United Way Volunteer Spotlight, campaign team, captains give plenty of community service

MAT-SU -- Every board member at the United Way of Mat-Su is a volunteer and each takes on important leadership roles.

The United Way of Mat-Su board of directors includes an executive committee and several working committees such as marketing, personnel, finance and long-range planning. One of the busiest and most demanding committees is the campaign committee, also known as the campaign team.

United Way of Mat-Su gears up for a campaign season just like a team that is preparing for a championship. Instead of a trophy or ring, the ultimate prize is to see the numbers on the thermometer go all the way up to the goal, insuring that United Way agencies will have the funds that they need to continue their outstanding work in the Valley.

Like all teams, United Way of Mat-Su needs a talented and diverse group of individuals who are willing to work together for a common goal. This year's campaign team includes an exceptional group of community volunteers who have worked together for the past five months, planning and implementing an outreach program that will ultimately reach thousands of Valley residents, and impact the lives of thousands more by providing funds for health and human service agencies that provide assistance to our friends and neighbors in need.

The 2001 campaign team members are Greg Van Kirk, Faye Palin, Desi Mayo, Craig Thorn, Kari Sleight, Helene Antel Brooks, Mimi Pippel, Kay Slack, Pam Sadloske, Jim Medsker, Lori Wolfe, Jennifer Crawford, Michelle Podruchny and Roxie Miller.

A successful team also needs a captain. Each year, one brave board member volunteers to be the campaign chair. This exceptional volunteer works with United Way of Mat-Su staff and other volunteers to design and implement the game plan for the annual fund-raising campaign.

For 2001, the campaign chair is Robert Hall, a local attorney and owner of Gorilla Fireworks. In addition to serving as campaign chair, Hall is the president-elect for the board of directors and also serves on the allocations committee.

Hall is a longtime volunteer, having served as a board member for the past three years and on agency review panels for several years prior to that. United Way is not the only nonprofit agency to reap the benefits of Hall's volunteer leadership -- he also serves on the board of the Children's Place.

Thorn, the vice president of the United Way of Mat-Su, said, "He's just an all-around good guy with a big heart for the community, the type of person you want to have as your neighbor."

Hall got started early in the year and has taken his responsibility as campaign chair very seriously.

He has logged in many hours of preparation and effort that goes above and beyond the norm, taking on tasks such as hanging signs and banners and consulting in the creation of promotional materials, in addition to all the phone calls, public presentations and meetings.

Hall has even spent the better part of three days traveling to Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk to talk to Phillips Alaska employees about the United Way of Mat-Su.

Hall has set an example for campaign chairs in the future, to be hands-on, creative and enthusiastic volunteer leaders who are building community through their organized efforts to care.

According to fellow campaign team and board member Sleight, "Robert will be a tough act to follow."