If you’ve spent any time outdoors at VCC, you’re bound to have seen the crew in safety-green T-shirts and caps. Who are these guys? They are the VCC Volunteers. You may be thinking, of course I know who the Volunteers are, they do great work around our community. However, do you really know what they’ve done for us?
Lenny Marrone, President of the Volunteers for the past eight years, shared some of the history of this one-of-a-kind group. The Volunteers are a not-for-profit organization that was established in June of 2001. Since that time, the Volunteers have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for the membership of VCC with their building and repair projects. You can witness their impact throughout the community. Their projects include:
• Power washing: sidewalks, roads, Clubhouse grounds and patio
• Building of the Fern Garden: masonry, paver stones, and lighting
• Painting
• Built retaining walls on the golf course
• Repaired and created cement portions of the cart paths
• Repair of the five bridges
• Building and repair of structures in the maintenance area
• Repair and maintenance of the miles of sidewalks around the community
How do they determine what projects to take on? The Volunteers keep an eye on grounds and structures as they work. They also talk with the General Manager and neighbors to learn of areas that may need their attention. With most of their projects, their number one goal is the safety of the community.
Currently, there are 18 men who comprise the Volunteers. The majority of their projects are completed from the months of September through April. Their areas of expertise include electrical engineering, carpentry, masonry, trucks and heavy equipment, painting, wood working, and plumbing. A normal work week for this crew is Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3:30pm. However, they do work a shorter day on Wednesdays to play a round of golf. This crew trains the newest members of the group. When asked why they devote so much time to this endeavor, Lenny said, “we are not aware of another community that has a group like the Volunteers. We do this for the camaraderie and it’s rewarding and fun.”
So, the next time you see a team of Volunteers out making our community a better place to live, please take a moment to say, ‘thank you’.
OUR VOLUNTEERS AT WORK!
