This month's special volunteer is Bob Slater at an America Reads Orientation meeting held at Sam Levy School in Torrance.
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1. Why did you decide to become a Volunteer?
Well, I retired after spending 40 years with CHUBB Insurance in December '99 and found that I now had a whole bunch of time on my hands. I then saw a small ad for "America Reads" in the Daily Breeze. Although I had had some thoughts about what I should do after I retired, I didn't really know what to do - maybe "Read for the Blind" or something like that. I thought that the "America Reads" program was kind of neat and decided to find out more about it.
2. What does volunteering do for you?
It makes me feel good; makes me feel valuable. (Bob showed me a large number of "Thank You" notes that he had received from many of the kids he had been involved with). It just makes it all worth-while. It blew me away when the whole class did that. I guess that you get more in pay that way than you would ever get from a paycheck.
3. How long have you been a volunteer?
I started about January, 2000. It will be five years come this January; all at Torrance Elementary and with various grades and kids from K through 3rd grade.
4. Have you made any good friends from this job?
Oh, Yeah! As well as the folks who are attending this orientation meeting, I have made a lot of friends from among the kids. After helping them in 3rd grade, they know who you are even when they have graduated to the 5th grade. They are always coming up to me to say, "Hi, Mr. Slater".
How has this changed your life?
It helps to regiment the time I have. On Tuesday and Thursday I've got something to look forward to.
5. Where do you currently volunteer?
On top of the "America Reads" program I also volunteer Wednesday and Friday at the Redondo Sea Lab. One of my duties is to take kids on a tour of the facility when they come down there. I have been involved in AYSO for the past twenty years and also referee Club and High School soccer games as well as umpiring High School softball at all of the South Bay High Schools. At the conclusion of the soccer season I ended up contacting CIF to see if I could help out at their Hardball and Softball games.
6. What would you say to anyone who thinks they are too busy to volunteer?
I would tell them to rethink their priorities and ask them, "Are you really too busy to give a little of yourself in order to help in developing somebody?" A lot of people are just too busy watching television, gossiping and going store shopping etc. Apart from this activity being good for you, it is really good for the ones you are volunteering for. It's really a kind of payback for all the time that your kids were involved in soccer and softball, etc. Unless you are prepared to do it, then it sometimes never gets done.
Before I left, Bob emphasized his feelings about the work he does with "Read America" by telling me that when the teacher asks the class, "As we have a few minutes left at the end of the lesson, is there anyone who would like to spend some time reading with Mr. Slater?" the whole class eagerly puts up their hands! Bob said that he especially likes to work one-on-one with a particular student. He doesn't read "to" them but has them read to "him". If they stumble over a word, he helps them pronounce it and then they discuss what it means. He noted that although most kids manage to pronounce a word correctly, they "haven't the foggiest idea about what it really means, until I explain it to them."