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June 2011 Do You Know How?
Serving Alamo and Diablo The Gift Grows On By Jody Morgan
By Fran Miller
Are you a current or former professional with a wealth of knowledge or expertise in a particular subject? Are you willing to share that knowledge in order to make a difference in your community? If your answers are yes, and you are 55 or older, the Know How Network would like to recruit you. The Know How Network (KHN), formerly the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), connects volunteers, age 55 and older, with local nonprofits in Contra Costa County that have projects matching volunteer interests, skills, and schedules. By utilizing personal experiences, energy, and enthusiasm to help complete shortterm, high impact projects, skilled volunteers help KHN registered nonprofits advance their missions and client services by providing marketing or technology services, developing programs, training staff, fundraising, and more.
Share your professional experience by volunteering with The Know How Network. Pictured left to right, Carol Ann Barber, program manager, Alissa Fencsik, program manager, and Ann Wullschleger, KHN program director.
Established a year ago in response to baby boomers’ desire to volunteer their professional skills and experience within their communities, KHN and its volunteers are changing the volunteer landscape with the mutually beneficial partnerships between skilled volunteer labor and worthy non-profits. The staff of KHN recruit, interview, and match volunteers age 55+ with “know how” to assist nonprofits with short-term projects, typically one to three months. These volunteers come from many backgrounds, including IT, finance, legal, man-
See Know continued on page 26
Congratulations Alamo Girl scout troop 31549, 5th graders at Rancho Romero, who held a garage sale on May 22 to raise $533 for Childrens Hospital. PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
Imagine a gift that’s growing across 2 ½ acres with living branches brushing the sky. Would you deed it to a stranger? Fortunately for the generations of visitors benefiting from her generosity, Ruth Bancroft’s aptitude for assessing an appropriate preservation opportunity matched her ability to envision harmonious horticultural compositions. Many visitors to the Ruth Bancroft Garden still ask: “Will this all be housing?” In 1988, Frank Cabot expressed a similar concern. Friends Ruth Bancroft celebrating her 100th birthday. Photo by Jane Rotermund. claiming Ruth’s dry garden was a sight he shouldn’t miss dragged Frank to Walnut Creek. Arriving with no expectation that a collection of drought tolerant plants would interest him, Cabot was overwhelmed by Ruth’s ingenious
See Bancroft continued on page 28
Alamo MAC Supports Highway 680/ Stone Valley Rd. Beautification Project By Dick Olsen, Alamo Rotary
At the May 3 meeting at the Swain House at Hap McGee Park the Alamo MAC Chaired by David Bowlby voted to provide substantial funding for the project to landscape and beautify the area around the on/off ramps at Highway 680 and Stone Valley Rd. in Alamo. After lengthy discussion, MAC member Nancy Dommes made a motion to provide $35,000 in funding for the project. The motion was passed unanimously be MAC members David Bowlby, Janet Miller Evans, Nancy Dommes, Steve Mick, David Barclay, Ed Best, and Mike McDonald. This project is being organized by the Rotary Club of Alamo. A spokesman for the club pointed out that the goal is to have broad community support and participation in this project. Community organizations, businesses, and individuals are all invited to join in this effort. The Club’s plan is that upon completion of the project, signs will be erected at the site, on Stone Valley Rd. reading, “A community project of concerned citizens of Alamo” This project is part of Caltrans Adopt-A-Highway program. Since there is construction being done on Highway 680, all Adopt-A-Highway programs Volume XI - Number 6 are on hold until completion 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 of the construction so no Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 landscaping will be done Fax (925) 406-0547 until early 2012. Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher If anyone has any quesEditor@yourmonthlypaper.com tions, would like more in Sharon Burke ~ Writer formation, or would like to sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com join in the project, please call The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not Diane Barley at 984-2072 or responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement. Dick Olsen at 855-1598.