On a beautiful early fall afternoon, Landis board members and volunteers met for the annual Arboretum Volunteer Appreciation Event. Food and drink are supplied by the Board as a small measure of its appreciation to all volunteers. The event also serves as an update on the various projects completed, as well as plans for the upcoming year. Landis takes the opportunity to honor all our volunteers and to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service to the Arboretum.
During the event I took some time to sit down and chat with people about what they love about volunteering at Landis.
Brea Barthel of Albany has been a long-term volunteer for the Arboretum. She initially heard about the Arb at an event hosted by WMHT radio at which family memberships to Landis were available at auction. You’ll see her helping at our spring and fall plant sales at the cashier tent. She is also fond of our houseplant swaps.
Dave Bernard found out about Landis through a friend and coworker, Shawn Bevins. Dave recalled Shawn talking about the place at length, but he never really got involved until just recently. Shawn knew he could count on his pal to help at our last plant sale. Having gone to college to study forestry, Dave knew a thing or two about trees, although his career went in another direction. Landis gave him the opportunity to reconnect with his love of trees and nature.
Trees and nature aren’t the only thing connecting volunteers to Landis: volunteers have personal connections too. Tim Holmes recalled those “deep roots” when he described getting involved. Longtime Volunteer Coordinator Anne Donnelly and Tim were friends for many years. After he retired, Tim knew when Anne asked if he was interested in volunteering that he was in it for the long haul. He mainly volunteers for the plant sales, setting up and breaking down. Tim also mentioned that the main reason he stays volunteering is “people I like to work with.”
Board President Jim Paley and Executive Director Fred Breglia addressed the group of volunteers and ran through an impressively long list of this year’s accomplishments, noting that they were made possible by the generosity of volunteers and donors. They distributed the awards to four outstanding volunteers. Ken and Marian Hotopp received the Great Oak Award for their many years of dedication to the Arboretum, especially for their work in the Book Store. Shayne Mitchell received the Volunteer of the Year Award for his commitment to revitalizing our bluebird trail. Chandra Burkhart was given the inaugural Fred Lape Award for her talent in and passion for art in service of the Arboretum.
No matter what your interests are, there is a place for you at Landis. For information about joining the Landis family of volunteers, contact Susan Strangia, our volunteer coordinator, at landisvolunteering@gmail.com or complete the online survey at landisarboretum.org (select "Volunteer at Landis” under “About Landis”).
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