Better Together 2017 ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR 2016 TO 2017
ation Center
Plano Senior Recre
Plano Fire-Rescue
Plano Public Librar
y
Environmental Health
2,300 Staff + 8,200 Volunteers Work Together for Plano, our City of Excellence
104,334
HOURS DONATED
VALUE
$2,624,000
EQUALS 50
FULL-TIME
STAFF MEMBERS
Staff and Volunteers Bring Plano Together Volunteers in Plano (VIP) is a partnership between paid staff and community volunteers. Together, we build a stronger Plano. Each week, I see this come to fruition when volunteer support enhances our City’s excellent programs and services. VIP volunteers are in almost every department and the work they do is an important part of why we are a City of Excellence. The next time you visit a library or search for a new furry friend, join me in recognizing their dedication and service. The spirit of volunteerism in Plano proves why we truly are better together. Corina Sadler, CVA Volunteer Resources Supervisor
VIP and Toyota Work Together for a Better Plano Collaborating with our corporate partners is an integral part of our mission. By working together with area businesses, Plano is not only improved by the specific project, but the employees of those companies gain a sense of community and discover places, events and people in Plano they may have otherwise never known existed. We celebrated National Public Lands Day for a third year with Toyota North America. As a part of this project, we partnered with the National Environmental Education Foundation and Heritage Farmstead Museum to provide volunteer opportunities for more than 200 employees. These collaborations are paramount in sharing the spirit of volunteerism with the community.
Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve
Teams of Toyota employees put on their hiking books and trekked through the beautiful trees putting out 1,300 bags of mulch on the natural surface trails covering 1.3 miles. Hard work went into spreading the 26 tons of mulch needed to ensure park users have a great experience on the trails. Thank you, Kym Hughes and staff for your leadership!
Heritage Farmstead Museum
It was a beautiful day for volunteers to work on three beautification projects at the museum's entrance. They painted the parking lot fence, visitor center and curatorial office, and landscaped the front flowerbed. These projects improved the outward appearance of the museum which entices potential visitors and helps them live up to their status as an accredited museum and as a site recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Thank you, Catherine Caso and staff for creating a memorable project experience.
Plano Community Garden
Toyota volunteers got their hands dirty while completing several projects at the Plano Community Garden. They harvested and processed around 50 pounds of fresh produce prior to its delivery to local food pantries. Multiple beautification tasks were also completed, such as weeding, mulching and planting of beans and lettuce seeds. Volunteers also cared for the herb garden and lily beds and cleared out two unclaimed plots and the main entrance to make it more inviting. Thank you, Plano Community Gardeners and Live Green in Plano staff for providing excellent projects and welcoming all of our new Toyota families!
Thousands of Reasons We are Better Together A N I M A L S H E LT E R
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SUSTAINABILITY
581 volunteers 4,315 volunteers
20,985 hours 15,789 hours . Socializing and exercising animals . Adoption counseling . Fostering animals . Photography . Off-site events . Community service program
LIBRARY
534 volunteers
10,963 hours
. Shelving, mending and cataloging books . Math tutoring . Donation sorting . Genealogy . Computer classes . Small Talk . Teen volunteer program
. Community outreach . Live Green in Plano class assistants . Household Chemical Reuse Center . Plano Community Garden . Environmental Education Center and landscaping . Administrative & special events . Citywide litter cleanups . Storm drain labeling . Nature Explore Classroom assistance . Water rebate processing
PUBLIC SAFETY
215 volunteers
21,124 HOURS
. Police – Records, Internships, Plano Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association . Fire – Plano Fire Rescue Associates . Emergency Management - CERT
PA R K S & R E C R E AT I O N
1,078 volunteers
22,952 hours . Plano Senior Recreation Center . Interurban Railway Museum . Courtyard Theater, Plano Stages . Adapted Recreation . Special events . Community service program
OTHER PROGRAMS
1,477 volunteers
12,521 hours . Communications & Community Outreach . Municipal Court . Neighborhood Services . Texas Pure Products . Building Inspections . Engineering . Environmental Health . Planning
Volunteer Award Winners
Special thanks to these volunteers for going above and beyond to make our programs great. ANIMAL SHELTER
Volunteer of the Year: Jennifer Meers THE COURTYARD THEATER
Karen Aiken, Sally Phillip, Laura Munton, Grace Park ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY AWARDS
Jim Strauss, Rebecca Archuleta, Daniel Atiyeh, Alexander Atiyeh PLANO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Volunteer of the Year: Mark Duncan Shelver of the Year: Yvonne Devlin PLANO SENIOR RECREATION CENTER
Ted and Wendy Bathurst Sarah Binion Ed and Sandy Davis Norma Brower Lynn Clampette Greg Simpson Shawn Slingerland SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
Volunteer of the Year: Greg Sidon Youth Volunteer of the Year: Varsha Menon PLANO CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Volunteer of the Year: John Carlson Rookie of the Year: Fabian Gordon INTERURBAN RAILWAY MUSEUM
Russell Kissick Volunteer of the Year: Marilyn Montoro Maggie Sprague Historic Preservation Recognition: Jack Durnin PLANO CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
Best Texas CPAAA of 2017 awarded by Texas Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association
VIP Supervisor of the Year Amber Weible, Plano Animal Services Supervising volunteers is a skilled job. It takes so much more than coordinating schedules and assigning tasks. Volunteer supervisors understand how to encourage and lead those who are here not to earn a living, but to help their community. Nominated by animal shelter volunteers, one describes her as a “very warm and welcoming person who truly appreciates the time and effort volunteers giveto the shelter.” Another volunteer said, “From the day I met her in volunteer orientation, she has always treated me as a colleague. She has a personality that is engaging, and I feel I can ask her any questions about the job at hand.” According to the nomination, Amber constantly models a professional attitude and behavior which is sensitive to both humans and animals. She always seems to know what the best course of action is for every situation, and it is easy to take her lead. Congratulations, Amber. Thank you for your dedication and service to volunteers who serve at the Plano Animal Shelter.
City Staff Give Back
Each year VIP organizes several opportunities for staff to venture out into the community and either give their time or donate towards a charitable cause. This year we saw even more staff getting together to serve Plano. • Sustainability & Environmental Education Division completed a volunteer project at Heritage Farmstead Museum • Park Planning pitched in at Minnie’s Food Pantry along with another 10 volunteers from across departments. • Staff donated 133 coats to The Storehouse of Collin County • Staff adopted 66 of our neighbors in need during VIP’s Adopt An Angel Program • GIS/Planning Division hosted a school supply drive benefitting Plano Independent School District (PISD) • Neighborhood Services adopted a Love Where You Live home in need of landscaping. • Several staff participate in local school Career Days and as mentors for PISD and area nonprofits. Thank you City of Plano employees, for all you do to make Plano a City of Excellence.
Staff Receive Training for Volunteer Management Excellence
Most people wonder how VIP maintains such a large volunteer base. The answer is to provide training which encourages staff to engage our volunteers in creating bigger and better programs.This year we brought staff from almost every department to train together on shaping their programs for the future. Classes included: • Successful staff and volunteer partnerships • Overcoming communication difficulties • How to create a volunteer opportunity • Cost-effective ways to recognize volunteers • Volunteer management challenges Volunteers in Plano Staff:
Mission:
Corina Sadler, CVA
To create and support meaningful community
Volunteer Resources Supervisor
Rebecca Finberg, MPA
Volunteer Resources Coordinator
Amy Pagan
Marketing Specialist
engagement and to facilitate community partnerships through new and innovative opportunities which elevate City services and the quality of life in Plano. volunteersinplano.org