Democracy on the Front Lines
City Administrator’s Blog
Walter Denton
April 20, 2009
Did you know this is National Volunteer Week? There seems to be a week for everything these days, but volunteers are people worth recognizing. Organized by The Points of Light Foundation, this year’s theme is "Celebrating People in Action," presenting "an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service."
We have many volunteers in our community and it would be impossible to identify all of them. There are volunteers in our schools, churches, clubs, and parks. Of course, we also have volunteers in the City, and we sincerely appreciate their contributions.
Our elected officials (Mayor, City Clerk, City Treasurer, and City Council) are not technically volunteers, but they work many hours for limited pay. In addition, we have 10 advisory boards consisting of 57 O’Fallon citizens who provide vital guidance for the City on issues ranging from the Arts to Tourism. We also have volunteers on specific projects, such as the Food Pantry, Veterans Monument and the Rotary Nature Center.
We spend a lot of time around here discussing what makes O’Fallon a great place to live, and what contributes to O’Fallon’s sense of community and “small town feel.” I believe that an essential component of what make O’Fallon special is the strength of our volunteers. People who reach out to help their neighbors are the core of our community. Thank you to everyone who volunteers to make O’Fallon a better place!
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