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Vanceburg View
An Update From the Director
of Glenmary's Volunteer Office
December 2004
A Swimming Hole Reflection
Fall is always one of our busiest times at the Glenmary Farm, but as the winter months begin to creep in, things are starting to slow down a bit (thank God!).
In November I had the opportunity to see more of our beautiful nation. One of my favorite trips was to Washington, D.C., to attend a conference of the Catholic Network of Volunteer Services, an organization that represents over 200 Christian volunteer programs. About 150 volunteer directors and recruiters attended to discuss issues relating to faith-based volunteerism in the United States.
As a part of the conference, we stayed in a nice hotel with about everything you could ask for, including an indoor pool. As I was sitting in the pool after a long day of workshops and speakers, I thought to myself, "This is certainly not the swimming hole!" There was no constant stream of water, cooling me after a hard day's work; no sounds of nature. I certainly didn't dive into this pool as you can the swimming hole, and there were no friends around.
Ed Koch was nowhere to be seen, showing off on the rock waterslide which he claims nature put there just for him. No, it was a quiet cee-ment pond with way too much chlorine, and it wasn't much more than five feet deep. The only person to talk to was the bored lifeguard, but she was doing homework.
The swing--a great memory! One thing the pool had in common with our swimming hole, though, was the lack of a rope swing. As many of you know, the tree that held our rope swing was toppled by a freak thunderstorm last May.
Many of us see this as a great tragedy, since the rope swing provided many volunteers an opportunity for fun. Who would not enjoy jumping off a tree, flying over the swimming hole, letting go of the rope and dropping into 18 feet of cool water? How many volunteers remember slaving away like dogs at construction, then coming back for a few jumps off the rope swing? For many of us, the rope swing was as much a part of the Farm experience as working at People's Self Help Housing, Comprehend and the nursing home.
I especially enjoyed the companionship at the rope swing. It seems every group had at least one person who swore never to jump from the swing but, by the end of the week, almost everyone was swinging and jumping because of the support they received from other volunteers. Like a lot of things at the Farm, the rope swing was a simple thing that showed the value of community. The words liability issues were not unknown when it came to the rope swing and the swimming hole, but it was a place where we could come together and enjoy the thrill of flying. And the warmth of community.
Sadly, the rope swing is gone and with it, some of these entertaining times. I guess we just have to wait for nature to catch up and provide us a tree on which to hook the rope.
Seasons--and Farm managers--go and come. It's getting a bit cold for the swimming hole now (you polar bears excepted!). The local football season is over, and basketball takes center stage. We've also seen several changes at the Farm.
Ed Koch left at Thanksgiving to go home to help his family with financial obligations. A man of service to the end, Ed again decided to put those closest to him first and himself last. I will miss his zeal for his faith, his knowledge, his deep and introspective reflections and his sense of humor. I pray that God guides and protects Ed in his dedication to his family.
In October Mike Dorn accepted the call to become a Glenmary Farm manager. He is from Adrian, Minn., and has a degree in social work from San Diego State University. Mike, Father Jerry Dorn's nephew, volunteered with AmeriCorps for a year, working on projects that took him down and up the west coast of the United States, all the way to Alaska. He also volunteered for nearly five years with Stand Up For Kids in San Diego and Washington, D.C., a national organization that is committed to rescuing homeless and street kids. Mike, a Farm volunteer in 1998, likes to read and write poetry in his spare time.
Volunteer opportunities are always available at the Farm. Since Ed has left, we're now looking for a Farm manager to replace him. If you're interested (and you know who you are!), you can get me at 606-796-3421, or e-mail jgrosek@glenmary.org .
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!
Joe Grosek
jgrosek@glenmary.org And
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