Volunteer eNEWSLETTER SPRING 2014

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COORDINATOR'S WELCOME

CELEBRATING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Welcome to the spring edition of the Volunteer Newsletter. Since our last edition, the City of Torrance has experienced some exciting changes. We wished our Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Lohnes, a fond farewell as she retired from our wonderful City, and welcomed in a new Volunteer Coordinator, Brianne King, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a volunteer community as active and engaged as ours.

Spring has been a busy season in Torrance and we've recently had multiple noteworthy events. On March 20th, the City hosted its seventh annual Torrance Advantage Awards, recognizing businesses that have invested successfully in the Torrance community.

During the week of April 6- 12th, Torrance joined cities across the nation to recognize National Volunteer Week and celebrate our chosen theme that "Volunteers Make a World of Difference." As a City, we were able to acknowledge the amazing personal efforts of our volunteers as they generously invested their time and talents on behalf of the Torrance community. On April 8th our Torrance community came together at City Council, where Mayor Scotto gave a proclamation of Nation Volunteer Week and presented certificates to recognize our Volunteers of the Year for 2013, as nominated by their respective departments.

View the April 8th City Council Meetings Photos for Individual Volunteer Recognitions

The Mayor also attended the Community Services Department's 16th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner held at the Toyota USA Automobile Museum, where he spoke about the importance of volunteerism and recognized the great contributions our City volunteers have made. Additionally, he made a point to highlight the significance of volunteers in Torrance's community during his State of the City address on May 1st as a part of the culmination of his eight years of service as Mayor of the City of Torrance.

A sentiment that has been shared numerous times during this period of recognition is that the generous donation of time and talent given by our volunteers truly makes the community a better place to live, work, and play. I couldn't agree with this more and am personally grateful and excited to have you be a part of our volunteer community!

In addition to our newsletter, you can find out updated information about happenings with the volunteer program on Facebook and our blog! "Like" us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TorranceVolunteerProgram to receive regular updates or follow our blog at CityofTorranceVolunteerBlog.WordPress.com.

I would love to hear from you! Please send your questions and ideas for future articles to Brianne King at BKing@TorranceCA.Gov or call (310) 618-2956 for information regarding the City's Volunteer Program.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM

BY: JENNIFER HAGIHARA

There are a lot of programs to volunteer for in the City of Torrance, but according to Volunteer Jennifer Shimazaki, "the Early Childhood Education Program is nice because it's half day, inexpensive, local, and I think it benefits the children academically, socially, and emotionally."

The Early Childhood Education Program began in the 1970's and is located on three sites-Greenwood Park, Walteria Park, and McMaster Park (which is currently relocated to La Romeria Park while undergoing renovation.) Each center offers a half day program to children ages 3 to 5, and each "class" is led by an instructor who studied childhood education and was strictly screened by the City of Torrance. The program is managed by the Cultural Services Division, Community Services Department.

Janene Ferguson, the program Supervisor, explained it this way: "It's a sequential learning program offered to children that teaches them to follow directions, play and share with classmates, and learn skills for school success."

There are three programs where children can explore their world through art, music, play, writing and reading lessons, and field trips. These programs include Lollipop Tree (3-4 year olds), Fun & Friends (3 �-5 year olds), and Kinder Klass (4-5 year olds). Classes meet two to four days a week for a few hours each day. During the summer, four classes are offered at Greenwood Park.

"The classes are wonderful and definitely provide a great environment for children to learn," Shimazaki said. "My daughter Cami really enjoys it; she has made lots of friends and learned a lot."

Parents or family members of the children enrolled in the program have the opportunity to volunteer at least twice a quarter. These volunteers assist the teacher's in the classroom with all aspects of the program.

"You're like a teacher's aide," Shimazaki explained. "The teacher will give a craft for the class [...] that requires cutting, for example, and you help the children complete it by guiding them on how to hold scissors properly."

Other tasks include ensuring enough paint is in each child's tray, helping to clean up after an activity, watching the children as they play, and helping with snack time.

"The classes are wonderful," Shimazaki said. "The teachers are loving, nurturing, patient, and work really well with children."

The prospective volunteer first needs to apply for the program through the City of Torrance, get fingerprinted, and have a negative TB test. To get oriented to the classroom, the volunteers need to attend a parent-teacher meeting on the first day of class.

"I love that the children have a place to go and have messy kid fun!" Joyce Bell, Senior Supervisor for the program, explained.

"The program provides children with the opportunity to grow and develop in a nurturing environment that encourages positive steps towards learning and independence."

KEEPING THE MEMORIES OF MARY LOU WEISS

AND LEONARD 'DUTCH' HOLLAND ALIVE

The volunteer community and the Torrance Farmers' Market suffered two great losses in 2013 with the passing of beloved Farmers' Market Manager Mary Lou Weiss and dedicated volunteer Leonard 'Dutch' Holland. Both were very special to our community and their memories will live on through the Community Services Department's "Living Dedication" Tree and "Bench Dedication" programs.

Mary Lou began her distinguished career with the City of Torrance in April 1991. Under her direction, the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market, held every Tuesday and Saturday at Charles H. Wilson Park, has become one of the most successful markets in the State of California. As a result, Mary Lou has been recognized with a number of special awards including the Torrance Parks and Recreation Commission Distinguished Staff Award and the Community Services Department Employee of the Year Award.

In addition to her duties as the Farmers' Market Manager, Mary Lou managed the Community Services Department's Community Gardens Program, overseeing 250 gardens located at Columbia and Lago Seco Parks. She was also an instrumental force with the City's Volunteer Program, serving as the Community Services Department's Volunteer Coordinator, in which capacity she was responsible for the organization and implementation of their Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Mary Lou was well known for her warm and outgoing personality and wonderful sense of humor, and made friends wherever she went. She was extremely fond and appreciative of working with volunteers, having stated, "we are like a family."

Dutch's greatest passion was his volunteer work. In the late 1960's, he and his wife Betty began volunteering at Las Amigas of Torrance Memorial Medical Center and later the Torrance South Bay YMCA and Little League. For 25 years, they also volunteered as float decorators through the Torrance Rose Float Association, where Dutch served as Logistics Director and Transportation Director. Dutch and Betty also volunteered countless hours at the Torrance Certified Farmers' Market, where Dutch spent the past 21 years working with Mary Lou and relieving farmers and vendors for breaks and assisting them when the crowd got too busy. He was well known for his easy-going, warm, and friendly personality and his wonderful sense of humor.

Both active supporters of the Torrance Farmers' Market were honored with lovely Bench and Tree dedication ceremonies held at Wilson Park, where Mayor Scotto and City Council members spoke about their contributions to our Torrance community. Mary Lou and Dutch will be deeply missed, but their memory will live on through the memorial tree and bench dedicated in their honor.

UPCOMING EVENTS

CITY OF TORRANCE ELECTION

TUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2013 | 7 AM - 8 PM

The Torrance Municipal election is just around the corner!

Remember to Vote on Tuesday, June 3 between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The election is on the Statewide Direct Primary Election conducted by the Los Angeles County Registrar with a lot of important choices for the Torrance voter. Make sure to go to the very END OF YOUR BALLOT to choose those that you wish to represent you for the next four years.

If you are confused about what to expect when you vote and how the election matters in your life watch helpful Video Vignettes to make things easier come time to vote. Candidates were invited to give voluntary statements and can be viewed on the Candidates Statements Page. We hope to challenge you, the voter, to make a more informed decision based on your observations and values. If you have relied on others in the past we invite you to step inside to learn more. Visit www.TorranceVotes.org.

CITY YARD OPEN HOUSE, ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS EXPO

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014 | 10 AM - 2 PM

Come check out the City Yard located at 20500 Madrona Ave. Learn more about environmental concerns, energy conservation and what you and your family can do to help make our community more environmentally friendly, and learn how to prepare for and to take mitigation measures against an emergency/disaster. Learn More...

The Volunteer eNewsletter is an electronic version of the Volunteer Newsletter. You can sign-up by going to www.TorranceCA.Gov/VolunteerProgram.htm.