Below is a sample of Grinnell College employees who have taken advantage of the Volunteer Initiative Program. The program is proud to feature these dedicated members of our community.
2011 VIP User Profiles
Chris Hunter - Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA)
Chris Hunter, Professor of Sociology, has served on the Board of Directors for many years. “MICA is a community action agency devoted to helping low-income Iowans,” says Hunter. The $100 granted to MICA by the Volunteer Initiative Program will likely go toward work supplies for MICA’s project-site during the College’s first annual Day of Service.
2010 VIP User Profiles
De Dudley - Girl Scout Troop #249 and Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa
De Dudley, Technical Support Assistant for the Dean of the College, has earned numerous VIP grants for girl scouts. As former Troop Leader of Marshalltown-based unit, Troop #249 and Service Unit Manager for approximately twenty-four additional regional troops, Dudley serves a vital role in Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa. The VIP grants Dudley earned have helped to fund “Badge Days,” which allows girl scouts an opportunity to earn recognition for their achievements, as well as participate in Service Unit Projects, which they donate back to the community.
Bonnie Primley - Ladora Volunteer Fire Department
Bonnie Primley, Alumni Relations Assistant, has capitalized on the VIP program four times. For many years she’s helped to organize and manage “The Ladora Firemans’ Family Fun Fest,” a weekend-long event held in late August. Including a car show, three-legged races, and frog jumping competitions, the weekend culminates with a Firemans’ Ball, a DJ, and fireworks. While the event began as a fundraiser for new equipment and training, it now also serves as the township’s largest annual festival.
Lyle Bauman - BGM After-Prom Committee
Lyle Bauman, Dining Hall Supervisor, has assisted the BGM After-Prom Committee for two separate years, earning VIP donations both times. After raising funds, members of the junior class at Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcolm High School, along with their families, host an elegant dinner for the Prom attendees. “This way students don’t need to drive all the way to Des Moines for a high quality, high class meal,” says Bauman. Dave Dale - GHS Trap Team
Dave Dale, Project Manager for Physical Infrastructure, enjoys supporting the Grinnell High School Trap team with its logistical and operational tasks. Because the high school administration has a relatively hands-off approach to the team, outside assistance from parents and benefactors is necessary. Dale states, “We drive kids to the Big Springs shooting range in Montezuma for practices, and also make sure the meets we host run smoothly.”
Jean Reavis - Drake Community Library
Jean Reavis, Library Cataloging Assistant, takes her skills just a few blocks away from Burling and into the township library. In Autumn of 2009, during the transition from Stewart to Drake, Jean helped with shelf reading – that is, making sure books were in the correct order after each use. As library users adapt to the innovative space of a new library, they tend to disorganize books. Jean’s work helps to keep information accessible.
Karen McRitchie - Girl Scouts Troop #242
Karen McRitchie, Green Team Leader of Information Technology Services, has been Troop Leader of a local Girl Scouts Troop for ten years. The troop meets every other week to engage in various activities. “The money we earned from the VIP Program went towards crafts and arts,” says McRitchie, who is also a member of the Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa.
Connie Newport - Grinnell Area Arts Council
Connie Newport, Administrative Assistant in Admissions, is Vice President of the Grinnell Area Arts Council – an organization that’s been very busy during the past fall while relocating into the old Stewart Library. “We’ve spent a lot of time painting, scraping, and removing steel…to make rooms suitable for classes and workshops,” Newport says. Also, she was sure to add, “There’s lots of volunteer opportunities open for all members of the community!”
Robyn Berardo - GMS Tiger Club
Robyn Berardo, Human Resources Assistant, earned a VIP grant for Grinnell Middle School’s Tiger Club by providing secretarial services for the organization. “The Tiger Club supports kids by involving parents and teachers…in special events, such as providing food and beverages to the Middle School teachers during the week of Teacher Conferences,” says Berardo. The club also hosts school-wide “Spirit Days.” The money Berardo earned was used to buy new fishing equipment for the gym classes.
Jamie Leonard and Scott Turley - Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters
Jamie Leonard, Executive Sous Chef, and Scott Turley, Executive Chef, both in Dining Services, each earned VIP recognition through their participation in “Bowl for Kids’ Sake.” The event occurred at the Bowladrome here in Grinnell on April 17th, 2010. Attracting over forty people, the fundraiser’s proceeds went to Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization whose mission is “to make a positive difference in the lives of children and youth, primarily through a professionally-supported one-to-one relationship with a caring adult.”
