A City RICH with Volunteers

By Patti Clifford,
City of Fernandina Beach
Controller
December 16, 2016 1:00 a.m.

Editor’s Note: This week Patti Clifford, comptroller of the City of Fernandina applauds volunteer activity among her co-workers. We thank Patti for her contribution to the Fernandina Observer. Dale Martin will be back next week with “Weekly comments from Dale Martin.”

The spirit of volunteering is huge, alive and well in the City of Fernandina Beach. The generosity of our residents with their time and talents makes our community stronger and our lives richer. Having worked at the City for the past eleven years, I have observed the commitment of our Directors not only to their jobs but also to our community. I interviewed the City Directors to find out about their volunteerism and am proud to report to you about their numerous good deeds.

As for me, I am the Treasurer for Nassau County Volunteer Center; the Treasurer for my Home Owner’s Association (Amelia Park); past Treasurer, President and Director of Kraft Tennis Partners where I continue to work with the Membership Committee and Board of Directors. I also did a two year stint as a Director of the First Coast Chapter of the FGFOA (Florida Governmental Financial Officer’s Association).

Besides his passion for bluegrass, did you know John Mandrick is involved with a nondenominational Christian faith group called Kairos that ministers to prisoners? He tutors children in math at America’s Youth, is an active volunteer with his church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, cooking brats at the Shrimp Festival booth and teaching Vacation Bible Study. John has gone on numerous medical missionary trips to Honduras. He is working on becoming a Florida Master Naturalist so he can conduct educational programs in our parks.

City Attorney Tammi Bach is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors for Communities in Schools in Nassau County. Since 2007 she has been the Board Attorney for the Children’s Burn Foundation of Florida and spends one week each summer as a companion/counselor at the Children’s Burn Foundation camp. She is a pro bono volunteer with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid working on various projects and performs other Pro Bono work in concert with Nassau County Council on Aging helping low-income seniors.

Robin Marley, the City’s Human Resources Director, has served her church, First Presbyterian Church of Fernandina Beach, for more than 20 years in various capacities. She was ordained as an Elder in 2002, and is currently serving as chair of the Personnel Committee and as chair of the Nominating Committee. Robin is training to be a Stephen Minister so she may console and counsel others in need in a faith based relationship. Robin enjoys singing in the choir, volunteering for community outreach programs such as Vacation Bible School. Robin has been serving as a Board Member and Secretary of the Nassau County Volunteer Center since 2013. She and I are 2009 graduates from Leadership Nassau. Robin has been an Employee Campaign Coordinator with the United Way since 1986 and is responsible for the United Way initiative here at the City.

You all know our fun loving Parks & Rec Director, Nan Voit, but did you know she serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association Foundation? Besides keeping up with two teenagers and a multitude of City special events, Nan manages to find time to volunteer for the Nassau Humane Society. She is passionate about recreation for special needs children, acting as an advocate and helping with fund raising.

If you are a golfer, you have probably met Steve Murphy, our Golf Course Director. Steve is a transplant from Arizona and is just itching to get involved in our community – like he did in Tucson. His volunteering interests range from working and sponsoring Special Olympics to shaving his head to raise donations for St. Baldrick’s Children Cancer research. If there is a way to get young ones involved with golf – Steve is on it. He worked and sponsored golf clinics and assisted three different High School Golf Teams in greater Tucson.

Our city manager, Dale Martin, is a member of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance National Response Team, assisting recovery efforts following natural or man-made disasters. He has also served as a member of the American Legion for the past sixteen years, and formerly served as Post Commander.

As you can see, our City management team sets a good example of volunteerism for the City. But what they do just scratches the surface of the volunteerism efforts of the entire City team. What City employees do and the hours they commit to serving their community on a volunteer basis, from coaching Little League and Pop Warner to volunteering at the Humane Society and the Library to working with seniors, is impressive. It is also a wonderful tribute to volunteerism in our community.

Most organizations that seek and use volunteers will tell you they will take you for as little as 15 minutes a week or once a month. If you do not currently volunteer, I am hoping this article will inspire you to do so. The benefits you reap are amazing. Volunteering helps you connect with your community, make new friends, learn new skills, and can even help you live longer. In the larger sense, volunteering helps make a difference in your community and can even change a life. If you are considering becoming a volunteer, but are not sure how to get started, check out the Nassau County Volunteer Center web site at:

www.VolunteerNassau.org. They can put you in touch with the nonprofit organizations in Nassau County that match your interests. I hope you’ll join us in making a difference by volunteering.