Volunteer Spotlight

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Sept 2010 -- JILL ROSENE

Interviewed by Marcia Mathis

Click here for Gulf Coast Newspapers feature article

The Baldwin County Humane Society (BARC!) recognized Jill Rosene as the Volunteer Spotlight at the September 15, 2010 board meeting.

“Rosene entered 6,000 names and addresses of our contributors, supporters and volunteers as well as our medical vouchers” remarked Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director. “It was a mammoth project that entailed approximately 400 hours of her time over the last six months.”

Additionally, Rosene volunteers Tuesday mornings at the BARC! Pet Food Pantry in Spanish Fort.

The Rosene family (husband Jim and Tucker, their sixteen-year-old cat) have resided in Daphne for 20 years.

"In my spare time, I enjoy sewing, collecting political memorabilia and all things Snoopy” said Rosene. “And I'm a huge Arkansas Razorback fan! And we're hoping to buy a condo in Florida one day soon."

Volunteers are the backbone of any successful organization and Rosene certainly deserves recognition for being such an important part of what makes the BARC! team strong. She also donates her time assisting patients at the Mitchell Cancer Center.

BARC! recognized Jill Rosene as the Volunteer Spotlight for devoting 400 hours to data entry in the past 6 months and for helping consistently on Tuesdays with the BARC! Pet Food Pantry. Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director, made the presentation of flowers and name badge at the September board meeting.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT August 2010 -- KEVAN KENNEDY

Kevan Kennedy and her grandson Nathan moved from Washington state to Daphne in early 2010 to be near her son's family. She Googled animal welfare agencies and found BARC! She first met everyone at the pet adoption at Art in the Park in Foley in May. Kevan has tremendous technical skill and is the primary person uploading dog/cat pictures on our website gallery. She also posts the intakes immediately to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Once they're adopted, she moves them to either the Transport gallery or the Completed Adoptions gallery on our website. She rescued and is fostering Ramona and Beezus, two Yorkies up for adoption. She also volunteers two mornings a week at the office doing customer service. In just a few months, Kevan has volunteered about 400 hours. At the August board meeting, we showed appreciation to Kevan for being such a fabulous volunteer with "BARC! Systems."

Our field is blessed with an abundance of inspiring volunteers. We want to recognize the people collectively and individually who have rescued, rehabilitated and rehomed animals since 1979. Pictured, back row from left: Martha Barton, April 2010 Volunteer Spotlight; Elizabeth Hall, July 2010 Volunteer Spotlight; Pam Perkins, May 2010 Volunteer Spotlight. Front row: Sonja Presley, BARC! Executive Director and Pat Henry, June 2010 Volunteer Spotlight.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT July 2010 -- ELIZABETH HALL

Elizabeth Hall is our July 2010 Volunteer Spotlight, She started volunteering for BARC! in 2000, has fostered/sponsored more than 30 dogs and her most recent foster Blanche went on transport & was greeted by Animal Planet for the Last Chance Highway reality series. Elizabeth was recognized at board meeting July 21, 2010.

Born & raised in Daphne * Moved to Atlanta for 15 years, moved back to Daphne in 1999 * Worked for same company 26 years (McKesson healthcare software) * Rescued cats for Cobb County Humane Society * Graduated from Auburn, daughter a sophomore at Auburn now * Taking English horseback riding lessons now * Volunteers at Women’s Homeless Shelter in Mobile 3rd Tuesday * Has 4 male cats & 4 dogs now

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT June 2010 -- PAT HENRY

Pat Henry retired from the United States Air Force as a First Sergeant. She is great with the public and encourages people to spay/neuter. She often fosters litters of puppies for BARC and the Baldwin County Shelter. She is known to attend PetSmart adoptions with 8 dogs & go home with 9! Pat was recognized at a recent board meeting.

Months away from 2nd retirement with AL Dept of Transportation * Very passionate about fostering * Rattlesnakes in Loxley on WKRG TV5 * Usually has litters of puppies * Helps county shelter too * Described as the most compassionate person * Great with public * Encourages people to spay/neuter

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT May 2010 -- PAM PERKINS

Interviewed by Geri Andrews, BARC! Media Volunteer

Pam has been working our our customer service desk 1/2 days since 2002. Her best advice is "Don’t stand between dog & hydrant." She fosters small dogs, and currently has Ellie "Jelly Belly." She also does pet sitting. Pam was recognized at the July 2010 board meeting.

From Lake Forest, IL originally * Retired in 2002 as Office Manager with Olin Corporation in Augusta, GA *
Moved to Daphne * Grandkids live in Georgia * Volunteers with Radio reading service for WHIL at Springhill College on Thursday mornings for visually impaired * Volunteers at Daphne Library in used book store *
Christine Sherwin (real estate agent) recruited Pam * Been volunteering ½ days at BARC office since 2002 *
Listens to books on tape while doing jigsaw puzzles * St Paul’s picks up linens at thrift shop * Replenishes blue buckets at our office with pet adoption supplies * attended Guppies to Puppies with Elly * Best advice: Don’t stand between dog & hydrant

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT April 2010 -- MARTHA BARTON

Interviewed by Geri Andrews, BARC! Media Volunteer

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa County, AL, Martha was the 5th of 6 children. Upon graduating from the University of Alabama with Baccalaureate and Masters degrees in Education and then Auburn University with a Doctorate in Administration, she dedicated her entire career to public education.

In 1993, Martha first retired from the State of Alabama as an Assistant State Superintendent for Instruction.

Taught graduate school at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY

Taught at University of West Florida in Pensacola

Six years ago Martha chose to finally retire from education and relocated to Fairhope. Now she has time to pursue some of her interests . . . gardening, reading, exercising, and her beloved cats. Kiki was rescued from a vacant lot in Bowling Green. Tipper Munchkin wandered in from next door. And her most recent addition, Prince, became a BARC! rescue Martha fell in love with while working in the BARC! Office.

Unable to sit idle, volunteering has become the mainstay of Martha’s time. She volunteers at Fairhope Library, the Eastern Shore Literacy Council, the Fairhope Cat Coalition, and BARC!

To her, “animals come first . . . however, if people can be helped in the process then that’s okay.”

Aslan, a Black Newfoundland, left for his new home in Massachusetts. Aslan is a success story for BARC! Over the past 3 years many of our volunteers worked with him to help with socialization and training.7 of the dedicated people showed up on departure day for “lots of slobbery kisses and to say goodbye” to this dear friend, wishing him well in his promising new home

Spring Kitten Prevention program coordinator

She epitomizes the spirit and enthusiasm animal rescue volunteers have for these animals who depend on us to help them

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Nov 2009 -- DIANA BRUCE

Click here to play slideshow with videos

We are grateful to Diana Bruce for getting more than 3 dozen items for the silent auction at Christmas By the Bay. Whatever our need has been, Diana has helped out over the past 2 years. The Bruce family is currently fostering “Precious” a Rat Terrier up for adoption. She and her husband retired to Gulf Shores from Cincinnati. In 2009 she helped Tom organize the Dog Gone Golf Scramble at Craft Farms.