Thank you Volunteers!

 

By Kathy Urffer

 

On March 4, Hackensack Riverkeeper thanked our volunteers at a special Appreciation Night at Redd’s Restaurant in Carlstadt. More than 60 volunteers attended and were treated to cocktails, a buffet dinner and a sundae bar.

Volunteers had the chance to reconnect with people they had met during river cleanups and other volunteer activities, and to ask the staff questions about watershed issues. During a brief presentation, Hackensack Riverkeeper Captain Bill Sheehan updated the group on HRI’s work and Operations Director and Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Urffer explained how important volunteers are to this organization and our mission. “We are making a real difference in this watershed, in large part, because of our wonderful volunteers,” she said.

If you are interested in volunteering for Hackensack Riverkeeper, contact Kathy at 201-968-0808, or email kathyu@hackensackriverkeeper.org.

 

With your help in 2003, we . . .

 

• Cleaned more than 10,000 feet of stream bank during 8 river cleanups

• Restored Coles Brook in Staib Park by planting more than 2,000 plants and installing more than 500 feet of willow and dogwood at the water’s edge

• Distributed thousands of our publication Hackensack Riverscaping to more than 15 local garden centers

• Helped distribute our newsletter to 63 libraries in the watershed, quarterly

• Added more than 1,000 names to our database

• Filed more than 162 news clippings in our press files

• Collected oral histories from more than 15 long standing river residents

• Spent more than 15 hours collating our video media archives

• Scouted new sites for future cleanups and restoration projects

• Stuffed more than 6,000 envelopes

• Tested more than 12 stream sites for 11 chemical water quality indicators approximately 10 times

• And so much more

 

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ode to Volunteers

Many will be shocked to find

When the Day of Judgment nears –

That there’s a special place in

Heaven set aside for volunteers.

Furnished with big recliners,

Satin couches and footstools –

Where there’s no committee chair,

No group leaders for carpools.

Telephone lists will be outlawed,

But a finger snap will bring

Cool drinks and gourmet dinners,

And rare treats fit for a king.

You ask, who’s to serve the privileged few

And work for all they’re worth?

Why, those who reaped the benefits

And not once volunteered on earth.

—Author unknown