VOLUNTEERING: LESSONS FROM DAD

My father was born November 11, 1917, exactly one year before Armistice Day, which signaled the end of WWI.  He grew up on a homestead in the high desert of southern Utah, during the Roaring 20's and the Great Depression years.  After graduating from college in 1940, he volunteered to serve as a missionary for his church for two and a half years in the central states.  While he was gone, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Upon returning home from his mission, he promptly volunteered (i.e., was drafted) into Uncle Sam’s army, left within the month and served for three years in Europe during WWII.  He became part of what is now known as the Greatest Generation.  After the war he returned home, married his war bride (Mom), earned his teaching credential, and settled down to a career teaching high school agriculture in central California.  As a young boy in the 1960's, I remember going with Dad in the evenings and on weekends to visit the homes and farms of his students to inspect their FFA projects. He didn’t receive additional compensation for doing this.  Even now, I run into some of his former “ag boys” who have become successful farmers in Tulare County.  They thank me for what he taught them.

During my youth, Dad always kept a garden in our backyard.  On occasion, he would have me help him with it.  He explained to me that seeds left in the soil from the prior year’s crop will often sprout on their own into seedlings.  He called these seedlings “volunteers.”

Recently, as I was tending my own garden, I noticed the volunteer plants sprouting, including zucchini, basil, red chard, tomatoes, corn, and even some marigolds which I had planted the prior year for added color.  Seeing these “volunteers” caused me to reflect back on what I had learned from my dad about volunteering.

When I look around Visalia, I am struck by how many of the citizens of our community volunteer of their  time and means to make our community a better place.  They almost seem to sprout on their own. During these tough economic times, city government doesn’t have the money to pay for all the work there is to do out there.  We are dependent upon the volunteers in our community to fill in that gap.

I am amazed at the shear number of Visalia volunteers who help clean, shine up and improve our town.  Let me cite just a few of the many examples.  In April, city volunteers were out in full force, assisting in numerous projects to improve our great city.

Earth Day  2012: Helping with clean-up projects throughout the city were Pacific Stihl, The Home Depot, Walmart, Starbucks, Visalia Rotary Club, and the Visalia Democratic Club.

Serve Visalia: Participating in painting transit benches, clean-up of Mill Creek and the St. John’s Trail, cleaning two homes, graffiti clean-up and painting 137 fire hydrants were the First Presbyterian Church, Neighborhood Church, Radiant Church, Savior’s Community Church, and Visalia Community Covenant Church.  The participants numbered over 1,300.

Arbor Day:  Planting 300 trees, spreading compost, donating blood, and extensive cleaning and polishing of the county museum at Mooney Grove Park included Mormon Helping Hands, Boy Scout Troop 336, Sunset Rotary Club, Golden West High School, and the 4-H Club.  Several hundred volunteers participated.

Fill the Boot:  We don’t want to forget our local firefighters whom you might have seen at major intersections on Mooney and Main Street, participating in their “fill-the-boot” fundraiser for muscular dystrophy.  This year they raised $13,506.37 for a worthy cause.


Imagine the cost to the city to hire this kind of help!  A big “thank you” to all who assisted on these projects, as well as the numerous volunteers who help throughout the year to beautify our city and make it a great place to live.

As my dad approaches his 95th  birthday, he still enjoys working in his garden on a daily basis.  Thanks Dad for the lessons you taught me on volunteering.  Oh, by the way, Happy Father’s Day!

If you have questions or topics regarding the city  which you would like to have addressed in future articles, please email Warren at wgubler@ci.visalia.ca.us, or call (559) 713-4400 x 3313.  For past articles, visit directfromwarren.blogspot.com.

Warren Gubler
Visalia City Council Member