Fort Bliss Monitor

Bliss recognizes volunteers during Volunteer Week

Spc. Steve Baack
Monitor Staff

The Fort Bliss community is honoring its volunteers with Volunteer Week, April 17 through 23, marked by the Fort Bliss Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony at the Centennial Club, April 20, from 9 to 11 a.m.

This year’s volunteer week, themed “Making the Difference,” focuses on the positive effect volunteers have on the community. The awards ceremony will recognize different types of volunteers on post from different organizations.

“Volunteers make a tremendous difference in our community; they make Fort Bliss and El Paso a better place,” said Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, commander of the U.S Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss.

“This is how we’re saying thank you,” said Tephanie Hopper, installation volunteer coordinator at Army Community Service. “We know that you’re doing this job for free but we have to say thank you because you don’t have to do it.”

Who are volunteers? Volunteers are those who coach children’s soccer, members of Family Readiness Groups, Red Cross volunteers, those who work at the library, those who prepare welcome packets for incoming Soldiers and many others in a variety of capacities, according to Hopper.

The ceremony itself will feature three new award categories: civilians, youths and families. Each Organization or brigade will give awards for those in different categories and an award for the top volunteer overall for the year. There will also be a reception and prizes during the event.

“We have all different aspects of volunteerism on post,” said Hopper. “They come from different places, but they are volunteering their time and talents.

“We’re here to promote volunteerism … to let people know the difference that volunteers make – and they make a great impact on Fort Bliss,” said Hopper, adding that during deployments, the impact volunteers have on Fort Bliss is felt most.

A major part of Hopper’s job is matching up the person wishing to volunteer and the organization on or off post in need of volunteers. She works with potential volunteers to find out what they want to do and when they can do it. While some people can work regularly, others may be looking for something more short-term.

“We work with their schedule, because we know that they’re giving their time,” said Hopper. “If they say, ‘I can only work Mondays for two hours a week,’ that’s fine.

“I think that you do get something out of it and a sense that you did make a difference – even if it’s just coming in one day to file something, even though it seems menial – it will help a Soldier,” said Hopper. “Just like
someone who’s doing welcome packets. I guess it would seem like that’s nothing, but it is [something],
because you’re getting that packet to a Soldier who is coming to Fort Bliss. When he comes to Fort Bliss, he and his family will be well informed on what’s going on in our community.”

Summing up thoughts of volunteerism, she added one of her favorite quotes: “Volunteers aren’t paid because they’re worthless, but because they are priceless.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	April 7, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Bliss recognizes volunteers during Volunteer Week Spc. Steve Baack Monitor Staff The Fort Bliss community is honoring its volunteers with Volunteer Week, April 17 through 23, marked by the Fort Bliss Annual Volunteer Awards Ceremony at the Centennial Club, April 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. This year’s volunteer week, themed “Making the Difference,” focuses on the positive effect volunteers have on the community. The awards ceremony will recognize different types of volunteers on post from different organizations. “Volunteers make a tremendous difference in our community; they make Fort Bliss and El Paso a better place,” said Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, commander of the U.S Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss. “This is how we’re saying thank you,” said Tephanie Hopper, installation volunteer coordinator at Army Community Service. “We know that you’re doing this job for free but we have to say thank you because you don’t have to do it.” Who are volunteers? Volunteers are those who coach children’s soccer, members of Family Readiness Groups, Red Cross volunteers, those who work at the library, those who prepare welcome packets for incoming Soldiers and many others in a variety of capacities, according to Hopper. The ceremony itself will feature three new award categories: civilians, youths and families. Each Organization or brigade will give awards for those in different categories and an award for the top volunteer overall for the year. There will also be a reception and prizes during the event. “We have all different aspects of volunteerism on post,” said Hopper. “They come from different places, but they are volunteering their time and talents. “We’re here to promote volunteerism … to let people know the difference that volunteers make – and they make a great impact on Fort Bliss,” said Hopper, adding that during deployments, the impact volunteers have on Fort Bliss is felt most. A major part of Hopper’s job is matching up the person wishing to volunteer and the organization on or off post in need of volunteers. She works with potential volunteers to find out what they want to do and when they can do it. While some people can work regularly, others may be looking for something more short-term. “We work with their schedule, because we know that they’re giving their time,” said Hopper. “If they say, ‘I can only work Mondays for two hours a week,’ that’s fine. “I think that you do get something out of it and a sense that you did make a difference – even if it’s just coming in one day to file something, even though it seems menial – it will help a Soldier,” said Hopper. “Just like someone who’s doing welcome packets. I guess it would seem like that’s nothing, but it is [something], because you’re getting that packet to a Soldier who is coming to Fort Bliss. When he comes to Fort Bliss, he and his family will be well informed on what’s going on in our community.” Summing up thoughts of volunteerism, she added one of her favorite quotes: “Volunteers aren’t paid because they’re worthless, but because they are priceless.” .