Fort McCoy volunteers were recognized at the Garrison Commander's Volunteer Recognition Banquet held May 2 at the installation.
The volunteers, along with the Fort McCoy Army Community Service (ACS) Army Volunteer Corps Coordinator Lorie Retzlaff presented Garrison Commander Col. Hui Chae Kim with a symbolic $305,440 check for the hours volunteers donated from January through December 2018.
The check represented the dollar value Fort McCoy volunteers extended the Army’s budget as a result of their volunteer efforts. One hundred eighteen volunteers were recognized for donating 12,371 hours of service. The dollar value of volunteer work was based on an estimated $24.69 per hour wage at the national level.
Attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner with opening remarks by Kevin Herman, director of ACS, and Patric D. McGuane, director of the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation. The meal was followed by a presentation by Donleigh Gaunky. Gaunky shared his personal story and related it to the importance of self-care in volunteerism.
Kim presented volunteers with the Garrison Commander Certificate of Appreciation for their dedication and commitment to volunteerism in support of Fort McCoy's mission as a member of the Army Volunteer Corps from in 2018.
Receiving certificates of appreciation were:
* Yousif Abdelmagid, Deborah Aiken, Amy Anderson, and Robert Anderson.
* Emily Backus, Mark Backus, Amber Bailey, Enrique Becwar, Bandele Beloch, Karen Birkeness, Bruce Brewer, Jerrilyn Brewer, Norb Brown, Sarah Brueggen, Recardo Bryant, and Karl Bugman.
* Monica Campbell, Ethan Carney, Savannah Clark, Jenna Coker, and Meghan Cross.
* Patrick Dahm, Courtney Daniels, Laxley Demetrius, and Francis Downs.
* Rosanne Ebert, Randall Eddy, Janet Evans, and Warren Evans.
* Jan Fink, Marcus Frazee, and Paul Frey.
* Martha Gnewikow, Gary Goodrich, and Melissa Guthmiller.
* Adam Hangartner, Bonnie Hilt, Charles Hilt, Dave Hirsch, Mary Hirsch-Justice, Clara Hodges, Erika Lord Hodges, Isabel Hodges, John Hodges, Rosalie Hodges, Rose Holland, and Tanya Holtgeerts.
* Susan James, Laurence Johns III, Gilbert Johnson, and Victoria Justice.
* Kira Kaufmann, Joshua Kent, Bessie Kmiecik, Jaden Kondor, Jennifer Kondor, Jessie Kondor, Sheila Konshak, Judy Kreuzer, Charles Kubicek, and Karen Kubicek.
* Charles Lautermilch, Rebekah Leach, Remington Leach, Tammy Leach, and Linda Lee-Tucker.
* Ann Mais, Aimee Malone, Cathy Malzacher, Jeanne Morris, and Karylen Murphy.
* Nevin Neuville, Charlotte Nott, Elissa Nott, Ethan Nott, and Steven Nott.
* Ben Olson, Haley Olson, and Peter Olson.
* Otto Peterson, Ashley Piepenburg, and Matthew Purtee.
* Daniel Retzlaff, Megan Retzlaff, Barbara Rice, Alexander Rigor, Brendan Rigor, Michael Roeske, Alonna Rogalla, Keira Rogalla, Terrence Rogalla, Theresa Rogalla, Trenten Rogalla.
* Becky Sawyer, Ashlin Schulze, Peggy Shaw, Susan Shie, Randall Shull, Renee Shull, Dave Simpson, Theresa Simpson, Judy Snively, Michael Snively, Judy Sommers, and Brittany Steinberger.
* Sharon Teske, Debra Thompson, and Kenneth Tuelp.
* Sherrie Waldera, Joseph Weidman, Ann Wermer, John Weston, Misty Wilson, Mytchell Wollin, Tracy Woodman, and Mark Woommavovah.
* Maryann Ziegler and Bradley Zimmerman.
Twenty-four volunteers also received a Presidential Volunteer Service Award. The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation created the President's Volunteer Service Award Program as a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service to others. It encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation and inspires others to make volunteering a central part of their lives.
The volunteers receiving Presidential Volunteer Service Awards were:
* Gold (500-plus hours in 2018) — Francis Downs, Mary Hirsch-Justice, Otto Peterson, Randall Shull, Renee Shull, Judy Snively, and Michael Snively.
* Silver (250-499 hours in 2018) — Robert Anderson, Joshua Kent, Sheila Konshak, and Tammy Leach.
* Bronze (100-249 hours in 2018) — Amy Anderson, Norb Brown, Marcus Frazee, Dave Hirsch, Rose Holland, Laurence Johns III, Ann Mais, Michael Roeske, Debra Thompson, and Tracy Woodman.
* Young Adult Gold (250-plus hours in 2018) — Elissa Nott.
* Teen Gold (100-plus hours in 2018) — Rebekah Leach and Remington Leach.
Fort McCoy community members looking for an opportunity to positively affect the Garrison’s military community can do so by volunteering, which contributes in ways that have a lasting effect on the community's Soldiers, families, and volunteers.
For more information, contact ACS about the volunteer program at 608-388-6507 or visit www.myarmyonesource.com to view volunteer opportunities.
(Article prepared by Army Community Service.)