheer for all to see, page 5
November

Featured Article: The Marin County 2020-2021 Volunteer of the Year, a member of the Marin Medical Reserve Corps who used her medical knowledge and organizational skills to help stem the spread of Covid, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- The Marin County Intern of the Year, who saw a need and created a system to improve care for clients, page 1
- TV coverage of three Fire Lookouts, page 1
- Anniversaries, led by Drusilla Miller with 23 years as a Lifelong Learning Reader with the Novato Library, page 3
- A photo of the Dickson fire lookout tower getting festive, page 3
- New volunteers and interns who started in November, page 4
October

Featured Article: The creative MarinShares volunteer behind our monthly “Under Cardiac Arrest” cartoons, page 1

Also in this Issue:
- Fire lookouts at the county’s two lookout towers who together pinpointed the location of the White Hill Fire, which was quickly contained, page 1
- Volunteers from three different departments celebrating 20+ years. Marilyn Bagshaw of the Sheriff’s Office tops the October list with 32 years on the emergency radio team, James ‘Jim’ Allen from Cultural Services has 27 years as a tour docent, and Jon Pittman from Marin County Parks is a 21-year patrol volunteer. Scroll to the full list, page 2
- Thirty new interns and volunteers. Recognize anyone? See page 3
- Marinterns high school students who believe in the Youth Art and Film Showcase for Suicide Prevention project, page 3
September

Featured Article: A surveyor volunteers his sleuthing skills in the Library’s California Room archives — page 1.

Also in this Issue:
- The Board of Supervisors intern team bids farewell to a peer making her way to DC — page 2.
- New volunteers and interns who started in September — page 3.
- Who tops the anniversaries leader board? Five volunteers have 20+ years: Marin County Parks Patrol Volunteer Karen Berke at 37 years, Office of Emergency Services Volunteer Ralph Lunan with 25 years, and Marin Center Ushers Jo-Ann Giunti (23 years), Cathy Day (20 years), and Melanie Facen (20 years). To see everyone celebrating another year of service this month, scroll to page 4.
August

Featured Article: A college intern’s real-life experience with Adult Probation.

Also in this Issue:
- A catch-up with two former interns, Where Are They Now?
- The August anniversaries list, led by two volunteers who stand together with 20 years of volunteering: Frank Klebanoff, and Dennis Sarantapoulas. Frank is with the Sheriff’s emergency radio team while Dennis is a volunteer firefighter at the Tomales Station. See all anniversary honorees.
- The August anniversaries list, led by two volunteers who stand together with 20 years of volunteering: Frank Klebanoff, and Dennis Sarantapoulas. Frank is with the Sheriff’s emergency radio team while Dennis is a volunteer firefighter at the Tomales Station. See all anniversary honorees.
- A volunteer fire lookout’s report on an annual birthday trek to the top of Mt. Tam.
July

Featured Article: Spanish Paves the Way for Friendly Couple to Help

Also in this Issue:
- El espanol hace senero para que una pareja amigable ayunde a la comunidad
- Volunteer Notes
- Happy Anniversary
- Who's New and Welcome
June

Featured Article: Zest for Community Drives Intern's Involvement

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Happy Anniversary
- Who's New and Welcome
May

Featured Article: Internships Advocate Leaves Legacy

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Happy Anniversary
- Who's New and Welcome
- Annual Report Reflects Impact
April

Featured Article: Intern Helps Newsletter Team While Learning

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Who's New & Welcome
- Happy Anniversary
March

Featured Article: Volunteer Tour Docent Shares Inside Story on Marin Civic Center's Design

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Who's New & Welcome
- Happy Anniversary
February

Featured Article: Committed To The Kids

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Who's New & Welcome
- Happy Anniversary
January

Featured Article: Volunteer Leads Mounted Posse

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Notes
- Who's New & Welcome
- Happy Anniversary
2020
December

Featured Article: Mother's Sorrow Leads to Service

Also in this Issue:
- Teen Engages Peers, Helps Environment
- We Remember
November

Featured Article: Nurse Joins Covid-19 Front Line

Also in this Issue:
- High School Intern Learns about Levees
- We Remember
October

Featured Article: Radio Expert Ready for Emergencies

Also in this Issue:
- Local History, Local People Intrigue Intern
- Law School Graduate's Focus is Public Service
- Top Supervisor of Volunteers Retires
September

Featured Article: Intern Supports 'Democracy' Outreach

Also in this Issue:
- Bilingual Volunteer Helps Spanish Club
- Student Builds Sign to Inform Airport Visitors
August

Featured Article: Marin Search and Rescue Team Names Honorees of the Year

Also in this Issue:
- A Volunteer for and of the Books
- Student Explores Passion for Photography
July

Featured Article: Intern Taps Personal, Cultural Knowledge

Also in this Issue:
- Writer Highlights Volunteer, Intern Efforts
- Student Intrigued by Study of Pandemic Patterns
June

Featured Article: Civic Center Docents: Volunteer Team of the Year

Also in this Issue:
- Top Intern Team: DA's Summer Students
May

Featured Article: Volunteer of the Year Fights Scammers

Also in this Issue:
- Intern of the Year Focuses on Public Service
- Supervisor of the Year: Chloe Cook
- Volunteer Notes: Extra PPE Accepted
April

Featured Article: Former PBS Journalist Leads Tours

Also in this Issue:
- Intern Showcases Green Programs
- Ace Genealogy Team Brings Past to Life
- Volunteer Notes: Help Make History
March

Featured Article: First Volunteer for Friends of the Family

Also in this Issue:
- Hands-on Projects Lead to Learning
- Former Journalism Professor Coaches Interns
- Photographer Joins Newsletter Team
February

Featured Article: Officer Brings Veterans' Remains Home

Also in this Issue:
- Volunteer Leads Senior Day Care Book Club
- Intern Moves From Kitchen to Courtroom
January

Featured Article: New Name! MarinShares: Marin County Volunteers

Also in this Issue:
- Marinterns Brand Debuts!
- Law Clerk Intern Pursues Legal Career
- Happy Anniversary!
2019
December

Featured Article: Radio Experts Support Community Events and Activities Across County

Also in this Issue:
- Student Learns About Inner Workings of County Government
- Educator Applies Experience, Helps Kids Return to School
November

Featured Article: Sandy Wargo Brings Public Information Officer Skills to Fire Team

Also in this Issue:
- Recent Grad Tells Others' Stories
- Outreach Intern Helps People at Risk for HIV
October

Featured Article: Student Helps Update County Fair’s Social Media Marketing

Also in this Issue:
- Human Resources Interns Advance Business Plan Initiatives
- Library Role Lasts from Middle School to College
- Look Out for Volunteer’s New Book
September

Featured Article: Former Summer Reader Returns to Support the Program

Also in this Issue:
- Parks 'A-Team' Learns Restoration
August

Featured Article: Volunteer Attorney Clears Records

Also in this Issue:
- Intern Promotes Voting Awareness
- College Student Prepares for Climate-Change Effects
July

Featured Article: Grad Student Learns about Health System

Also in this Issue:
- Intern Supports Victims of Crime
- High School Senior Helps Pilot Clean Business Program
June

Featured Article: Ombudsman Group is the County's First Volunteer Team of the Year

Also in this Issue:
- Library Teen Shelvers Honored as Inaugural Youth Team of the Year
May

Featured Article: 'Rock Star' Supports Independent Living

Also in this Issue:
- Intern of the Year Focuses on Equity
- DA Staff Member is Top Supervisor, Mentor
April

Featured Article: Civic Center Fan Keeps Things in Order

Also in this Issue:
- English Coach Encourages Conversational Fluency
- Volunteers and Interns Praised as Models of Caring
March

Featured Article: Patrolling County Open Space on Horseback

Also in this Issue:
- Happy Anniversary!
- Who's New & Welcome
February

Featured Article: Volunteer Pilot Aids Law Enforcement

Also in this Issue:
- Internship Inspires Future Attorney
- Teen Girls Plan Annual Conference
- Royal Recognition
January

Featured Article: DA's Intern Aspires to Advocate for Others

Also in this Issue:
- Student Lauds 'Incredible Opportunity' at Public Defender's Office
- County Volunteers Celebrated at Community Event
2018
December

Featured Article: TAG Members Expand Teen Horizons

Also in this Issue:
- Fire Lookouts: Keeping Us All Safer
- Thanks, Team!
- Volunteers Support Arts & Crafts Fair
November

Featured Article: Volunteer Devotes Her Skills To Those Who Served

Also in this Issue:
- Impact Report!
- Former CCV on Staff
- Marin City Adopt-A-Spot Team Leader: Felecia Gaston
October

Featured Article: Who Spotted the Irving Fire? A Civic Center Volunteer

Also in this Issue:
- Love of Libraries Leads to Satisfying Role
- Master Gardeners Team Up to Benefit Marin Residents
September

Featured Article: Intern’s Sign Welcomes All at Marin County Airport

Also in this Issue:
- Career Explorer Interns Celebrate Summer Experience
- Spirit Nest Ready for Visitors at Stafford Lake Park
August

Featured Article: Dad and Son Help Keep Marin Safe from Fire

Also in this Issue:
- Marin Volunteer Fair: Saturday, October 6
- Adopt-A-Spot Team Beautifies Marin City
- Interns Meet County Leaders at Summer Event
July

Featured Article: Attorney Mediates Disputes and Investigates Abuses

Also in this Issue:
- West Marin Volunteer Finds Joy in Tutoring
- Ombudsman Team Recognized
June

Featured Article: Intern Plays Three Roles for County Departments

Also in this Issue:
- Festival Volunteers, Interns Have Fun Promoting Health
- Disaster Drill: Volunteers and Staff Get Ready
May

Featured Article: Volunteer of Year Leads Disaster-Prep Efforts

Also in this Issue:
- Families in Crisis Assisted by Intern of Year
- Supervisor of Year Supports Interns, Volunteers
April

Featured Article: Internships Influence Careers

Also in this Issue:
- High School Ambassadors Boost Teen Girl Conference Success
- Board Praises Volunteer and Intern Impact
- Youth Volunteer Sets Sights High
March

Featured Article: Interns Initiate Popular Coding Class for Kids

Also in this Issue:
- Gap-Year Student Assists in Criminal Cases
- Where Are Former Public Defender Interns Serving?
- Chaplain Is Calm Presence in Times of Crisis
February

Featured Article: Volunteer Clears Invasive Plants from Open Space

Also in this Issue:
- Library Researcher Archives Historic Marin Maps
- County Supports Diversity and Inclusion
- Three Civic Center Volunteers Honored at Heart of Marin
January

Featured Article: Legal Intern Learns About Justice System, Focuses Career

Also in this Issue:
- Teen Girl Ambassadors Support Others, Build Team Spirit
- Tell a Vet: Resources and Coaching Available
- Human Resources Intern Analyzes Hiring Data

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