Volunteer Week

Volunteers making a difference

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz

Rachelle Fleck, left, works alongside Youth Volunteer Corps Director Alicia Hawley while volunteering at MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena on Monday. Fleck has amassed more than 600 volunteer hours in the last three years. Story on Page 2.

15-year-old Youth Volunteer Corps member amasses 600 hours of volunteer time

By STEVE SCHULWITZ News Staff Writer

ALPENA — Many people can go their entire lives without performing 600 hours of volunteer services to local charitable groups and organizations.

Rachelle Fleck met that mark in about two years and she looks to add to her volunteer resume for many years to come.

Fleck, 15, began volunteering through the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena Youth Volunteer Corps when she was 12 years old.

Although the first couple of times she helped out, she said, it wasn’t her cup of tea, that feeling didn’t last long, and, as she became acclimated to volunteer-

ing and spending time with her friends who did the same, it became a large part of her life.

Fleck said she has helped with many projects at many organizations, including the Huron Humane Society, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, and the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency.

Fleck credited one of her friends who was already a member of the Youth Volunteer Corps with getting her involved. She said helping local charities has helped her to learn more about them and the services they provide and she has learned many new skills in the process.

“I decided to try it out, and I

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!

didn’t really like it at first, but I gave it another chance and I’ve been doing it ever since,” she said. “It makes me feel good to know I’m helping the community and that I’m giving back too. I’m doing my part to make it better.”

Fleck said her favorite class is history. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her pets and friends.

Her career goals include becoming a career actress on Broadway.

No matter where her life leads her in the future, Fleck said, she is sure that volunteering will be a part of it.

“I think that will be a part of everything I do,” she said.

Fleck said she encourages people who don’t volunteer to give it a try. She said volunteering is rewarding, but that is not the main reason she does it.

“It is about helping others,” she said. “Plus, it is a lot of fun.”

The Youth Volunteer Corps is a nationwide program that aims to engage youth in team-based service experiences that build life and work skills while inspiring a lifetime ethic of service.

It is also geared to inspire youth to engage in a lifetime commitment to volunteer services.

The program offers volunteer projects for youth ages 11 to 18 on weekends, after school, and during the summer.

How to Give Back to the Military Community

(StatePoint) April is National Volunteer Month, an annual opportunity to recognize the contributions that volunteers make to their community through their time and energy.

When it comes to a vast operation like the USO, which has more than 250 locations around the globe that serve hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members and their families, volunteers are at the heart of the organization’s mission.

In fact, in 2023 alone, nearly 20,000 USO volunteers at home and abroad contributed more than 1.2 million hours of their time equating to 137 years’ worth of volunteering. Fun fact: Not all the organization’s volunteers are human! Seventy-six canine volunteers contributed 4,800 hours to supporting service members and their families. Staff say that without their volunteers—human and dog alike—they wouldn’t be able to do what they do.

Whether it’s helping at community events for military spouses, greeting guests at the front desk of an airport center, organizing NFL watch parties for those stationed on the frontlines or simply providing a listening ear to a service member in need, USO volunteers help strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.

Stories like Alina Wilson’s can serve as inspiration to those interested in giving back to their own community. A USO volunteer and military spouse, Wilson lent

her support to the military community of Guam when the island was devastated by Super Typhoon Mawar in May 2023. Guam is home to 20,000 service members and also several USO staff and volunteers.

At a time when many USO staff members were navigating the damage done to their own homes and dealing with no power or air conditioning in the middle of a hot and humid Guam summer, Wilson leaped into action. She played a huge role in helping the local USO center open its doors to service members and families recovering from the disaster to provide air conditioning, Wi-Fi connectivity, phones to call home, snacks, coffee, and a place of refuge. She went the extra mile every day by arriving early to prepare the center for opening and often stayed late to provide much-needed support.

“It was a devastating storm for the whole community of Guam. We worked really hard at the Tumon USO to get the power back on. We cleaned every day. We got there and tried to prepare the center to open as fast as we could,” Wilson said.

There are countless ways volunteers can support the military community. To find out more or to register to volunteer, visit uso. org/take-action/volunteer.

No matter where you live, or what your skill set is, you can take action this National Volunteer Month and make a real difference.

Tank

You Volunteers!

Thank You Volunteers!

Te Alpena Volunteer Center would like to say thank you to the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring eforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow. A special thank you goes out to the following groups:

The United Way of Northeast Michigan/Alpena Volunteer Center would like to say thank you to the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring eforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow. A special thank you goes out to the following groups:

• Gear Up Volunteers and Meijer

• Stuff the Bus Volunteers: Dean Transportation and Walgreens

• United Way Board Members: Terry King, Alison Jakubcin, Lyn Kowalewsky, Lindsey Klein, Scott Reynolds, Ed Klimczak, Matt Poli, Kim Schultz, Matt Seguin, Jessica Luther, Jen Rossi, Steve Wright, Chelsea Meeder, Adam Poll, Angie Dubie, Scott Reynolds

• Campaign Chairs: Zachary Irving & Jessie Howard

• Christmas Wish List

Helpers/Donors: WATZ, The Alpena News, True North Radio, and WBKB TVand AMA/ESD

Make a Diference

• Dolly Parton Imagination Library Volunteers and registration locations

Be a Volunteer!

Make a Difference Be a Volunteer!

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact the United Way of Northeast Michigan 108 Water Street, Alpena MI 49707 989-354-2221

www.unitedwaynwnemi.org

Act Locally During Global Volunteer Month

(StatePoint) April is Global Volunteer Month, a time to celebrate volunteers and inspire volunteerism in communities large and small.

Volunteerism is on the decline, according to research from AmeriCorps and the U.S. Census Bureau. And what’s more, Points of Light, a global nonprofit dedicated to inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to take action that changes the world, shared that 73% of people believe that volunteering is more important than ever, yet 66% think they can’t make a big impact in their communities. During Global Volunteer Month, advocates are trying to change that perception at the local level.

To boost volunteer engagement during Global Volunteer Month, Points of Light is sharing the following ways you and your family can make a positive impact in your neighborhood or town:

Spread the word: Use the Global Volunteer Month toolkit, along with the hashtag #GlobalVolunteerMonth to thank volunteers. Be sure to tag a volunteer whose impact you appreciate.

Take the pledge: To show your commitment to volunteering, take Points of Light’s pledge. Then, discover ways to get involved that support your favorite cause and availability using Points of Light Engage, a database featuring hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities worldwide, including some in your area. Remember that volun-

“Volunteers are crucial to solving pressing challenges, creating vibrant communities and strengthening our social fabric,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO of Points of Light. “Every person has something to share or give.”

teering doesn’t have to be through a formal organization. Lending a helping hand to a friend, family member or neighbor counts, too. In fact, 70% of volunteer work is carried out locally and informally, without the involvement of any organization, according to the UN.

Expand your impact: Learn about the Points of Light Civic Circle®, a framework that outlines the many forms of civic engagement. These actions include listening and learning, using one’s voice, social entrepreneurship, volunteering, public, national or military service, using one’s purchasing power to express values, working, voting and donating.

Get inspired: Points of Light recognizes ordinary people doing extraordinary things to strengthen communities

and solve persistent problems with its Daily Point of Light Award. Know an outstanding volunteer in your community? Nominate them as a Daily Point of Light by visiting pointsoflight.org/ dailypointoflight, or to inspire others, share these stories of recent honorees:

Daily Point of Light Award honoree T’Kiyah Threatt is a 21-year-old from Uniontown, Alabama, a town of just over 2,000 residents. She dove into service as a high school junior when she started working with C.H.O.I.C.E., an organization that ensures young people get needed resources. Three years ago, she became the first president of the Youth Advisory Council and began leading mentoring efforts, going above and beyond to find funds for a scholarship for a deserving mentee. Even after moving away for college, Threatt returns to work with her own mentee while recruiting community partners and soliciting funding for programs.

Daily Point of Light Award honoree Teresa Gerald of Ridgeland, Mississippi, channels her passion for literacy into volunteer work through Friends of the Ridgeland Library, where she has held the elected position of president since 2014, contributing thousands of volunteer hours. Twice a year, Gerald manages, promotes and works the Friends of the Ridgeland Library Book Sale. When the library’s funding was cut by $110,000 in fiscal year 2021-2022, her fundraising efforts with Every Library Institute raised $112,000 in emergency funds.

No matter the scale, Points of Light recognizes the spirit of volunteerism as a driving force of change around the world.

“We’re celebrating volunteers around the world all month long, as well as calling on people to take action. Throughout April, lend your time, talent and passion to a cause you care about and invite others to join you, creating a ripple effect of change,” said Sirangelo.

Keeping them on the field

By MIKE GONZALEZ News Staff Writer

ALPENA — As president for the past four years, Eric Ross oversees the Alpena Boosters Club, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and raising funds for youth activities and sports.

But this is actually Ross’ second time joining the club.

Ross said he joined the club back in 2010 and got the president position soon after. He stayed for about three to four years, but, because his own children started to get into sports and other youth activities, he went on a small hiatus.

As soon as his children started to grow more mature and independent, he said he jumped at the chance to get involved again.

“I enjoy the camaraderie of the club,” Ross said. “We’ve got a great bunch of people that we all work together and do things together. But the biggest thing is just be-

ing able to help the youth provide a strong athletic foundation and our talent as it leads to many different things. It’s never just about the sports. It’s about the men and women that are being produced out of these events.”

According to Ross, the Alpena Boosters Club puts on a golf outing, raffles off tickets, and sells concessions for all of the major youth sporting activities to raise funds for underprivileged children looking to join teams who can’t afford it.

He said that, in past instances, the club has helped athletes with air travel costs to compete in international events, gotten equipment for children who can’t afford the expenses, and more.

“I remember, in one instance, a young man and his grandfather came in,” Ross said. “All he wanted was $35 to register for the Thunder Bay Basketball Association, and I think we ended up throwing in ex-

tra money to get him some basketball shoes or something that’s great help. That’s the nice part about this organization and what we do.”

Another activity that the Boosters Club likes to put on is a flag fundraiser for veterans on Memorial Day.

The Kiwanis Club of Alpena and the Boosters Club collaborate for the event, during which veterans or those wanting to honor a veteran can purchase a flag and plaque in their honor.

“It started out with just Washington Avenue, starting from Flanders Field,” Ross said. “All of the family members of those deceased veterans purchased flags, and we’ve kind of worked hand-in-hand with the Ki-

wanis Club, Home Depot, and some other pretty big contributors.”

Ross said the Boosters Club is a major contributor to Alpena High School’s athletics and other activities, such as robotics.

“All of that it does is for the community,” Ross said. “Back in the late 1990s, things kind of transitioned hard for high schools to where they were no longer able to provide football pads, uniforms, any of the training tools needed for them to be competitive. So that’s kind of where a lot of things came into play for seeking help outside of the high school or public schools for other organizations, and that’s kind of where we’ve come into play as to help provide for those teams.”

News Photo by Mike Gonzalez

Eric Ross, president of the Alpena Boosters Club, sits at his desk on April 9 at A.E. Ross Funeral Home.

‘We

could not do it without our volunteers’

By DARBY HINKLEY News Lifestyles Editor

ALPENA — Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan relies on volunteers to help with a wide variety of tasks, from guiding tours to cataloging photos to organizing artifacts, and much more.

Some volunteers have been helping at the museum for 20 years or more, and others have

started within the past two years.

About 50 people currently work as volunteers in some capacity to keep the museum running.

Chris Christopherson has been a volunteer there for two decades, since 2004.

“After I retired from teaching, I wanted something to do that was worthwhile,” Christopherson said in between guiding tours

of students on a field trip at the museum. “I just love history and local color and all that, so I just signed on to be a docent, and I’ve been here ever since. I was part of the Founder’s Society for a long time.”

She comes to the museum once a week, every week, to volunteer. “And then they call me whenever there are tour groups,” Christopherson added. “It helps keep my brain active, and keeps me engaged, and I love kids and people, so I just keep coming.”

Tuffy Cross was instrumental in the preservation and restoration of the Katherine V, a commercial fishing tugboat built in 1928 by Native American builder Henry

Vincent in Rogers City. The Vogelheim family owned and operated the Katherine V from first launch to its retirement in 1970. The 57foot vessel made of white oak, northern white cedar, and cypress was powered by a Kahlenberg 3-cylinder engine, which now sits in its own separate engine room on the grounds of the museum.

Cross was leading a tour group of young students on the Katherine V on Monday. He led them onto the boat and explained what it was like to fish on the vessel when she was operational.

“The boat came to Alpena in 2001, and it laid here from 2001 to 2014,” Cross told the children. “And it was becoming an eye-

Dennis Artley

Michelle Cornish

Mark Devers

Paul Fredenburg

Melissa Goodrich

James Gorman

Ann Martin

Scott McLennan

Jim McNeil

Charlie Negro

Terry Nelkie

Sheila Panknin

Byron Parr

Sean Pear

Matt Quaine

Brian Shumaker

Anne Wirgau

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Catherine McKillop, left, and Doris Puls both volunteer at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. Here, they stand by a sign encouraging others to sign up to volunteer.

sore.”

He said the board was thinking about getting rid of the vessel, but they called Cross down to a meeting because he had been a commercial fishing boat captain for many years. In fact, he captained the Chinook, which also rests at the museum. As for the Katherine V, Cross took the reins on fundraising so that she could be restored. He headed up a group to work on it, and the restoration was completed in 2019.

“You’ll never find another boat like this one,” Cross said of the Katherine V. “It took an awful lot of work, but the crews came down every day, and they wanted to work.”

Cross, now 83, enjoys teaching the children about the Katherine V and drawing from his experiences as a commercial fisherman.

“I was a commercial fisherman from 1954 until 1969,” he said. “I was the fourth generation commercial fisherman of my family. And then, after that, I went to work on a research vessel, Chinook, and I spent 31 years on her. So, I’ve got 51 years on the lake.”

After Cross retired, Jeff Dia-

mond took over as captain of the Chinook, and he also now volunteers at the museum, which he has been doing for a couple of years.

When asked why he volunteers, Diamond said, “Because Tuffy asked me to.” Then he chuckled. “It’s always interesting.”

Cross retired as captain of the Chinook in 2002, and Diamond captained her until 2016, when she was retired and brought to the museum.

Doris Puls is a professional organizer who enjoys using her talents to help organize the archival collections in the basement of the museum. She has volunteered there for at least 10 years.

“I love anything to do with organizing,” Puls said. “This is the perfect job … Every week, we come in and we say, ‘What should we do today?’ I come in on Wednesdays from 9 to noon, and so does Judy Dawley.”

Puls added that “Chris (Witulski) is an awesome director. She’s getting it all organized, as a museum should be.”

Catherine McKillop started volunteering at the museum about

a year-and-a-half ago. Originally from Ann Arbor, then living in Maryland, McKillop moved to Alpena in June 2020.

“I’ve always wanted to live in northern Michigan,” she said.

Her role at the museum is cataloging old photographs, many from the Fred Trelfa collection. She comes in three hours a week to work on the project.

“I just do some light cataloging

Thank You Volunteers!

Alpena Community College would like to thank the dedicated individuals who have voluntarily given their time and resources to improve the quality of life in Northeast Michigan. Your caring efforts give us pride in our community and hope for a bright tomorrow.

A special thank you goes out to the following groups:

• Academic Advisory Committees

• ACC Board of Trustees

• ACC Foundation Board of Trustees

• ACC Foundation Scramble for Students Volunteers

• ACC Gardeners

• Community Education Volunteer Instructors

• Science Olympiad Volunteers

News Photo by Darby Hinkley

Tuffy Cross points to a photo of himself as a young man that is part of the placard at the Katherine V exhibit at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley

Chris Christopherson stands at the entrance to the Avenue of Shops at Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan, where Christopherson volunteered for 20 years.

— give a description of what’s in the photograph,” she explained.

McKillop enjoys working in the archives, using her skills to help with important work.

“I like looking at photographs and I miss cataloging, which is what I did before I retired,” she said. “I worked at the graduate

library at the University of Michigan for about 21 years, just cataloging.”

She explained a bit more about her volunteering role.

“Cataloging is like figuring out a puzzle and pulling the pieces together,” McKillop said, “pieces of information, to create the record

that describes the item you have in hand, or on the screen.”

Judy Dawley has been a museum volunteer for many years, as well.

Christopherson said of Dawley and Puls, “They’re volunteers that are faithful. Every Wednesday, they work in the basement on collections.”

Witulski, executive director of the museum, said the volunteers are extremely valuable.

“The volunteers help in several different areas, all throughout the year, like our gardening, spring and summer, going into fall, our Christmas exhibits, we rely heavily on our volunteers for Log Cabin Day, Harvest Day … but especially our field trip seasons,” Witulski said.

April, May, and the first part of June are the heaviest field trip times of the year at the museum.

“We host up to 1,000 or more students,” she said. “We have anywhere from a classroom of 20 up to a school of 90 kids coming at one time. We create different activity stations so that the kids get a little bit of a smorgasbord of what the Besser Museum offers — art, history, and science.”

She reiterated how essential the volunteers are at the museum.

“We could not do it without our volunteers,” Witulski added.

For more information, or to become a museum volunteer, call 989-356-2202.

- Volunteer Week ~ Wednesday, April 17, 2024

News Photo by Darby Hinkley

Jeff Diamond, left, and Tuffy Cross both spent years as captain of the Chinook, which rests now at the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan. Both men now volunteer at the museum.

Tips for seniors to safeguard their mental health

The wide-ranging impact and reach of mental health issues garnered considerable attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the virus as well as mandates designed to reduce its spread led to increased feelings of anxiety and isolation. Since then, life has returned to normal for billions of people across the globe, but many people, including seniors, continue to experience mental health issues.

The Pan American Health Organization reports that at least one in four older adults experiences a mental disorder such as depression, anxiety or dementia. And those figures will likely only grow, as population estimates indicate seniors will make up a greater percentage of the global population in the years to come. Seniors dealing with mental health issues may feel helpless, but there’s much they can do to safeguard their mental health.

• Volunteer. Many older adults are retired, and while ample free time may have seemed like the ultimate reward after a lifetime of working, many retirees experience a void once their life no longer has the structure that work can provide. According to the independent nonprofit HelpGuide.org, retirement depression can compel retirees to feel as though they miss the sense of identity, meaning and purpose that came with their jobs, which can make some feel depressed, aimless and isolated. Volunteering can help fill the void created by retirement, and the positive mental health effects of volunteering are well-documented. According to the Mayo Clinic, studies have shown volunteering increases positive, relaxed feelings and gives volunteers a sense of meaning and appreciation.

• Socialize regularly. A 2019 study

published in The Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences found that older adults who socialized with people beyond their circle of family and close friends were more likely to have greater positive moods and fewer negative feelings. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of older adults report feeling isolated from others. According to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging that was conducted in January 2023, one in three older adults reported infrequent contact

(once a week or less) with people from outside their home.

• Speak with a mental health professional. Among the more troubling aspects of the mental health crisis affecting seniors is that the PAHO reports two-thirds of older adults with mental health problems do not get the treatment they need. Speaking with a mental health professional can help older adults in myriad ways. Such professionals can identify the issue that is prompting seniors to seek help and offer suggestions that can improve overall

health and qualify of life. Roundstone Insurance notes that reliance on digital behavioral health tools, including telehealth, was turned to both during the pandemic and ever since, and seniors can utilize such services if they have limited mobility and/or no one to help them make it to in-person appointments. No one is immune to mental health issues, including seniors. But older adults can take various steps to address their mental health and improve their overall health as a result.

What to know about becoming a blood donor

Hospitals have an urgent need for blood donations, as demand continues to outpace blood supplies, according to the American Red Cross. The organization says fewer donors contributed to the blood supply

over the summer in 2023, creating a national blood shortage. As of the fall of 2023, donors of all types were urgently needed, and there was an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood.

Canada also has encountered issues regarding its blood supply. Ron Vezina, vice-president of public affairs with the nonprofit organization Canadian Blood Services, said the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather that included wildfires, and more Canadians traveling abroad has left a deficit of appointments within the blood-donation network.

Individuals who are considering giving blood are urged to do so. Most people are eligible to give blood if they are in good health, although there are some basic eligibility guidelines, says the World Health Organization.

• Individuals between the ages of 18 and 65 often can give blood. Some countries make exemptions for younger and older donors if consent is obtained or at the discretion of responsible physicians.

• A person must weigh at least 50 kg (110 lbs.).

• One must feel well on the day of the donation, and should not have a cold, flu, sore throat, cold sore, stomach bug, or any other infection.

Cedars-Sinai says there are some reasons why people may be excluded from giving blood. These may vary depending on the state, province or country, so it’s best to get clarification on the rules from a local donation organization. People who may be excluded include:

• Individuals taking antibiotics for an infection.

• Individuals who are currently using certain medications like anti-platelet agents, anticoagulants, acne treatments, drugs to treat

rheumatoid arthritis, hair loss remedy or prostate symptom products, immunosuppressants, HIV prevention drugs, and more. A certain period of time between last usage and blood donation may need to pass, and more information can be obtained by speaking with a doctor.

• Individuals who have undergone dental surgery in the last 72 hours.

• Individuals with a history of HIV/AIDS.

• Individuals who have hepatitis or have come into close contact with hepatitis.

• Individuals who have used illegal IV drugs.

• Individuals who have experienced an unintentional needle stick.

• Individuals who, in the three months prior to donating, have traveled to an area where malaria is common.

• Individuals who spent a combined total of three months or more in the United Kingdom between 1980 and 1996.

• Individuals who spent a combined total of five years or more in France or Ireland between 1980 and 2001.

• Individuals who have gotten a tattoo in the last three months. It is not adviseable to give blood while pregnant or while breastfeeding.

Giving blood can be a life-saving gesture. Even if a person is not eligible to give blood, he or she can still volunteer with a blood collection organization and spread the word about blood donation.

Posen: 6520 Darga Hwy., 989-766-8191

Onaway: 4203 S. Lynn St., 989-733-2559 email: info@piccoa.org • www.piccoa.org

your information... Volunteering can reduce stress, combat depression, keep you mentally stimulated, and provide a sense of purpose. While it’s true that the more you volunteer, the more benefits you’ll experience, volunteering doesn’t have to involve a long-term commitment or take a huge amount of time out of your busy day.

MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF OUR MISSION!

MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART OF OUR MISSION!

THANK YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS!

THANK YOU FOR GIVING OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS!

FEATURING A FEW FACES OF THE MANY BESSER MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE! WE

OURVOLUNTEERS

FEATURING A FEW FACES OF THE MANY BESSER MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE! WE

Chris Christopherson Tuffy and Bonnie Cross

Judy Dawley

Lisah Dahlinger Scott Brooks

Catherine McKillop DeLynn Medina