The following info is from the City of Wayzata as they seek to fill areas that have been traditionally occupied by employees. The opportunities to volunteer are available in light of recent budget cuts and city job cuts.
WAYZATA IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS – HOW ABOUT YOU?
Volunteering is a grand tradition in Wayzata. So when budget reductions this year meant some painful cuts in staff and services, the City Council asked volunteers to step forward and help fill some gaps.
Lynn McCarthy, one of the community’s outstanding volunteers, agreed to take charge of the volunteer project. Working with a steering committee that includes Winnie Willcox, Anne Creed and Mary Bader, Lynn is currently recruiting enthusiastic citizens –male as well as female–to help with three initiatives:
THE GARDENS PROJECT is a repeat of Wayzata’s successful Adopt-a-Garden project of last year. Individuals, neighborhood groups and businesses are invited to take responsibility for 12 of the city’s beautiful gardens. Last year’s successful program was a response to reductions in our Public Works staff, and with our Public Works budget and staff further reduced this year, we plan to continue, and possibly broaden, the Adopt-a-Garden program.
THE SENIOR PROJECT is an initiative to provide some community programming and group transportation to residents of our Boardwalk senior apartments – and any other seniors in town who are interested in participating. Until our budget reductions, the City had been contributing $10,000 a year toward such services, which were provided by Senior Community Services. Our hope is that volunteers can help us provide some worthwhile activities or programs to compensate for the loss of those services.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECT will provide assistance to the city’s administrative staff, which lost several members this year. We are inviting citizen volunteers to join our administrative staff to fill in some gaps and help keep Wayzata running smoothly.
We are seeking volunteers willing to devote a few hours a week to these projects on an on-going basis as well as volunteers who enjoy working on short term endeavors. We are also looking for well-organized individuals who would coordinate some of the activities.
Would you like to contribute to your community by adopting a garden? Or help plan an interesting program for seniors? Or is helping out at City Hall more your sort of thing? However you would like to help your community, we invite you to join the Wayzata Volunteers by contacting Lynn McCarthy at lmccarthy@northstarcounselors.com.
