It’s early Sunday morning and I arrive at the home of Rich and Joanne Porter for another Town-wide Volunteer Day planning meeting.  Other cars are pulling up and I’m grateful. I had changed the time of the meeting via a panicked email the day before and I knew that I had probably disrupted some plans.

The Porters are always the most welcoming hosts and this meeting is no exception.  Fresh coffee and a plate of Bella Napoli pastries await us in their living room. I’ll have to wait until the meeting is over to indulge. I can’t run the meeting with my mouth full — or can I? The chocolate croissant is calling my name.

With cheerful knocks, happy greetings, and coffee all served, we settle down for our fourth and second-to-last planning meeting. Ever the klutz, I spill my coffee and Bridget McManus comes to my rescue with a napkin.

The Porters’ cat stretches out in a patch of sun near my feet. It’s hard to believe our first meeting was in this very spot in January, but, instead of 60 degrees, it was below 0. 

As I look for notes from our last meeting, Rich Porter lets the group know he and Joanne have purchased the necessary first-aid supplies for the day, as well as sunscreen, Handi Wipes, and bug spray. Their treat, he adds.

I remind him and everyone that we have access to the Helping Neighbors fund at the town as well as a budget from Kiwanis.  I know I’ll never see that receipt.

First order of business is marketing.  Jean Mackay lets us know that the flyers she created have been posted by her son, Ben, all around the high school. (See Ben Mackay’s letter to the editor.)

The Facebook page is also up and running thanks to Daniel Mackay.  I mention that Corner Gateway will have two-dozen posters ready for pick up tomorrow — can anyone pick up and distribute?  Dan Byrnes and Katherine Sapienza volunteer to each pick up half. What about signs, I inquire, do we have those big ones at town hall?

Lance Moore is shaking his head. He reports that he went to check on our inventory last week and the big signs are nowhere to be found, but he did locate three banners.  I add that Kate O’Rourke says we can place a sign on her property at the corner of routes 85 and 85A. The group discusses the best locations and we decide to have Corner Gateway make us three more banners and 12 site signs. After a few more points, marketing is done.

The door opens and Jim Tunney comes in to join us. Welcome, Jim — don’t take the chocolate croissant; it’s mine!

What about a “Volunteer of the Year?” I scan the room and add that, apart from nominating everyone on this committee, we need to decide now.

For our last event, we honored Bill Hotaling and the year before that, Bob Shedd.  Nominations are called out and we decide to give thanks to three people who have made Town-wide Volunteer Day not only successful in the past, but also in the present and, if we are lucky, will again in the future:

— Representing 2012-2015, Lance Moore, the true backbone of volunteer day and unsung senior helping hero all year long;

— Ben Mackay, the reason we got organized to plan this year – don’t skip my senior year, he pleaded!; and

— Samuel Rossi: We will miss him this year — he, along with members of his congregation, has done so much to help over the years. Get well, Sam!

Joe Sapienza will get the plaques and name plates for the big plaque at town hall. 

The next part of the meeting moves quickly — donations from our community partners. Melissa Faustel isn’t present, but I report she is busy getting donations and supplies for our barbecue and breakfast.

Lance reports that Jeff Pine secured flowers from Our Family Harvest, and Stewart’s ice-cream cards for our kid volunteers as well as donated beverages. Falvo’s will supply hamburger meat at cost. Can we get pizza again from Smitty’s? Oh, and Saul Abrams promised to come flip burgers again this year.

Who can bring grills, tables and tents?  Can we find more volunteers to help cook? Can we ask volunteers to bring side dishes or dessert?   What about ice — doesn’t the firehouse donate that every year?

Lance is planning a visit to Olsen’s for some supplies — they are always so generous, but what do we need? So many more — and in the end, as we always do, we will have a very long list of local businesses and community members to thank. 

The last two orders of business are our longest discussions — projects and volunteer needs. Reports are shared by various members of the committee. The Sapienzas are organizing the Vly Creek cleanup and Daniel Mackay is heading up the efforts at the New Scotland Cemetery.

Dave Reilly has been contacted about the Mount Pleasant Cemetery work needed. The Wyman Osterhout Community Center is said to be looking pretty spiffy — is work still needed there?  I report that I have been in touch with Bruce Deragon at the Feura Bush Senior Apartments and we are waiting to see what help their residents need this year.

On to our individual senior projects. Lance and Rich have been visiting senior homes based on referrals from Susan Kidder at the town, past recipients, as well as inquiries from this past week’s letter to the Enterprise editor.

We are up to about 10 projects so far, but we know this will double by the big day.  Lance goes over the details of each project, using a handy new intake form created by Bridget. Some needs are as simple as raking leaves or window-washing and some projects require heavy lifting and contractor type skill.

Each project has its own story, full of reasons why the people on our list need help this year.   

One of the project stories in particular sparks a memory of a senior neighbor helped in the past. Rich and Lance laugh at the hard work that was involved with repairing the gentleman’s sidewalk, a cautionary tale of taking on too much in a single day.

Lance smiles, recounting that, despite the demands of the project, what really stands out is that the owner, now deceased, sent him “the most beautiful thank-you note I ever received.”  The room quiets.

Last thing, I remind all, is to organize our volunteer effort. Maybe I can write an article for The Altamont Enterprise, something that will resonate with readers and inspire a call to action?

We all know our regulars we can count on — Matt Childs, John Furlong, Pastor Foye Belyea, Jason Herr, Supervisor Tom Dolin, just to name a few.

How can we get more families out? Scouts? Sports teams? Teachers? Co-workers?  Students in need of volunteer hours?  With over 20 projects, we need, at minimum, 100 volunteers. Groups are assigned to committee members; please reach out any way you know how. Our final planning meeting is set for Sunday, April 26.

The meeting ends in just under two hours, not too bad considering all we needed to discuss. With a quick clearing of plates and cups, calls of “thank you”s and “see you later”s, I stand and stretch, finally reaching for a plate.

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New Scotland Town-wide Volunteer Day is Saturday, May 2. For more information about volunteering for the event, contact Joanne or Rich Porter by phone at 765-4582 or by email at [email protected]. 

Editor’s note: Janna Shillinglaw is treasurer of the New Scotland Kiwanis and chairs the town-wide Volunteer Day Committee.