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2009 Volunteer of the Year

Posted on May 28, 2010 13:55

 

 

 

Goeden Again Wins Yankton Volunteer Of The Year

 
Ethel Goeden (left), United Way and Volunteer Services of Greater Yankton’s Volunteer of the Year for 2009, gets a hug from fellow nominee Sylvia Coulson during a ceremony held Tuesday at the Human Services Center’s Old Chapel. (Kelly Hertz/P&D)

 

By Travis Gulbrandson
travis.gulbrandson@yankton.net
Published: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 12:31 AM CDT
Tuesday night held a sense of Deja Vu for Yankton’s newest volunteer of the year.

During a ceremony held at the Human Services Center’s old chapel, Ethel Goeden was named the United Way & Volunteer Services of Greater Yankton’s Volunteer of the Year — the second time she has won the honor.

Goeden said this made Tuesday’s honor that much more of a shock.

“This is a real big surprise to me,” she said. “I never expected it.”

Goeden was chosen from the list of the United Way’s volunteers of the month for last year. They included: Verlin and Sharon Ailts, Sarah Filholm, Linda Schaa, Rich and Jackie Andre, the Clothing Closet volunteers, Mark Nielsen, Ron Galvin Sr., Jake Hoffner, Sylvia Coulson, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion and Auxiliaries, and Marvin and Laurie Lockwood.

Among the groups Goeden has volunteered for are Senior Companions, Royal Neighbors, the American Diabetes Association, St. Benedict’s Church and The Center.

“If Ethel knows of someone that would like a visit or need a ride for shopping, she is ready to assist,” said United Way Administrative Assistant Stacey Winterringer during the presentation program. “Ethel has shared her time, treasures and talents with young and old.”

Volunteering has always been a big part of Goeden’s life, and she said it has a lot to offer for those who take part.

“You get out and you meet so many people,” she said. “It’s just wonderful. Everybody should try it.”

One of Goeden’s earliest experiences as a volunteer was housing foreign exchange students.

“Four of them stayed with us over the years,” she said.

It was these experiences that encouraged her to continue volunteering right up to this day — and she said the positive effects continue.

“My daughter says it has made me much younger,” she laughed.

Winterringer said that according to a recent USA Weekend poll, nearly three-quarters of United States citizens “would rather invest their time and energy in a cause than simply write a check.”

She added that South Dakota has an average annual volunteer rate of 36.4 percent of residents volunteering with 39.2 hours per resident — ranking seventh in the nation.

“That makes 221,000 volunteers serving 23.7 million hours of service per year,” Winterringer said. “That makes each of you an ingredient in our recipe for success.”

Winterringer concluded the ceremony with a quote from Leo Buscaglia: “’Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.’

“It is with all those ingredients that we make a difference and become a success in our lives,” she said.

The Community Volunteer Celebration is sponsored by United Way & Volunteer Services and the Yankton Volunteer Leaders.

 

 
Copyright © 2010 - Yankton Press & Dakotan
 
Nominate a Volunteer for Volunteer of the Month
 
 
2011 Volunteers of the Month
 

 
Myrtle Andersen has been volunteering for many years in our community and due to her extraordinary contributions has been named the United Way & Volunteer Services October Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to volunteerism.
           
As a retired eighth grade math teacher, Andersen enjoys spending time at Beadle Elementary School working with the first graders. “I get great joy in seeing the little first graders do their work and knowing they are progressing,” Andersen said. Some of her past students still recognize her and are thankful for her efforts. “Some of them are even through college!”
           
As well as volunteering at Beadle Elementary School, Andersen participates in the Sack Pack program. Sack Pack is a nonprofit organization which provides sacks of easy to prepare, nutritious food to be distributed to school age children who are at risk of hunger on the weekends.
            
 “The retired teachers volunteer to do the Sack Pack program but it's my job to organize things and get everyone there on Wednesdays,” Andersen said. “The program helps younger kids that do not have food over the weekend. We fill the sacks and take them to the schools where the kids can take them home.”
 
Andersen is also actively involved with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Retired Teachers Association and devotes time to the United Way & Volunteer Services and the Yankton Chamber of Commerce by helping with their mass mailings.
           
“Whenever these organizations need help they call me and I go to work. I help by mailing and filling envelopes for the Chamber meetings and I also work on the United Way mass mailings by putting things in envelopes whenever they get them ready to mail.”
           
According to Deb Overseth, RSVP Program Coordinator, “Myrtle has been a faithful and active volunteer for the last nine years.” For RSVP alone, Myrtle has put in over 2,245 hours of service to nonprofit organizations throughout Yankton. “She also serves on our RSVP Advisory Council, and is always willing and offering to participate in all activities,” says Overseth.
           
Andersen also volunteers at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital information desk as well as her church organization, Catholic Daughters of America.
           
“Being involved with these organizations led to one thing and then another,” Andersen said. “People ask for help with projects and I am more than willing to help them. I used to be an extraordinary minister at church and after asking to be relieved from that, I now take calls and count money on Mondays.”
           
Myrtle enjoys spending her free time volunteering and loves playing bridge. “I used to teach bridge,” Andersen said. “Now that I'm playing more, I have some of my students as partners at The Center.”
           
Helping people through volunteering is what Myrtle loves to do and she encourages others to become involved. “Anybody who has time to give to someone else at home or work should do it.”
 
Featured volunteer opportunites in education, income and health.
 

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Yankton Flood Emergency Assistance

Anyone who wants to volunteer to help those who may be affected by high water should contact the Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce’s volunteer pool coordinator at 660-2033 or 665-3636.

The Yankton County Office of Emergency Management has established a web site that will act as a clearinghouse for flood preparation, response and volunteer information.  It’s at www.yanktonflood.com.

IF YOU WANT TO VOLUNTEER:

  1. Email: paulinerhoades@msn.com
  2. Place in the subject of your email:   “I want to volunteer”
  3. Important! In the body of your email please include:
    1. Your name
    2. Phone or cell phone
    3. Full Address

 

 

 

 

 

 

United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health: the building blocks for a good life.  But we can't do it alone.  We need the heads, hands and hearts of committed people like you to healp us tackle the problems facing our communites.
Each one of us has special talents.  Things we can to help.  Put your talents to work for your community.  Volunteer.

 

Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children, or leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.
Give the gift of you. Volunteer.

 


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