re: MikeK queries county clerk about voter registration “volunteers”/Hucks Online

In an email to Coeur d'Alene Councilman Mike Kennedy that Huckleberries Online received moments ago,  Deputy County Clerk Pat Raffee revealed the names of volunteers who culled voter registration rolls looking for unqualified voters: “Hello again Councilman.  The volunteers were Collin Coles, Jodi Hissong, Chris Pappas and DeDe Tondee.  You may know these people; all but one are former appointed public servants.  Their unpaid work at County Elections was for a few hours on June 2.  Their process included examining addresses for voters registered on what are notable commercial streets, such as Ironwood Drive, Sherman Avenue, Government Way, Seltice Way, 4th Street, Mullan Drive, Aqua Drive, Railroad Avenue, Highway 41, etc.   The volunteers examined some County Assessor records to verify a residence through a homeowners’ exemption at that address, or County GIS Mapping information to determine via photographs that a residence was on site. Full email here. (Photos: Mike Kennedy, left, and County Clerk Cliff Hayes)

• Mike Kennedy responds to revelation of names of volunteers provided by clerk

Question: Any problems with volunteers?

Martha Zito knows what it’s like to feel overwhelmed. When her mother was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008, Zito became her caregiver. “I had to make all the appointments and take care of the details – the paperwork,” said Zito. “I was so busy, I felt like I didn’t have time to just love her.” Her mother died within a few months of the diagnosis. That experience left Zito longing to help others who were in a similar situation. When she heard about the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program, she immediately volunteered to help. Road to Recovery provides transportation to and from treatment for cancer patients who don’t have a ride or are unable to drive themselves/Cindy Hval, Washington Voices. More here.

Question: Do you volunteer anywhere?

AmyY (re: “Political Game: The least able”): I have a child with a developmental disability and I spend every waking (and sleeping) moment trying to figure out how to support him in the most appropriate way. My days are filled with managing therapeutic care, education plans, medical care, recreational opportunities, managing breakdowns and behaviors, providing “learning opportunities”, researching, implementing, observing, documenting and analyzing everything. Oh - and let's not forget about the thoughts about what will happen to him when I die. Now I'm supposed to manage a cadre of community volunteers to assist me and my child? Volunteers who are not trained or experienced and who may in fact do more harm than good? Full post below.

Question: You still believe that having volunteers from families, friends, and church make up the difference in services provided by the cash-strapped state is a good idea?

Looking ahead, Idaho’s facing a projected state fund shortfall for Medicaid in fiscal year 2012 of $171.6 million. That’s a huge hole, and Armstrong said it’ll likely mean cutting services. Children are protected, so “we would have to focus on adult services – that’s where we’d have to go. We would have to eliminate major categories of service.” Armstrong said “every state in the nation” is looking at the same “Draconian” type of cuts. One suggestion he offered to cope with the crisis: Back in the ‘50s and ‘60s, there was much more use of volunteers in providing services to the disabled and others. Idaho could “see if there could be a resurgence of voluntary assistance, specifically around keeping adults stable in the home environment,” Armstrong said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Can volunteers be expected to provide services to disable and others, if Idaho cuts back to much on Medicaid funding?

When athletes would run by an aid station during Sunday’s Ironman Coeur d’Alene and ask for water, Gatorade, a cold sponge or bananas, they got it. When they needed sunscreen, someone put it on for them. When they needed encouragement, they heard it. When they needed to be held up after finishing, they were. Say thanks to the volunteers of Ironman, all 3,600 of them. “From the beginning at the time you dropped your clothes off to the time they were putting a wrap around your shoulders to stay warm at the end, there was not a step missed,” said Jim Smith of Hayden, who completed the daylong race in 13 hours, 28 minutes/Bill Buley, Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

Question: Were you an Ironman Coeur d’Alene volunteer? Tell us about your experience.

• Tuesday Poll: 81 of 138 respondents (59%) said that the pay of $8M over 5 years for Boise State football coach Chris Petersen is too high in these tight economic times. 81 of 138 (38%) said it was a proper amount for someone w/Petersen’s record.
• Jorgenson-Vick Poll: 75 of 104 respondents (72%) said state Sen. Mike Jorgenson is either being a baby (51, 49%) or boosting challenger Steve Vick’s profile (24, 23%) by fighting to keep him off the ballot. 24 of 104 respondents (23%) said Jorgenson is just following the law (12, 12%) or they wouldn’t vote for Vick because he’s supported by legislators Phil Hart and Jim Clark.
• Volunteer Poll: 68 of 96 respondents (71%) said they spend more than 54 hours (the average amount in Idaho) doing volunteer work. 19 of 96 (20%) said they spend less than 54 hours volunteering. And 9 of 54 (9%) said they don’t volunteer at all.
• Today’s Question: Who do you support to win the GOPrimary nomination in the Senate District 3 race — Mike Jorgenson or Steve Vick?

“A volunteer services group at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene has been awarded top honors in Idaho’s annual Brightest Stars awards, which honor volunteers across the state.

Kootenai Health’s Volunteer Services was lauded as “one of the strongest volunteer programs in the Northwest.” The organization includes teens, volunteer nurses, retirees, former patients, child safety experts and pet therapists.” More here: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/12/in-brief-kmc-volunteers-are-brightest-stars/

I have been volunteering since I was a child. My parents believed it was our civic responsibility. I see a need and I take action. I have been the grunt, the sergeant, and the general. However, most of my time donated now is spent in leadership roles and I really miss those days in which I showed up and just served coffee or stuffed envelopes or walked a dog or delivered lunch or etc. It is my job to thank and inspire volunteers for showing up. However, I don’t receive a simple thank yous for a task or job well done. Trust me, it is brought to my attention when I stumble or don’t read minds but a thank you has not come my way in months now/Sparky’s Notes. More here.

Question: Do you volunteer much? Are you the general? Or one of the foot soldiers?