HomeVolunteer Appreciation

Thank you!

At our quarterly North Star potluck and annual volunteer celebration in April 2019, we honored all those who have been supporting our Village with their time and talents:

Ode to the Stars

We welcome you and celebrate
That North Star Village - which is great! -
Has grown as a community
In our northern galaxy!

Today we want to honor those
Who have been helping, near and close,
To make this a reality:
Inspire change that you can see!

Not everyone is here today.
So let me tell you, if I may,
That our stars count fifty-six
With thirteen drivers in the mix.

In twenty-eighteen, we are thrilled,
500 plus requests were filled
For our members, our friends,
With all your strong and helping hands!

We say with joy (and with some pride)
That we've been able to provide
Three hundred ninety rides last year -
Dear drivers, thanks for being here!

And I don't need to ask my files -
You all have driven many miles
From North to South, from East to West
In storm and rain... you are the best!

And you do other things as well
Oh, many stories I can tell
Of yard work parties, raking leaves,
Protecting empty homes from thieves,

And if a member feels alone,
You call them on the telephone,
You visit, walk, and with much glee
Delight them with your company.

You swiffer floors and feed the birds,
You serve us as computer nerds,
You clean garages, walk the pet,
And help around the internet.

Be it a light bulb or a shelf,
You offer your creative self
To fix, install, and organize...
Your stellar service has no price!

But service isn't all we do.
We have a dedicated crew
To bring to you the latest news,
Host gatherings, do interviews,

Train, enter data, hunt for money,
Write stories serious or funny,
Create and update lists and forms,
Respond to calls, come up with norms,

Manage requests, communicate,
Make sure that nothing gets delayed,
Make reservations at the pub,
Maintain connections to the hub,

Design brochures and sit at tables,
Scan documents and print out labels,
Take care of budgets, deal with fuss,
And meet with others to discuss.

A special thanks to those who lent
For today's party here their hand:
With Cheri, Mary, Barbara,
It all worked out just wunderbar!

We need and we depend on you,
We're full of awe for all you do,
And with all this, I now say, "Cheers!
We love you, North Star Volunteers!"

Iris Wernher, Volunteer Coordinator