On behalf of the Board of Directors for Ortonville’s DDA, thank you very much to everyone volunteering enthusiasm, talent, energy, support, and time to the community.
As a whole, you believe in teamwork. You are committed to doing what it takes to make your community better. And, you are willing to help your community regardless of personal gain. This dedication touches the lives of many citizens who need the extra care – be it recreation, education, shelter, or intervention.
In our Main Street program alone, people volunteered more than 5,500 hours to programs and events in 2007. This is conservatively worth more than $100,000 per year. Imagine the hours invested by all the community service groups in our area.
Because of special events and projects run by Main Street volunteers, more than 9,000 people came into downtown Ortonville last year. Without volunteers, these events couldn’t have happened. With help from volunteers, the DDA received a Native Landscape Grant to create three native landscape gardens. Because of volunteers, three property owners received building design assistance for free from Oakland County. Because of volunteers, our farmers? market has become a viable source of goods, food, and entertainment, and earned a ‘Most Improved Event? award in 2007.
At a recent ‘Extraordinary Volunteers? celebration, Kenneth Quisenberry (Village President/CEO) quoted FDR. ‘What volunteers bring is the human touch, the individual, caring approach than no government paid program, no matter how well-meaning and well-executed, can deliver.? His speech set the tone for the rest of the evening, with everyone speaking from their hearts. Between chocolate-covered strawberries, prizes raffled, and good memories I hope all our volunteers had a good time at the party. And, more importantly, I hope all volunteers know their worth ? absolutely priceless!
Molly LaLone DDA Executive Director, Ortonville