An Update From the Director of Glenmary's Volunteer Office

August 2007

The end of a busy summer...and plans for the coming year!

We’ve come to the end of a busy summer and I thought I’d take this opportunity to use this issue of A Vanceburg View to catch you up on the recent happenings at the Glenmary Farm.

Managers complete their terms
We’re looking at a dramatic change for the upcoming volunteer season, with a complete turnover of our Farm managers. Julie Stith, Jill Collet, and Laura Zant have all completed their work at the Glenmary Farm and moved on to another stage of life and service. As the first all-women group of Glenmary Farm managers, Julie, Jill and Laura were superb role models of service, faith, understanding, and community to the people of Lewis County and to the hundreds of volunteers who have worked with these three managers. Each brought a unique set of skills to the Farm and their ability to work to together so well made my job a lot easier!

Julie left the Farm at the end of May and returned to the Chicago area where she will pick up her career as a high school history teacher and volleyball coach. Julie brought much maturity, laughter, enthusiasm, and openness to her position and I’m sure she is sharing these characteristics with the young people she’s teaching in Chicago.

Jill departed at the end of June to take a job in the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Cooperative Education for Biomedical Engineering. Jill brought a terrific work ethic along with great organizational skills, a deep faith, wonderful openness to the people in need in Lewis County and non-stop enthusiasm. I know that enthusiasm will be something that she will take with her to her new position at the University of Cincinnati.

And finally, Laura completed her term of service at the Glenmary Farm at the end of July and is now working with the Adult Education and Family Literacy program at the Maysville Community and Technical College in nearby Mason County. Laura served at the Glenmary Farm for two years and brought with her a true love for service, a love for the people in Appalachia, understanding of the local culture and a deep faith. These are valuable traits, ones that, I’m sure, will translate into a great deal of success in her work. Laura says that she believes that by working in family literacy, she’s is helping to address one of the root causes of poverty that she saw so vividly as a Glenmary volunteer.

Aspirant Shawn Roser
I would like to thank Shawn Roser, a Glenmary aspirant, for spending part of his summer break with us. Shawn was at the Glenmary Farm in June and July this summer. He has returned to The Pontifical College Josephinum where he will continue his studies on the way to becoming a future Glenmary priest. I would also like to thank Shawn for his hard work and dedication and wish him all the best as continues his studies. His openness, deep spirituality and hard work were a boon to the community of Lewis County.

The Bathhouse gets a face-lift
Due to its age, many water breaks—and the resulting mold—the bathhouse at the Farm has been given a complete face-lift. Father Larry Goulding, the sacramental minister for Sts. John and Elizabeth in Grayson and Holy Redeemer in Vanceburg, agreed to install the new sheetrock, do some of the plumbing work nd mud the walls for us. As the summer came to a close (and there was no one waiting to take a shower!) Father Larry, with the help of Glenmary aspirant Shawn Roser, completed the job. Our next lucky group will have the honor of painting the building for use by future Farm volunteers.

That all the news for now. We’ve had some “dog days” the last couple of weeks with the temperatures soaring into the 80s and 90s, even here in the mountains. Mr. Beaglesworth and Bonzo have retreated into all the shady spots they can find!

Remember, if you change your email address, please let us know so that we can keep you up-to-date on all the Farm news!

Peace,

Joe Grosek
Glenmary Volunteer Director
jgrosek@glenmary.org

And if you missed previous Vanceburg Views, check them out.

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