In our community dedicated people work to enrich the lives of others in countless ways.  Volunteers work behind the scenes, with little acknowledgement, but their contributions help others and improve our neighborhoods, schools, and work places.  This month we recognize:

Pat and Nason Herron

            Pat and Nason Herron have served as volunteers with the Alpena Community College Ropes Course since shortly after it was built in 1999.  Nason maintains the course, eliminating weeds and poison ivy, while Pat is chief facilitator and responsible for facilitator trainings.  Pat is a School Success worker at Lincoln School and Nason is an art instructor at ACC.  The couple also volunteers for Riverfest and are enthusiastic patrons of the arts. 
            The Ropes Course is a series of team-building exercises that teach the importance of team-work and is available for use by the public.  It is used by hundreds of local students as well as adults and is a valuable tool for teaching teamwork and interdependence. The Volunteer Center salutes the Herron’s dedication to this program and acknowledges their dedication. 

Nina Niemetta

     Nina Niemetta is a student in a joint program for Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Social Work at Madonna University/Wayne State University.  She planned to spend the summer in the Alpena area and wanted to do some volunteering.  Coincidentally, the Volunteer Center was seeking someone to assist in updating the Community Service Directory, a comprehensive listing of non-profit agencies and services.  Nina proved ready, willing, and able to fulfill the responsibilities of the job!  She worked several days a week through the summer, updating contacts, services, and functions of hundreds of organizations in a four-county region.  At the same time, she successfully juggled school and family obligations. 

      Volunteers Bonnie Schmitz and Megan Dziesinski help with a Volunteer Center mailing.  Volunteer Center programs and the services they provide the community would not be possible without the assistance of volunteers.

Alpena Volunteer Center
ACC Center Bldg. Room 108
665 Johnson St.
Alpena, MI 49707
Phone:  (989) 358-7271
Toll-Free:  888-468-6222 ext. 7271
Fax:  (989) 358-7554
E-mail:  bruskik@alpenacc.edu
      Information is current up to 10/28/2008