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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Welcome
The volunteers featured in this edition come from a variety of backgrounds, professions and walks of life. All of them offer significant quantities of their time and talent to help make Waseca a great place to work, play and live. We hope the stories of these 11 Waseca County residents gives you an insider’s view not only of the men and women featured here and their journey into volunteerism, but encourage you to consider joining their ranks. To make that easier, we’ve included information about how to get involved in the organizations our featured volunteers represent. This publication is a product of the Waseca County News staff, following weeks of photography, interviews, writing, designing and creative advertising efforts. We hope you enjoy Portraits 2013 for weeks and months to come as we celebrate some of the people who make Waseca County so special. — Julie Frazier Publisher and Editor
PAGE 1
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Contents
Amy Potter: Giving to Education ...............................................................3 Gretchen Sankovitz: A Life in 4-H .............................................................5 Blair Nelson: A Good Sport ........................................................................7 Pat Wieseler: Uniting Business and Giving...............................................8 Bev Emery: Neighborly ...............................................................................10 Rick Thomez: Teaching the Fundamentals ...............................................11 Megan Lynch: Living the Four Pillars ........................................................13 Marjorie Gores and Virgina Swenson: Charitable Concoctions ............15 Clinton Rogers: Leading by Example.........................................................16 Zach Roberts: Hometown Teacher.............................................................18 Steve Graff: Volunteer Spirit........................................................................20
Friday, March 22, 2013
Potraits 2013 A special project of the Waseca County News 213 2nd St. NW., Waseca, MN www.wasecacountynews.com Publisher/Editor Julie Frazier Managing Editor Suzanne Rook Media Consultants Kristie Biehn, Edy Barber Cover Design Loralea Baldwin Advertising Design Kelly Kubista, Keeley Krebsbach, Sue Schuster, Jenine Kubista Contributing Writers/Photographers Jennifer Holt, Marianne Carlson, Miles Trump, Ruth Ann Hager Portraits 2013 is disributed to subscribers and readers of the Waseca County News at no additional charge. All rights reserved. Š2013 All advertising contained herein is the responsibility of the advertiser.
Advertiser Index Dennis Funeral Homes & Cremation Services.. 10 Ag Power Enterprises ............................................ 12 Associated Lumber Mart ...................................... 20 Brown Printing Company .................................... 14 Carters Plumbing and Heating .............................. 8 Country Neighbors ................................................. 7 Emerson .................................................................... 9 Express Employment Professionals..................... 11 First National Bank ............................... Back Cover Guardian Energy, LLC. ......................................... 18 Hometown Credit Union ..................................... 13 Hy-Vee ........................................ Inside Back Cover
Janesville Nursing Home ...................................... 17 Janesville State Bank.............................................. 19 Kieffer Communications ........................................ 8 LarsonAllen LLP...................................................... 4 Neighborhood Service Center ............................. 10 Remax Masters....................................................... 15 Pioneer Hi-Bred International ............................. 16 Roundbank ................................ Inside Front Cover Schmidt Transport................................................... 6 The S.H.O.P............................................................. 15 Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce................... 5 Waseca Housing Authority .................................... 3
Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 3
Amy Potter (right) helps third graders Sydney Peterson and Cameron Parker work on their multiplication practice tests at Hartley Elementary School. (Marianne Carlson/ Waseca County News)
Amy Potter
GIVING
Live in Waseca’s Biggest Home!
to education
By MARIANNE CARLSON
mcarlson@wasecacountynews.com
Amy Potter grew up in Blooming Prairie and went to college to become a teacher. She started her career in Farmington and later accepted a position in the business department in Waseca, teaching grades five through 12. After teaching in Waseca from 1996 to 2001, she left teaching to be a stay-at-home mom to her three children with husband, Matt: Hannah, 11, and twins, Isaac and Sophia, age 9. Leaving the classroom didn’t take Potter out of the mainstream — she’s an avid volunteer, currently the president of the board of directors at Lakeside Golf Club and a board member of the Waseca Area Foundation. Potter also does volunteer work at Grace Lutheran Church, but because of her passion for education, Potter has become a mainstay in the Waseca district-wide Parent Teacher Organization.
How and why did you get involved with the Waseca Parent Teacher Organization? As a child, Potter grew up in a family that was very involved and attributes her need to “give back” to them. “I learned what I lived from my parents,” Potter said. Potter said she originally got involved with the Hartley Elementary PTO when her first child was a student there. “Our teachers are so amazing so I guess this is my way of giving back and helping contribute to the education of our kids,” Potter said.
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Potter
“”
From Page 3
What do you do for Waseca PTO? Potter serves as an officer with both the Hartley and Waseca Intermediate School PTOs. She was also part of the planning team for the first annual Blue Jay Blast celebration that took place in November. Potter is part of the parent and staff group that is working to get the district-wide PTO “off the ground.” “We are still working on it as we speak,” Potter said with a laugh. “This is our second year, but we are still working out the kinks and going through growing pains.” According to Potter, the PTO helps raise money in order “to offers things that the district’s operating budget simply can’t support.” PTO funds help support special activities like the Minnesota Zoomobile and the Artist-in-Residence programs at Hartley Elementary. Potter said the PTO also helps raise money to support field trips and “enhance other good things that are already happening” in the district.” In addition to helping raise money, Potter said that volunteers also provide additional curricular support for the staff during special events like Family Fun Night or by making food for the teachers during conferences. Potter said that by helping out during these special
Our teachers help our kids excel in so many areas. They do what it takes regardless of what it takes from them. They put in a lot of extra effort that sometimes go unnoticed. Being a part of the PTO lets parents see what happens behind the scenes – all the love, time and concern (teachers) put in every day. - Amy Potter
activities it is “a fun way for parents to get involved and be a part of their kids’ education.”
How have you benefited from volunteering? “It is my way of contributing to the great schools we have,” Potter said. “Even though I’m not teaching any more, volunteering allows me to still make a difference in kids’ lives, even if it is a minimal one.” Potter volunteers in her children’s classrooms and said, “They love it when I come. That may change when they get older, but then I will just help out in other ways. There are a lot of opportunities for high school parents to be involved helping with different events. ” Potter said she “loves working with kids” and spending time with her own children learning about what their day is like. “I’ve made a lot of great friends with other parents and staff members,” Potter said about time volunteering with the district.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
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According to Potter, the teachers in the Waseca School District “go above and beyond” their duties as educators, often taking on the roles of parents and counselors for their students. “Our teachers help our kids excel in so many areas,” Potter said. “They do what it takes regardless of what is taken from them. They put in a lot of extra effort that sometimes go unnoticed. Being a part of the PTO lets parents see what happens behind the scenes – all the love, time and concern (teachers) put in every day.”
“It takes a lot of us to build a strong vital community,” Potter said. “I would encourage people to get involved and help make a difference. I love being a part of the community. It gives you a sense of ownership in where you live and raise your kids. It is also a way to pay it forward for all the people that did it before you. If a lot of us do a little, nobody has to do a lot.” Reach reporter Marianne Carlson at 837-5451, or follow her on Twitter.com @mariannewcn.
GET INVOLVED To volunteer with the Waseca District-Wide PTO call your child’s school. Hartley Elementary School: 507-835-2248 Waseca Intermediate School: Phone: 507-835-3000 Waseca Jr. & Sr. High School: 507-835-5470 To learn more about the Waseca Area Foundation call 507-835-5990 or visit: www. wasecaareafoundation.org. Meetings are held seven times each year on the 4th Wednesday at 6:45 a.m. The meeting dates and times are listed on the website. The next meeting will be held in the media center of the Central Building on Wednesday, March 27. To learn more about the Lakeside Golf Club call 507 835-2574 or visit: wasecagolf. com. Monthly meetings are held on the fourth Thursday. To learn more about Grace Lutheran Church call 507-835-1709 or visit: http://www. wasecagracelutheran.com. List the name of the organization, contact info, meeting time/date, website, Facebook page, dues (if applicable) and any other necessary info.
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 5
Gretchen Sankovitz
A life in 4-H By MILES TRUMP
mtrump@wasecacountynews.com
Gretchen Sankovitz is a stay-at-home mother in Waseca. She just doesn’t stay at home all the much. Sankovitz spends much of her time volunteering at Waseca County 4-H and in Waseca schools when she’s not at home. It’s almost like a full-time job, she says. Sankovitz has been involved in Waseca County 4-H, where she’s on the Federation Board and has an active role in the horse project, the goat project, several committees and more, since “2006 or 2007,” she said. She also has volunteered to work with students at Sacred Heart School for about 10 years and in the Waseca School District for about two-to-three years. She also was on the Bluejay Blast Committee.
How and why did you get involved with Waseca County 4-H and volunteering in the schools? How I really started volunteering was two-fold: One is because of my children, and secondly was because I just have this very strong opinion that you really shouldn’t either complain or judge, just get on board and help and get involved. And that’s kind of how things get done. … I grew up in 4-H and I love the program, and it’s a wonderful program for kids and I just really felt that if I could help contribute to it, I wanted to be a part of it. If I can make a difference, help make it better, that’s what I wanted to do.
See SANKOVITZ on 6
Gretchen Sankovitz works with a student Tuesday, Feb. 26 in one of the labs at the media center in Waseca Intermediate School. (Miles Trump/Waseca County News)
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Sankovitz From Page 5
Friday, March 22, 2013
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Waseca County 4-H Contact information: UM Ext Waseca Cnty 900 3rd St NEWaseca, MN 56093-2837 (507) 835-0600 (phone) (507) 837-5344 (fax) mnext-waseca@umn.edu University of Minnesota Extension, Waseca County 4-H website: http://www. extension.umn.edu/ county/template/index. aspx?pID=0&countyID=83 Minnesota 4-H website: http://www1.extension. umn.edu/youth/mn4-H/ Waseca County 4-H Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/ WasecaCounty4H
And with school, it was about back when we were trying, scrambling for a budget, the class sizes got bigger … If I can go in and volunteer my time and give those kids some extra help in math to help them be better students and help (the) teachers, and spend that one-on-one time with kids that maybe teachers don’t have time to do because they’re just doing so many other things, if I can help and make a difference, then that’s what I want to do. I want to help them be successful. And that’s I guess why I do it. And it’s amazing because those kids will make you laugh and they’ll make you cry and they’ll frustrate you, and at the same time you go home and you just get so pumped about the progress you made that day. The day the light bulb goes off in a kid’s head, you’re hooked, absolutely hooked, because it’s just such an exciting feeling. When you can do something like that, that’s the best part.
School. I don’t have a student at the intermediate school, but started helping there when my kids were in that school and so I just kind of kept doing it. My daughter is at Scared Heart so I help in her classroom, and we do math facts and whatever needs to be done. And then my help at the intermediate school has just sort of evolved. I do (math tutoring) with fifth and sixth grade. I help in individual classrooms with math facts, I’ve helped with reading program. And then I also help with the fourth-grade science fair. I’m there about three days a week helping kids get ready for science fair in one way or another, either answering questions or helping them with a problem. Right now I’m in the middle of cutting out letters for titles for their project boards. Anything that needs to be done there, that’s what I do. I suppose I’m probably at the school about 15 hours a week on the average, at both schools probably if you added them up.
Describe what you do in your volunteering roles.
How have you benefited from volunteering?
I‘m on the Federation board, which is the leadership board for the county for the 4-H program. We kind of oversee things and make decisions for 4-H for the county. I’m a project adviser for the horse project, I’m a superintendent for the goat project. Most of my work is with the horse project and the goat project. … I work with the horse project quite a bit. As an adult leader, I help with the judging team and the quiz bowl team, and the horse-related projects and stuff like that. I’m jack of all trades – if there’s something that needs to be done, I’m usually doing it. … (In the schools) For the most part I volunteer just in the classroom at Sacred Heart and in the (Waseca) Intermediate
I don’t know if it’s a benefit as much as I just feel very, I’m just happy that I can do it, that I can be that person and that I’m able to (volunteer), because I’m a stay-at-home mom and I do have that time that I can do it. (I) imagine my husband wished I did the laundry more instead, but there’s always time to that later. To me, helping kids and helping a program is kind of what’s important to me anyways, is helping those things be successful. (The light bulb moment is) huge for me. That’s really huge. Some kids, they’re the greatest kids and sometimes they just need that little bit of time, and then it’s like they go, “Oh,” (in their light bulb moment).
What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering their time?
I would say that if you want to become involved and you want to volunteer … just get a hold of the people (who) are kind of in charge of those areas, I guess. They’re wonderful people and more than willing. And that’s another thing, too … with 4-H it’s so easy to volunteer because we have such a great coordinator (who is) so positive and fun to be around, and willing to work with you and willing to make it happen. And the same thing with the school, the fact that they let me come in and do it is such a blessing, such a treat that they let me come in and spend time with kids and they trust me. … … Tell them, whoever’s kind of running that program, that you want to help or get involved. You’d be surprised, there are very few times they’re going to turn anybody down or any help down. Find your passion, find what you want to do and go for it.
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 7
Blair Nelson
A GOOD SPORT
By JENNIFER HOLT
jholt@wasecacountynews.com
When his kids were younger, he umpired as many as 60 games a summer, and still gets in a few dozen games a summer when he’s not playing with his grandchildren. “We need active involvement,” Nelson said. “And it doesn’t take up that much of your time.”
In any community there are always a variety of volunteer opportunities – helping with the elderly, young children, people living in poverty, but one arena sports fanatics can consider is becoming a referee or coach. Waseca County Commissioner Blair Nelson has spent a lifetime loving sports, playing sports, volunteering on the playing fields and has watched how being active can “My benefit is seeing kids active and prosper,” Nelson provide lifelong skills to children. said. “You see that someday they become their own indiOn the Waseca County Board of Commissioners, an vidual person and kids just need their own boost.” elected position, Nelson is on the Human Services and He believes that kids need to Arts Board. Nelson also ushers at his be involved and that when they church, coached fourth-grade girls bas- HOW TO GET belong to something, they develop ketball with his daughter, Nicki Benson, INVOLVED (another) family on their own – a through the Waseca Basketball Assocohesive group on the field where To get involved ciation. He also umpires the Braves, the people can relate to one another. with community sports: legion and the vet games and coaches a “Whatever (work) you’re putTodd Dufault: 507-837-5534 10-and-under baseball team and helps ting in has a tangible effect on Waseca Community Education with a portion of the Waseca Triathlon. someone else,” Nelson said. “If no and Recreation: 507-835-5626 body volunteers, the kids don’t get Minnesota State High School to play games and parks and fields League: 763-560-2262 are meant to play in.” For Nelson, he said it’s important to keep kids playing and to see them playing outside and building skills on team sports. “Sports have been around my while life,” Nelson said. “It’s a natural graduation when your playing days are done to teach others.” He said it’s important to encourage kids to get on the Nelson encourages people to get out, get involved and field because there is always something they can bring to get active. the game – something they know, see and do. For people, of all ages, who are interested in getting involved, Nelson said a good start is to stand on the sidelines and learn from someone who can be a mentor, let them On the Board of Commissioners, Nelson serves as the instruct and encouragement will follow. “Very few ever win their final game,” Nelson said. “It county representative for the Human Services redesign, the Art Council and for the Waseca-Le Sueur Regional Library tempers you to put forth your best effort and understand – of which he says he services not only as a representative everything wont always be your own way, but will be gratifying.” of the county, but also as a county resident. When the new Waseca Art Center was being conReach reporter Jennifer Holt at 837-5446, or follow her structed, Nelson lent a hand among other volunteers to on Twitter at @WCNjennifer help get the work done.
How he has benefited from volunteering?
How he got involved.
What advice he would give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
What he does
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Pat Wieseler
Uniting business and giving
By MILES TRUMP
mtrump@wasecacountynews.com
Pat Wieseler, right, poses for a photo at an event in 2012. (Submitted photo)
A northeastern Nebraska native, Pat Wieseler has worked for HyVee for nearly 25 years, most recently as store director in Waseca. He’s also been involved in the volunteering community since he moved in 2010 to Waseca from Sioux Falls, where he and his family resided for about 14 years. Wieseler, 40, is one of 18 members on the board of directors at Waseca Area United Way, where he also serves on two committees. As the store director of Hy-Vee, Wieseler also is involved with the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce and volunteers as a chamber ambassador.
How and why did you get involved with United Way? When I came here, I was approached by a person who heads it up, Margie Santo, and we had someone else in the store (who) was on the board, and he was just kind of coming off. You usually do a two-year stint on the board of directors, and he was just coming off, and I was approached to basically take his place. And so that’s how I came about it. In addition to being on the board of directors, I’m also a committee chair of one of the committees on that as well, and I’m also an assistant chair on a different one, so I do all kind of things with United Way. I’m involved with the chamber (Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce) – well, Hy-Vee’s part of the chamber – I’m the store director at Hy-Vee. Being a part of the chamber, the business owner or the person in charge is typically the lead person for making sure that we’re active in the chamber and participate in a lot of the events and activities for the chamber, whether that be monetary or whether that be just volunteering, etc. About six to nine months ago, I was approached to be part of the chamber ambassadors. It’s a pretty select group of individuals (who) meet twice a month at a minimum, sometimes more, but we do a lot of things in regard to inviting new chamber members. We do awards for different, various things. We have a banquet coming up here pretty soon that we’re trying to plan for. Chamber ambassadors is a pretty darn good
See WIESELER on 9
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 9
Wieseler From Page 8
group, I think, of business leaders that volunteer our time to basically help Waseca, help Waseca grow and become strong and stay strong in the future. And in addition to that, I’m part of Rotary. We meet every Thursday (at) noon, ... you meet and you have lunch and talk about different issues, things you can do. That’s a pretty neat thing there. ...
Describe what you do in your roles at United Way United Way, we try to do things to help raise awareness for United Way and what their goal or mission is, and we try to find ways to support United Way, for example, Hy-Vee, we have what we call Business After Hours in November, and that’s basically where we invite other business to come in and usually it’s like a social gathering, maybe show them what we have to offer. And that happens every year in November. We usually have it at Farmamerica. It’s a wine-tasting/holiday-tasting event, and so (what) we do is we kind of highlight all of our departments … provide samples, provide cater menus, pricing, things like that, and then into that is the wine stating part of it, which has become kind of the event for Waseca in terms of a social event. ... At that event we do an auction for United Way, where we auction off gift baskets. And so we try to raise as much money as we can, and all proceeds, 100 percent of the proceeds go to United Way, so that’s one thing that Hy-Vee does to help raise funds, and that’s just one thing as a committee member and a board of director member we try to do to try to continue to raise awareness and raise funds for United Way. We get requests for United Way for funding, and then we as members have to go through all the requests and decide. We interview the applicants and try to find and figure out what exactly they want, is it something that we’re willing to give, and so there’s things along with that. Is it something we can afford to do? Resources at United Way (are) pretty slim, we do what we can to make that worthwhile contribution…. I’m real proud to be part of United Way because that’s just a pretty darn cool organization that I’m just very proud to be a part of.
How have you benefited from volunteering?
ness manager … aware of all the needs of the community. And at the same time it helps me kind of build some relationships with the community, with social networking. It’s a board of directors, so it’s made up of different people in Waseca, that we all volunteer and we get a chance to socialize and kind of share ideas. I think it’s important to try to give back to the community you’re a part of, in some way. And that’s just a small way that I can help give back. Obviously, monetary is probably the biggest way that Hy-Vee gives back, we donate all kinds of stuff to different events and charities, etc., but this is something that I personally can do above and beyond the monetary part is give my time and my efforts and my resources, and hopefully my talents can be of good use. For me, that’s a big benefit. You get to see all that being done.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering their time? I think you have to understand, know that to be a part of a community is more than just living there. In order to be really truly part of it, you have to donate your time and resources and effort to make that community better. By volunteering, that’s just a small way that you could do that. Really, I think you look at everybody – someone does in some way, whether it be volunteer to take a neighbor’s kids to school or to camp. I think if everybody would’ve thought about it, they all could probably identify a time where they’ve done something to help out a fellow neighbor, a friend, a relative. But in this case, I’m helping out more than just that, I’m helping out the entire community of Waseca, and to me, you really great a sense of satisfaction by doing that, and I really would encourage everyone to look at some way. I mean, it doesn’t have to be United Way, it could be something small, it could be helping Meals on Wheels, it could be volunteering for your church, it could be Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, you name it, for school. There (are) so many things, so many ways that anybody can just do something small, and by doing those things, Waseca and the Waseca-area will be much, much stronger and a better place for everyone to live.
Reach Sports Editor Miles Trump at 837-5447, or It really makes me as a business owner, as a busi- follow him on Twitter.com @WCNSports.
Pat Wieseler, store director of Hy-Vee in Waseca, volunteers through Waseca Area United Way and is involved with the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce. (Miles Trump/Waseca County News)
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Bev Emery
Neighborly By RUTH ANN HAGER
Correspondent
Thirty regular volunteers keep the thrift store and the food shelf going at the Waseca Area Neighborhood Service Center. NSC management team member Toni Larson said it would be impossible to operate either the store or the food shelf without them.{/span} Waseca resident Bev Emery is one of 15 NSC volunteers who gives her time and talent to the thrift store.
Why she got involved with this organization Emery, the married mother of two and grandmother of five, became a Waseca resident in 2000 and retired from her job in 2007. The following year she was introduced to the service center. “By Thanksgiving of 2008, our pastor’s wife mentioned the Santa Anonymous program. When that was finished, I told Toni [Larson] that I’d love to help in the store,” Emery said. She continues to volunteer there one day a week and now is in charge of the crafts and cards sections of the store.
What she does at the service center When Emery comes in, she finds out where she is needed that day. Generally, she goes to the craft corner in the Thrift Store to prepare donations for the store or organizes the craft and greeting card areas of the store. But she goes wherever there is work to do. It changes week to week. “I’ve been known to fold sheets for two days in a row,” Emery said. The thrift store motto, “in the store or out the door,” means the merchandise in the store is constantly changing, she said.
How has she benefitted from volunteering? “I have a serving attitude. I need to do that in order to feed myself,” Emery said. “God gives us skills and I try to use them to the best of my abilities.” She said she loves to sew and do things for her church; the work
Volunteer Bev Emery works in the Neighborhood Service Center donation room’s craft corner where she prepares merchandise for the thrift store. (Ruth Ann Hager photo)
at the thrift store is an extension of that. “I like to work with people and it’s fun to come here,” Emery said. “Each time I come there are different volunteers here.” She said she seldom misses a week because she treats it like a job even though she knows it’s on a volunteer basis.
What advice would she give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
would be the place I would start [to volunteer],” Emery said. “When people ask for help, it’s neat to be able to direct them or to give them ideas,” she said about working in the store. Emery likes the relaxed and upbeat atmosphere of the NSC thrift store; she sees friends there and she likes shopping there herself. “It’s not just for a certain people; it’s for anyone,” she said. Most of all, she feels appreciated there.
Emery volunteers as the liaison for Christ Community Church and the community meals served the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Grace Lutheran Church Garage. She also is a member of her church’s quilting club which makes quilts and baby layettes for missions. She gets a sense of satisfaction out of her volunteer work and says the NSC is a great place to volunteer. “It’s a way to serve the community or help other people; that
GET INVOLVED To volunteer at the NSC thrift store, stop in at the service center at 203 3rd Ave. NW in Waseca. Store hours: Mondays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 11
Rick Thomez
Teaching the
Fundamentals
B
By MILES TRUMP • mtrump@wasecacountynews.com
orn and raised in Waseca, Rick Thomez spent about 15 years playing organized baseball at the various levels in the Waseca baseball system. He learned the fundamentals of the game from the “oldschool” coaches of his youth, he said. Now, Thomez, 52, who has worked for Brown Printing in Waseca for 31 years, volunteers his time to infuse those same fundamentals into children and, in turn, helps to increase the caliber of Waseca baseball. He’s in charge of the Waseca Baseball Association’s 10U program, for children age 10 and younger, which will enter its third year this summer. if I’d start this 10U program. And our first year we had like 25 kids, and last year we had over 60 kids. Word got out. And (we are) teaching them fundamentals. Some kids didn’t know how to grip a ball, proper technique, the points, step and throw, and release and all Blake (Nelson) and Tim (Loonan) – and that stuff. We’re just teaching them even how I’ve known them for a long time – saw that to catch a ball. Waseca Baseball was not ... up to our standards. We want good baseball, Waseca’s a town that’s known for its baseball and it was kind See THOMEZ on 12 of lacking. They contacted me and asked me
Rick Thomez, center, coaching the Waseca Baseball Association’s 10U program in 2012. (County News file photo).
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How and why did you get involved with the Waseca Baseball Association?
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thomez From Page 11
Everything has to be organized now. In my day you played in the backyard and when you got hungry you went home. … Now that’s the way it is, and that’s the norm, and now you just have to adjust, and we came to the point where, OK, let’s organize this. It doesn’t travel. It’s just a fundamental league. (We) meet about 10, 12 times in the summer, and at the end of the year they have a little game… . It was big, first year it was like, holy cow, look at all these people who showed up. There was a couple hundred people there. It gets the kids excited. At that age, they listen to you. Their eyes are wide and they want to be taught. And you get them at that early age, you can teach them proper technique, proper stuff, so they don’t get in bad habits.
Describe what you do for the Waseca Baseball Association. We’re teaching them proper technique so they don’t make mistakes. Some people think we’re teaching them to be robots, but we’re teaching them to be instinctive. Know what to do when the situation arises, because when you have to think, you’re done, I think. That’s my philosophy. If you have to think about what you have to do, you’re done, you’re defeated already. You have to be instinctive, and it’s hard to teach. And sometimes you can’t, but that’s what this program is trying to get for these young ball players, ... they just go out and play and don’t have to be thinking, just react. So that’s what the association wants to get at is so when they go to the next level, they start traveling, and they know when the ball’s hit what they need to do. Who’s the relay, who’s the cutoff, baserunning – that’s what we’re teaching them. And I’ve put a group of coaches together that that’s their desire, is to teach this. And this year, I’m going to have a couple guys that pitch that I played with, and we’re going to start teaching them how to pitch. ... We’re banking on (this program) to get Waseca baseball back on the map.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Waseca Baseball Association Contact info: wasecabaseball@gmail.com Other contacts: Tim Loonan – t_looan@mchsi.com Blake Nelson – blake.nelson@bpc.com Website: www.wasecabaseball.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ WasecaBaseballAssociation
How have you benefited from volunteering?
ries come up. So it’s gratifying as a group of coaches that we’re teaching these young kids and actually get to see each other, so it’s kind of fun.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
… Enjoy it, because in my situation it’s the youth. You don’t want to discourage, you want to be open-minded and positive, so you don’t discourage whatever you’re doing. Because if we discourage a kid ... you never know at that age, he might turn out to be a good ballplayer, but you don’t want to discourage him where he quits when he’s 8, 9 years old and says, well, he’s had a bad experience with a coach. You want him to enjoy it. But then again you need to have them respect, you too. And I tell them that. I say, ‘You respect the coaches and you respect each other.’ … Volunteering is, like I said, you enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn’t do it.
I played ball until I was 28 years old. I played, by the time I could throw a ball, probably 5, 6 years old, so I played ball for about 20 years, organized ball for 15 of it. I gave it up, took up golf, and now give back. (Because) I had coaches that were dedicated and taught me a lot, and I figured I could pass that on to a kid that (is) like myself when I was at that age. You look up to them. I don’t expect myself to be looked up to. And it’s fun, you see when the kids come and they’re energetic. Like I said, their eyes are wide and they’re like sponges. They Reach Sports Editor Miles Trump at 837-5447, or follow him want to learn, and that’s what we want to do, so it’s gratifying. Other coaches (who) help out, we talk afterward and it’s ex- on Twitter.com @WCNSports. citing. When I played ball I saw these guys every day for four months, from when I retired, I never saw them, so it’s kind of nice to see them again. We lived with these guys basically for May, June, July and August, so it’s nice to talk to them. All the sto-
“”
I had coaches that were dedicated and taught me a lot and I figured I could pass that on to a kid. - Rick Thomez
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 13
Megan Lynch
Megan Lynch devotes much of her spare time to the Waseca Exchange Club and serves on its Child Abuse Prevention committee. (Ruth Ann Hager photo)
living the
Four Pillars By RUTH ANN HAGER
Correspondent
The Waseca Exchange Club’s four pillars are Child Abuse Prevention, Americanism, Youth Projects and Community Service. Thirty active members volunteer their time to fulfill those objectives. Megan Lynch, marketing director at First National Bank in Waseca, along with fellow bank employees Carol Peterson and Tom Sankovitz, is a volunteer member of the Exchange Club. Perhaps because Lynch and her husband, Josh Lynch, are the parents of young sons, Cash, 4, and Cruz, 2, she has committed her time to the prevention of child abuse.
How and why she got get involved Lynch has been employed by the bank for eight years and represented the bank in Exchange club for seven years. Bank employees are also members of the Waseca Rotary Club and the Lion’s Club. She became involved with Exchange Club as a guest of a bank representative and soon became a member. “I really liked what Exchange stood for and what its mission is,” Lynch said. New to her job, she also found that the club was a good way to
network and meet like-minded people in the business community. As board member, she is also on the Child Abuse Prevention committee which meets monthly to focus on its agenda.
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What she does for Waseca Exchange Club “One of the biggest awareness campaigns each year is in April, which is Child Abuse Prevention Month. We tie blue ribbons on trees in Trowbridge and Emerson Parks and put up booths at Hy-Vee and Walmart in Waseca. It’s part of the ‘Believe in Blue’ campaign which aims to raise awareness of child abuse. Exchange members offer parenting tips, information on resources in the community and tell people about the Exchange Center for Family Unity in Owatonna where child abuse prevention and parenting skills are offered,” Lynch said. The Exchange Club makes a monthly donation to the Exchange Center for Family Unity and other organizations that “fall in the pillars of the club,” she said. The club also presents scholarships and the Accepting the Challence of Excellence (ACE) Award to graduating high school seniors, selects Youth of the Month students for recognition, adopts the highway between Waseca
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
GET INVOLVED Waseca Exchange Club meets at noon Tuesdays at the MillerArmstrong conference room. Contact any current member for information Darren Nelson, vice president Waseca High School, current president Web site: wasecaexchangeclub.com Facebook: www.facebook. com/pages/Waseca-ExchangeClub/198472090186533?fref=ts
Lynch From Page 13 and Janesville and supports the Neighborhood Service Center’s Santa Anonymous and the weekend Backpack Program.{/span} It supports Community Education’s open gym and senior lock-in, presents the Golden Deeds Awards at the Waseca Chamber of Commerce banquet, raises funds with an annual Fish FryBurger Fry during Lent, sponsors the Freedom Shrine at the Waseca County Courthouse and Give a Kid a Flag at the Waseca Marching Classic.
back to the community.” Lynch said volunteering is very self fulfilling and a way to make a difference. “There are so many ways to get involved,” she said. Busy with two small children and a full time job, she makes time for volunteering.
How she has benefited from volunteering
Lynch advises anyone thinking about giving their time to an organization to, “Start small. there are plenty of volunteer opportunities out there if you want to do more.” At Waseca Exchange Club, she said, members work to bring awareness of the issue of child abuse, provide resources for those who need help, and work with the Exchange Center for Family Unity to put those resources to work to protect children. “I feel we’re definitely giving back and providing something to the community, from something small or as big as child abuse,” Lynch said.
“It feels good to be involved and feel you are making a difference,” Lynch said. “It has also allowed me to find other ways to volunteer.” She volunteers her time at Sacred Heart Catholic Church’s Fall Festival, the Southern Minnesota Irish American Club, and the boards of the Waseca County United Way and Lakeside Country Club. “I like to be involved. I like to feel I’m giving
What advice would she give to someone considering volunteering their time?
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Marjorie Gores and Virgina Swenson By JENNIFER HOLT
PAGE 15
Charitable concoctions
sell in addition to the jams. They also sometimes make handmade greeting cards, hand-stitched quilted pillows.
jholt@wasecacountynews.com
Two sisters from Vista Township wanted to get involved in the community after returning form California – and they never expected it would turn into an annual endeavor to give back to charity. Marjorie Gores and Virginnia Swenson began making jams and jellies years ago, selling them at local farmers markets. The Vista Sisters quickly gained notoriety for their jams and decided every year they would donate their profits to a different charity.
How they have benefited from volunteering
“Personally, its just made us so aware that we’re guided in what we do,” Swenson said. “It gives a purpose to living.” What started as something to get involved has turned into something that keeps them busy in the community. “We feel like its kind of an inspiration for other elderly people,” Gores said. “I know there are many other people who do great things, and this is ours. Our mission is to make as much money as we can to give to charity.”
How and why they began selling baked goods for charity After living in California for more than 30 years, the sisters moved back and felt a little bit “out of it” and wanted to get reacquainted with the community. When they moved back, they felt they lost a whole generation of people they knew before they moved out west – people moved out and new residents moved in. “We’ve always given money to missions, which is nothing new,” Gores said. “Our intent was to get acquainted with everyone and do something — if I wasn’t doing this, I wouldn’t be doing anything.” In 2003 the sisters took their first trip to India and after witnessing the famine and hardships of the area, they decided to give back to Bibles for the World, a program that distributes Bibles to developing
Marjorie Gores and Virginnia Swenson moved back to the New Richland area more than 30 years ago and began baking as a way to get reacquainted with the community/ They soon decided to donate the profits to charities all around the world. (Jennifer Holt/Waseca County News)
gan making the jams, the sisters now have 32 varieties of jams and jellies they offer for sale during the summer at farmer’s markets in Waseca County and in Bloomington. They begin cooking in January to get ready for their summer sales – and all the packaging is done themselves. “People really like it,” Swenson said. Over the last 10 years since they be- “They tell us we have such good varieties
nations. “Once we said we were going to give proceeds back to Bibles for the World, our sales doubled,” Swenson said, “and that was really exciting.”
What they give back to charity
Swenson said people must be passionate and enthusiastic about what they want to volunteer for. Gores said even despite her arthritis, she was able to find something she is able to do and enjoys doing. Reach reporter Jennifer Holt at 837-5446, or follow her on Twitter at @ WCNjennifer
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and are always asking for more.” They said their mother was talented, always making good use of the yard’s produce. When they began baking themselves, seven to 12 jars per batch was more than they could consume themselves, so they decided to start selling the rest. About week or so before summer they’ll start baking various goodies they
What advice would they give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
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PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Clinton Rogers
Leading by
Example Janesville City Administrator Clinton Rogers, left, talks to Mathew Gindele in the office at city hall. (Marianne Carlson/ Waseca County News)
By MARIANNE CARLSON
mcarlson@wasecacountynews.com
HOW TO GET INVOLVED • Janesville Rotary Club meets on Thursday nights at 5 p.m. at St Ann’s Parish located at 307 W 2nd Street. To learn more, email Clinton Rogers at clintonr@hickorytech.net. • Janesville City Council meets the second and fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at city hall located at 101 N Mott St. To learn more, email Rogers at clintonr@hickorytech.net. • Janesville Fire Board meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Janesville Fire Department located 219 N Main St. Call (507) 234-5486 or email jfd540@ hickorytech.net
Janesville City Administrator Clinton Rogers credits his parents with leading by example and inspiring him to live a life of public service. “Mom and dad were always involved with something, “Rogers said. “They were both on different boards and committees like 4-H and church council.” After graduating from high school in Worthington, Rogers left the family hog farm and got a master’s degree in public administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Before accepting the position as Janesville City Administrator 12 years ago, Rogers worked for the city of Mankato, the city of Waseca and even Waseca County. Rogers said he believes volunteering is a vital part of what makes a community run. Rogers teaches religion class at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Janesville every Wednesday morning. He also teaches an extensive firearm safety course that lasts several weeks each year, he has been a volunteer firefighter for 10 years and is a the president of the Janesville Rotary Club.
Why he got involved with the Janesville Rotary Club Rogers said being involved with the Janesville Rotary Club is an important part of his job and allows him “to keep a finger on the pulse of the city.”
What he does for the Janesville Rotary Club?
Rogers has been a member of the Janesville Rotary Club for 12 years. As the current president, he sets the agenda for the meetings, organizes and runs community events such as the Ice Plunge on Lake Elysian. They ask each of their community leaders who jump into icy cold water to raise at least $100 that is donated to Rotary International to help eradicate polio. Rotary Club is also a sponsor of the STRIVE program at JanesvilleWaldorf-Pemberton High School. The purpose of the STRIVE program is to motivate eligible seniors to discover their own strengths and talents so they can grow in their personal and academic achievements. At the end of the year, one STRIVE student receives a college scholarship from the Rotary Club.
See ROGERS on 17
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 17
Rogers From Page 16
“”
“My parents taught me that we were put on this Earth to help people. I was talking to the kids in religion class about stewardship which is using your time and talents to help others. That’s what we are here for.” - Clinton Rogers
.
t
m s Rotary Club also sponsors JWP’s Academic Banquet and Fine d Arts Banquet so add extemporaneous speaker to Rogers’ list of e contributions and talents. “More than once I’ve had to pull something together at the last minute,” Rogers laughed. Rogers also helps organize Rotary’s Caring and Sharing program that is held at Christmas time for families that need extra help buying gifts for their children. Rogers said this is a joint effort with the local churches. He said people who want to participate in the program pick up a tag with an item listed on it, purchase the item and return it to the church. Rotary Club members help organize, wrap and distribute the gifts. On Farmer’s Night, each Rotarian invites a farmer for a free meal to thank them for their contributions to the community. Rogers said they usually have an agriculture based discussion that night.
How has he benefited from volunteering? “You get to know a lot of people in the community and learn all about the different talents they have,” Rogers said. While volunteering, Rogers said he has also learned a lot about himself including how to be more patient. “My parents taught me that we were put on this Earth to help people,” Rogers said. “I was talking to the kids in religion class about stewardship, which is using your time and talents to help others. That’s what we are here for.” What advice would he give to someone who is considering volunteering their time? Rogers said anyone who is considering volunteering first needs to examine their own interests. “They need to ask themselves what they like to do,” Rogers said. “Then they need to decide how they would like to contribute — physically or spiritually.”
Rogers said if you like to cook, maybe Meals on Wheels would be a good fit. “That’s something I’ve learned,” Rogers said. “Everybody has a talent they can share. Everyone has at least one thing they are good at.”
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PAGE 18
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Hometown teacher Zach Roberts
J
By MARIANNE CARLSON • mcarlson@wasecacountynews.com
anesville native Zach Roberts never planned to be a teacher. Then one day after taking a job as a lifeguard and helping with swimming lesson during his senior year at Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School, something inside him changed — and he knew that teaching was his true calling. Roberts graduated from JWP in 2006 and went to college at the University of Minnesota, Morris to become a music teacher. Roberts, 24, is now in his third year at JWP. He teaches prechool through third grade at the elementary level and the junior and senior high choir programs at the high school level. In addition to teaching, he coordinates a fall musical and a swing show in the spring. This year
he is also adding a junior high swing show for the seventh- and eighth-graders. Roberts’ father and his two sisters live in Janesville and his brother is about to graduate from Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
See ROBERTS on 19
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Friday, March 22, 2013
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
PAGE 19
Roberts From Page 18
Since moving back to Janesville and taking a position at JWP, Roberts has become a very involved in the community. He plays piano for various school, community and church events. He coaches the B squad boys’ basketball team at JWP High School, coordinates the “Music in the Park” event during the summer and also runs the Summer Theater program through community education. And, he’s is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts and is the youth director at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
ald House in Rochester,” Roberts said. On Wednesday nights, Roberts said he splits the group up into middle school and a high school age groups. “Each week we do some praise and worship; some kind of faith-building activity or small group discussion and have some food and games,” Roberts said. “It is a great way for the the kids to both build their relationship with God and build their relationships with each other. The youth group is a place where the kids can be comfortable being themselves and not have to worry about others judging them. They really love that time with each other and they really embrace GET INVOLVED sharing God’s love with one another.” St. Ann’s Church: Call the parish office at 507-234-6244 or visit the website: www. “I don’t really like sitting stannjan.com. around and I like working with To see a schedule of kids,” Roberts said with a laugh. upcoming sporting or music Roberts said he actually got started doing youth ministry events at JWP School visit the “It makes me feel good,” school website. back in college. Roberts said with a smile. “I For information about Boy “My church up in Morguess it’s that simple.” ris needed a Faith Formation Scouts or any other activities Roberts is now in his third teacher, so I volunteered to do that you are interested in: Email year as youth director at St. that, which eventually led to me Zach Roberts at zroberts@jwp. Ann’s and said he feels like taking on the youth minister k12.mn.us. he has established some good role there,” Roberts said. “When relationships and can see the I moved back to Janesville, Fr. Klein knew about students have really begun to trust him. what I had been doing in Morris, and asked me Whether it is at school, church or out in the to step into the same role here at St. Ann’s and St. community, Roberts said that when it comes to Joseph in Waldorf.” teaching and mentoring young people it takes According to Roberts, it has been a “work in time, but that he feels like “it is time well spent.” progress,” but said he has a fantastic group of kids Seeing the progress that he has made with the that really get fired up about their faith and the kids he works with makes “it all worth it,” accordyouth group. ing to Roberts. “They make it a very enjoyable job for me,” “We seem to be on the same page more often Roberts said. “The youth often teach me as much and are working together better,” Roberts said. “It or even more than I teach them, just through the takes a while to build up that trust.” love they have for each other and for God.”
How and why did you get involved with the youth group at St. Ann’s?
Describe what you do for St. Ann’s As the youth director, Roberts is in charge of around 60 to 70 young people in fourth through 12th grade who participate on a regular basis. He runs formal youth group meetings every Wednesday night and plans a couple of group activities each month. The group also participates in several community service projects in Janesville and around Minnesota over the course of the year. “We go to the Janesville Nursing Home a couple times each year and we went to the Ronald McDon-
How have you benefited from volunteering?
What advice would you give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
“Whatever you choose to volunteer for, don’t look at it like a job,” Roberts said. “Look at it as an opportunity to experience something new for yourself and do something for other people. Find the joy in it and be a part of something bigger than yourself.” Reach reporter Marianne Carlson at 837-5451, or follow her on Twitter.com @mariannewcn.
“”
They make it a very enjoyable job for me. The youth often teach me as much or even more than I teach them, just through the love they have for each other and for God. - Zach Roberts
PAGE 20
PORTRAITS OF WASECA
Friday, March 22, 2013
Steve Graff
VOLUNTEER SPIRIT By JENNIFER HOLT
feel good. “It feels good to give back and realize how fortunate we have it compared to others who may be handicapped,” Graff said. “I think it’s very rewarding to volunteer for an organization like Lions Club because you can see how it benefits so many people.” He also said he learns a lot about other programs and groups within the community through the various speakers the Lions Club hosts at their meetings.
jholt@wasecacountynews.com
W
ithin Waseca County there are many organizations to that people can volunteer with. Eighteen years ago Steve Graff began volunteering his time with the Lions Club in Clarissa and continued with the Waseca Lions Clubs in 2007 when he moved to town.
What advice would he give to someone who is considering volunteering their time?
For prospective volunteers, Graff said that volunteering in a fun, social setting will allow people to meet new people, make friends and have fun while reaching out to others. Reach reporter Jennifer Holt at 837-5446, or follow her on Twitter at @WCNjennifer
How and why he got involved with the Waseca Lions Club
GET INVOLVED Contact any Lions member, including Graff, whose number is 507-213-0745. People interested will likely be invited to a meeting as a guest to see if the club is something that will interest them. The Waseca Lions Club is open to both men and women and Graff says they currently have a mixture of both genders in the group.
In Clarissa, a small town northwest of Little Falls, Graff was invited by a friend to join the Lions Club and he quickly saw it as an active Steve Graff, president of the Waseca Lions Club said volunteering in fun, social settings allow group that would help him get to know other people to meet new people, make friends and have fun while reaching out to others. (Jennifer Holt/Waseca County News) community members better. “I recognized (Lions Club) as a charitable organization that serves local charities as well fundraiser, overseeing board meetings and making recommendaas charities that help people with hearing and sight disabilities tions for charitable requests. throughout the world,” Graff said. “A lot of people don’t actually “It’s a fun group and it’s nice to get to know people,” Graff said. know what Helen Keller said she wanted the Lions to become the “(The work) isn’t too exten‘knights of the blind in the crusade against darkness.’” sive. It’s nice that the meetings Home Design Gallery The Lions Club helps fundraise for the Leader Dogs for the Blind are during the day because it program, collect hearing aids and glasses to be reused by people doesn’t take away from family your destination for beautiful interiors who need and may not be able to afford them, as well as support time in the evening. With how school scholarships, Boys and Girls Scouts and the local food shelf. busy people are, that time is “It’s a pretty special group,” Graff said. “A lot of the dollars we important.” fundraise for stay in the community but some of the money does go to national programs.”
How has he What he does for the Waseca Lions Club benefited from In addition to being a Assistant Vice President of Commercial volunteering? / Ag Lending at First National Bank, as the Waseca Lions Club president, Graff is in charge of running their twice monthly noon meetings that run September through May. He’s also involved with the annual summer golf tournament
Graff said that with volunteering for any organization, volunteering makes people
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