This month's special volunteer is:

1. Why did you decide to become a Volunteer?

Well, basically, I was just asked. A couple of people on the board asked me if I could help out. It sounded like a very good cause and I said that I would be happy to help out in any way that I could. The board meets once a month and there are currently around fifteen people on it.

2. What does volunteering do for you?

It gives one a sense of helping out. You know the phrase "Pay it forward"? Well, I've been lucky enough to be involved with different organizations over the years and, as I'm pretty successful with a good job and family, it's just a way to pay for it and give back.

I'm also involved with, and on, the Board of Drectors of the Chamber of Commerce and am active in the Parent-Child program for the local YMCA. This latter is basically a program that you are in with your own child. For instance, I am in it with my daughter and my wife just joined up with our young son. It just gives you a kind of bonding time with your child. We have a group of dads who all get together in various activities with their daughters. I've been involved with the YMCA ever since I was about eight or ten years old. My own daughter will be eight next week and my son is now four-and-a-half.

3. How long have you been a volunteer?

I've been with RSVP about one and a half years. I also help with the YMCA Major Gift Campaign. I started with the YMCA as a counselor and have been with the organization about sixteen years. I actually started as an after-school day-care counselor, so it's probably closer to twenty!

4. Have you made any good friends from this job?

I knew probably about half the people on the RSVP Board through contacts in other organizations before actually coming here. I've also managed to bring a couple of friends that I knew from the Chamber of Commerce onto the RSVP board. I was first asked to join the Board by Amy McCloud. She left the Board after she got married and became involved in a new job. Hope (Witkowsky) also asked me to join.

- How has this changed your life?

It's just a way for me to feel that I'm giving something back. The organization does a lot for a large number of people and it's just going to get even bigger with Thomas (White) so heavily involved. I was in charge of the Personnel Committee when Thomas was hired and we all feel that he was a good hire for the organization.

5. What would you say to anyone who thinks they are too busy to volunteer?

You are never too busy! You can always fit in a couple of hours somewhere - it's just a matter of prioritizing what's important to you. If you can only manage a couple of hours each month, that's fine too. Whatever you can do.