Minutes:  16 Jan 2002 Volunteer Appreciation Event

Board members attending:  President Jack Garber, VP Carole Rodero, 
Webmaster Paul Armstrong, 
Membership Chair Colleen Cioppi, 
Secretary Olga Drew
Members of the volunteers on the Distribution Committee.

Pres Jack Garber called meeting to order at 8PM at the Community Room at the Braddock District Offices.

Volunteers indicated time spent as a volunteer for Middleridge ranged from 3 to 30 years.  One of the volunteers is the second resident of Middleridge.  Both men and women are volunteers.

The volunteers were asked to share in a special cake ordered in their honor and coffee.   Each volunteer was given a rose tied with a ribbon as a symbol of our appreciation for their efforts.

VP Carole Rodero welcomed the volunteers along with Pres Garber.  She also thanked them for all their hard work and devotion over the years.  Then  the volunteers were asked for their help in improving service to our residents and how to, at the same time, make their jobs easier.

When asked for suggestions, the volunteers offered these ideas:  
    Make sure the forms for membership and the regular newsletter are separate and/ or differently colored, bright colors preferred so it is easier to tell them apart.  
    Use Washington Post plastic bags to protect the papers.  
    Larger typeface.
    For the membership forms, have a shorter term between the time the are delivered and when they must be picked up.  
    Signboards made asking "Have you turned in your membership forms yet?"  
    Mail back forms and follow up with a phone call to those whose forms had not been returned.  
    Have permanent signs advertising dates and times of events.  
    Use printed labels to assist the volunteers in following up. 
    Directory should list by street as well as by last name.  
    Space for local phone numbers and notes.  
    List of important numbers such as non-emergency police and fire, Supervisor Bulova, local schools, etc.  
    The volunteers also asked for a "Contractors Corner"  with names of those recommended by the other residents of Middleridge.  
    Liaison names and telephone numbers of nearby subdivisions i.e.: Fairfax Club Estates for the Swim Team.

Pres Garber made announcements about National Night Out and conversations about traffic calming devices.  He thanked the volunteers for coming and the meeting was adjourned at 9PM.

Below are some pictures taken at the gathering.
Click the picture to get a larger view.