Raise Your Hand....Volunteer!

This is our promotional video inviting everyone to raise their hand and get involved in their community. Join us on September 12th from 9am-1pm at our 1st Annual Volunteer Faire at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center.



Link to video on YouTube: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: The Morgan Hill Downtown Association (MHDA)

In 2002, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association (MHDA) was formed to guide and manage the revitalization efforts for the heart of the city. Incorporated as a 501(c)(6) tax exempt non-profit corporation, the MHDA has a full-time Executive Director and a Board of Directors that represents key stakeholders of Downtown Morgan Hill including local businesses, residents, city government and other interested parties.

With funding from the City of Morgan Hill's Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and membership dues, the MHDA:

• Plans Promotional Events
• Offers Co-Op Advertising
• Provides an All-Inclusive Web Site
• Recruits Targeted Restaurants, Retail and Entertainment Uses
• Keeps merchants, residents and land owners informed of issues affecting downtown

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Morgan Hill Independence Day, Inc. (IDI)

DID YOU KNOW that the Morgan Hill Independence Day Celebrations are brought to you by a group of volunteer citizens with the support and assistance of the City of Morgan Hill and most importantly....YOU?

The City of Morgan Hill remains one of the only two cities in the San Francisco Bay Area that continues to have all day events surrounding the Fourth of July Holiday. Our Independence Day Celebration includes the Fire Cracker Golf Classic, Patriotic Sing, Art Contest, Street Dance, Freedom 5-K Run, Historic and Award Winning Parade, Car Cruise, Downtown Car Show, and a spectacular Fireworks and Entertainment Show.

For the past 28 years the entire multi-day celebration has been organized by the non-profit citizen’s group known as Morgan Hill Independence Day Celebrations, Inc. (I.D.I.). Ours is truly a “hometown event” dedicated to preserving our national and local heritage and celebrating our freedom.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here
Team in training website: Click Here

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Mission Video

High School Challenge

All Live Oak and Ann Sobrato students that join our fan site are encouraged to tag themselves on their mascot photo. This way we can have a running tally to see which high school has the largest number of participating students. FANS ONLY!

To see the challenge: Click Here

City Council to Proclaim September 12th "Volunteer Morgan Hill Day"

The City Council of Morgan Hill will be proclaiming September 12th "Volunteer Morgan Hill Day" at their upcoming meeting this Wednesday, September 2nd at 7pm. We encourage everyone to join at City Hall as we accept the proclamation.

When: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 @ 7pm
Where: City Hall, Council Chambers (17555 Peak Avenue)

See the agenda below:

Morgan Hill City Council Agenda- September 2nd

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Volunteer Faire Participant: The Community Law Enforcement Foundation of Morgan Hill (CLEF)

The purpose of The Community Law Enforcement Foundation of Morgan Hill is to support and promote public safety through partnerships that provide resources to help the Morgan Hill Police Department perform at its highest level of service to the community.

We have already raised funds to reinstate the K-9 unit and are now continuing to support his training and expenses. We are looking for extra hands at community events such as ice cream socials, public safety day, Taste of Morgan Hill Booth etc. to provide education on what services the organization provides.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: MHARES Ham Radio

Morgan Hill Amateur Radio Emergency Services/Radio Amateur Emergency Service “When all else fails…” That is what amateur radio is all about.

MHARES/RACES provide a communication link between inter-city and inter-county via amateur radio. MHARES/RACES were instrumental in maintaining communications during the recent Verizon incident and the Morgan Hill flood of 2008. Amature radio provides a reliable and accurate means of information exchange incorporating voice and digital packet transmission.

Our mission is to establish and maintain the leadership and organizational infrastructure necessary to provide amateur radio communications in support of emergency management entities. MHARES/RACES meet regularly for training and drills to keep our skill up to date and maintain our preparedness for the next incident requiring our services. Contact us and become part of the team.

See the MHARES Ham Radio profile from the Morgan Hill Times: Click Here

The Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Faire Participant: Morgan Hill Historical Society

The Morgan Hill Historical Society is a non-profit, non-governmental organization established to collect, conserve, interpret and exhibit artifacts and other items associated with the history of Morgan Hill and its environs; to serve as a repository for archival materials, to develop educational interest in historical matters, and to promote the preservation of historic sites, landmarks and other historical objects within the community.

Our mission is to preserve our city's history and to educate the public about our history. One of the ways we do that is by having our museum and the historic Morgan Hill House open to the public. But we need docents to open our doors.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Friends of the Morgan Hill Library

The Friends of the Morgan Hill Library was established in 1974 and will be celebrating its 35th anniversary this fall, on Saturday, October 24th.

The organization is committed to enhancing the programs, services and facilities of the Morgan Hill Library. We raise money through the Friends bookstore (located off the lobby of the library), online sales, and twice-a-year big book sales, as well as membership dues and donations. These funds are used to provide programs and activities and purchase materials and furnishings that are outside the scope of the library budget.

The Friends support family reading programs, the best-seller book collection, summer reading clubs (for children, teens and adults), story time entertainment, bi-lingual staff, Silicon Valley Reads events, speakers forums and other special presentations.

The Friends raised more than $180,000 through its 2006-2007 Beyond Books Campaign for art and furnishings for the new library. The organization contributed an additional $50,000 to this fund.

The Friends of the Library is operated entirely by volunteers. New members are always needed.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Dreampower Horsemanship

DreamPower Horsemanship provides therapeutic horsemanship programs and services for children, teens and adults with special needs. We focus on serving individuals with mental, emotional and behavioral problems as well as complex medical needs. We provide equine facilitated psychotherapy, therapeutic horsemanship lessons, equine facilitated learning partnerships with schools, the Equine Journey Wilderness Program, parenting skills groups, NARHA Horses for Heroes (for veterans), and training for therapeutic riding instructors and psychotherapists. Volunteer opportunities: Volunteers are needed to help with cleaning stalls and paddocks, filling water buckets, facility maintenance and repairs, fund raising, special events, and assisting with horseback riding lessons. Minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Discovery Counseling Center/Bridge Afterschool

The Bridge Project is a project to help the economically disadvantaged to escape the cycle of poverty they are trapped in. The project is based on the belief that five basic factors are at the core of the cycle of poverty, and if these five factors can be changed it will lead to a new life economically, and relationally, for these families.

1. Education is the foundation upon becoming marketable. Without education a family cannot escape the cycle.
2. Language Communicating in the English language is the key to fully understanding and applying the changes needed to make one's environment better.
3. Life skills The effective use of financial, personal, and relational life skills increases opportunities for personal development and growth.
4. Affordable Housing provides the personal living environment conducive to self development and security.

The Bridge Project is dedicated to providing resources that address each of these areas of need, and partners with other non-profits and churches to accomplish this goal. Current partners are:

Discovery Counseling Center responsible for life and language skills South County Housing responsible for affordable housing Morgan Hill Bible Church and Christ Our King Lutheran Church responsible for education

Additionally, a research project studying the effects of the Bridge Project is sponsored by Santa Clara University and being conducted by Dr. Cheryl McElvain.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Centennial Recreation Senior Center

The Centennial Recreation Senior Center provides comprehensive services, fitness programs, educational classes and enrichment programs to individuals in the Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy communities who are 50 years and older.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Morgan Hill Police Explorers Post 811

Youth 14-21 years of age interested in becoming a police officer or have an interest in the department are legible to become a member of the Morgan Hill Police Department Explorer Post 811.

Explorers participate in monthly ride-alongs, volunteer hours, trainings and meetings. Explorers experience the Morgan Hill Police Department in an interactive approach and are taught procedures that are used on a regular basis by the department. The post participates in competitions and fundraises for annual trips.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Mt. Madonna YMCA

Mt. Madonna YMCA enriches kids, adults, families and communities through after school child care, youth sports, and day camp programs. We are proud to partner with the City of Morgan Hill at the Centennial Recreation Center to provide, health, fitness and wellness programs, swimming and aquatics, programs for seniors and teens, anf other activities for people of all ages, incomes and abilities.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

California Profile - Volunteering in America

California Profile - Volunteering in America

Volunteering in California Highlights:
The bullets below are all based on an average using 2006 to 2008 data

* 6.6 million volunteers
* 23.8% of residents volunteer - ranking them 42nd among the 50 states and Washington, DC
* 908.5 million hours of service
* 32.7 hours per resident - ranking them 35th among the 50 states and Washington, DC
* $18.4 billion of service contributed

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Volunteer Faire Participant: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an emergency preparedness program supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA began promoting nationwide use of the CERT concept in 1994 based on a model created and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. Following a series of earthquakes in the United States and Mexico that left hundreds dead, injured and without emergency services, the LAFD recognized that well-trained civilian emergency work force teams are vital for disaster situations when the scope of incidents overwhelm conventional emergency services.

Morgan Hill CERT and the Morgan Hill Office of Emergency Services (OES)

The CERT team that serves the City of Morgan Hill falls under the direction of the Morgan Hill Office of Emergency Services (OES). The Office of Emergency Services (OES) is located in the Morgan Hill Police Department and is directed by the Special Operations Commander of the Police Department. The Coordinator of OES organizes the meetings and activities of cooperating groups (CERT, RACES/ARES ham radio operators, and others); prepares plans and processes for Citywide emergencies; provides information to the public and to city employees about emergency preparedness and response; maintains and inventories emergency supply caches; and, trains employees and volunteers in the management of shelters and Emergency Volunteer Centers
What has Morgan Hill CERT been used for?

* Provide event monitoring and first aid at most city events
* Disaster preparedness training for Morgan Hill residents
* Response to disasters such as the city-wide flooding in January 2008
* Controlling helicopter landing zones for CalStar at special events
* Traffic control at city functions to assist Police resources

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Morgan Hill Times: Find Your Passion, Then Volunteer

In today's edition of the Morgan Hill Times, Lisa Pampuch's column focuses on Volunteering and how it can serve as an extension of your passion.

We appreciate that Lisa contacted us to learn more about Volunteer Morgan Hill and our upcoming Volunteer Faire. We are grateful that Lisa follows her passions and volunteers in our community as well.

Read the column from the Morgan Hill Times HERE.

Volunteer Faire Participant: Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center (WERC)

The Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center in Morgan Hill, CA is both an acute care center for injured and sick wildlife and a nurturing center for orphaned wildlife too young to exist on their own.

W.E.R.C. operates as a temporary refuge as the organization's goal is not to tame, but to release animals back into their native habitat healthy, wild, and free.

Wildlife rehabilitation is an evolving science. Due to diverse requirements in care, feeding, handling and physical therapy, it is a process requiring skill, training, and continuing education.

W.E.R.C., with a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, has been recognized as meeting these requirements.

As such, it is the only facility in the South Santa Clara County licensed by California Department of Fish and Game and by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to care for native wildlife.

In addition to caring for native wildlife, W.E.R.C. provides a list of ancillary services to the community.

These services include:
• Educational programs for grades K-6. Special emphasis is placed on educating children about the importance of wildlife safety, habitat preservation, wilderness awareness, and our ability to co-exist with native wildlife.
• Telephone Advisory Service including reference and referral information.
• A Speakers Bureau providing presentations to community and service organizations.
• Participation in community events with educational exhibits.
• An Internship Program for college students.
• An Animal Handling Program training volunteers in the care and handling of the non-releasable educational animals.

Except for a small, variable fee charged for education programs,
all of the above services are offered free of charge.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Help Us Spread The Word!

How To Promote Volunteer Morgan Hill II

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Volunteer Faire Participant: German Shepherd Rescue of Northern California (GSRNC)

GSRNC is dedicated to the rescue and welfare of German Shepherd Dogs. We need people to help with all kinds of tasks. We are always looking for Foster Homes, Adoption Counselors, Hotline Volunteers, Helpers at Adoption Days, Transporting Dogs, Fundraising, Promotions and Events, Artists and Writers.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Morgan Hill Community Foundation

The Morgan Hill Community Foundation (MHCF) is a tax-exempt public charity focused on improving the quality of life in the greater Morgan Hill region as defined by the Morgan Hill Unified School District boundaries. We accomplish this by furthering a culture of giving to address community needs and identifying and acquiring resources that provide support to nonprofit groups and programs.

We believe that collectively through the generosity of our donors and the Foundation’s stewardship, we can affect positive change, create opportunities, enrich lives, and secure a strong and healthy future for our community and its residents.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: The Health Trust

The Health Trust believes that advancing wellness in Silicon Valley requires more than just individual volunteers -- it requires the involvement of the community.

At The Health Trust, we successfully match community members with rewarding volunteer experiences. Whether volunteers are students seeking an internship or fulfilling a community service requirement, or they are retirees, working professionals, or someone in job transition, The Health Trust offers a "one-stop shop" of volunteer opportunities unique to our region.

When people volunteer, it enables us to leverage their time, talents and energies to expand our commitment to a wide range of programs and initiatives. We all work together as a community, giving greater access to health care for those who are truly in need. For additional information, please contact Katie Plante at KatieP@healthtrust.org or 408.961.9899.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

American Red Cross and United We Serve

The American Red Cross will be one of our Volunteer Faire participants on September 12th. We will profile them in a future installment. This video is from Serve.gov

Volunteer Faire Participant: Friends of San Martin Animal Shelter (FOSMAS)

FOSMAS is the IRS-registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established to help the San Martin Animal Shelter with adjunct companion animal care, community outreach, and fundraising.

FOSMAS provides extensive care for newborn and prewean kittens that would have been euthanized at most other shelters; outsources veterinary services for medical conditions beyond the scope and means of our Shelter; and provides emergency veterinary care for severely injured animals received by our Shelter.

FOSMAS increases adoptions of Shelter and fostered companion animals through weekly petfairs, our permanent off-site adoption center at PetsMart-Milpitas, and special event petfairs at various locations in Santa Clara County.

Volunteering your time and skills will help FOSMAS continue this lifesaving work, and give homeless animals the best possible chance to find a loving family for life.

Volunteer opportunities include providing foster homes for kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs; petfairs and new adoption venue development; adoption center staffing; fundraising; event development, planning, coordination, and implementation; website development and maintenance; publicity; public relations; grant writing; newsletter; community education; Board of Directors; committee chairs/members; animal transport; etc.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Morgan Hill Gets National Coverage on the Serve.gov Blog

Volunteer Morgan Hill and our upcoming Volunteer Faire got a big boost today by being the lead blog story under the "Community Renewal" section of the Serve.gov blog.

Over the last couple of weeks we have been posting videos and content from the Serve.gov site, and our involvement in the United We Serve initiative.

For those of you unfamiliar with United We Serve, here is a short overview:
"United We Serve is a nationwide service initiative that will help meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. United We Serve is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans." (serve.gov)

We are proud to be part of the United We Serve initiative this summer and playing our part in the community. We encourage all citizens of Morgan Hill and our surrounding areas to join us and volunteer in our community.

See you on September 12th!
Sincerely,

The Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2009

Volunteer Faire Participant: Advent Group Ministries

Advent Group Ministries is a faith-based, non-profit, social service agency serving at-risk children and their families since 1986. Founded initially as a residential treatment program for adolescents, we have grown to include an outpatient recovery program, a comprehensive family counseling center and a foster care program for children of all ages.

Our recovery group homes provide residential treatment to addicted and emotionally distressed youth.

Our Step-Up! outpatient program offers teens struggling with substance abuse in-depth treatment while they remain in their homes.

Our foster homes provide loving and safe families for children who have been removed from their homes.

Our counseling center seeks to unify and strengthen troubled families and individuals by providing low-cost counseling services to the community.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participant: Help One Child

The Mission of Help One Child is to recruit, train and support married couples or single adults willing to provide a home or volunteer services for foster children.

Help One Child is a non-profit, non-denominational, local outreach to at-risk children in the foster care system. Help One Child is a "hands-on" Christian ministry and has been embraced by over 700 churches in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties in California since 1993.

Learn more by visiting their website: Click Here

Volunteer Faire Participants

We are now a month away from our Volunteer Faire. In the days to come leading up to our event we will be profiling one or more of our participating service providers. These organizations will have a booth at the faire and will provide more information on their organization and how you can get involved.

We are grateful to all our service provider organizations for their support of Volunteer Morgan Hill and the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2009.

Service: A Solution for Higher Education

Volunteer Faire Posters

Our Volunteer Faire posters are ready to post. If you'd like a pdf version of the poster to share with all your friends, post at work, or wallpaper a room in the house, e-mail us at volunteermoganhill@gmail.com for your very own copy.

Why Volunteer?

From Serviceleader.org I found this interesting blog entry to answer the simple question: Why Volunteer? by Susan J. Ellis of Energize, Inc.

People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. But it's also OK to want some benefits for yourself from volunteering.

Some people are uncomfortable with the notion that a volunteer "benefits" from doing volunteer work. There is a long tradition of seeing volunteering as a form of charity, based on altruism and selflessness. The best volunteering does involve the desire to serve others, but this does not exclude other motivations, as well.

Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, begin to think of it as an exchange.

Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their lives. So today you may be the person with the ability to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Even now you might be on both sides of the service cycle: maybe you are a tutor for someone who can't read, while last month the volunteer ambulance corps rushed you to the emergency room. Volunteering also includes "self-help." So if you are active in your neighborhood crime watch, your home is protected while you protect your neighbors' homes, too. Adding your effort to the work of others makes everyone's lives better.

Your Motivations

Think about how much you receive when you give and consider why you want to volunteer. You may have several different reasons. Here are just a few of the many possible motivations identified by other volunteers:

* to feel needed
* to share a skill
* to get to know a community
* to demonstrate commitment to a cause/belief
* to gain leadership skills
* to act out a fantasy
* to do your civic duty
* because of pressure from a friend or relative
* satisfaction from accomplishment
* to keep busy
* for recognition
* to repay a debt
* to donate your professional skills
* because there is no one else to do it
* to have an impact
* to learn something new
* for freedom of schedule
* to help a friend or relative
* for escape
* to become an "insider"
* guilt
* to be challenged
* to be a watchdog
* to feel proud
* to make new friends
* to explore a career
* to help someone
* as therapy
* to do something different from your job
* for fun!
* for religious reasons
* to earn academic credit
* to keep skills alive
* because an agency is geographically close
* to have an excuse to do what you love
* to be able to criticize
* to assure progress
* to feel good
* to be part of a team
* to gain status
* because you were asked
* to test yourself
* to build your resume
* to be an agent of change
* because of personal experience with the problem, illness, or cause
* to stand up and be counted

You will probably have some special reasons of your own. Remember that the motivations you have to select the place to offer your services may not be the reasons why you stay. Once you're on the volunteer job, you will continue to serve as long as you feel that your efforts are accomplishing something, that your talents are appreciated, and that you make a difference. And if you also like the people with whom you work, so much the better!

As long as you are truly serving through your volunteer work, isn't it wonderful that such an exchange occurs? In fact, it tends to strengthen your commitment to volunteering when you can see the benefits to both the recipient of your efforts and to yourself. And it is much more comfortable than "charity" because it upholds the self-esteem of those with whom you volunteer.

Copyright Energize, Inc.

Want to Volunteer? Join us on September 12th to find out how! Visit www.volunteermorganhill.org for more information.

Secretary of Energy Chu Encourages Americans to Participate in United We Serve

United We Serve Goes Green