Feature Article September 18, 2002
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Volunteer coordinator takes on new role Almost two and a half years ago, Will Cybulski of Marble Lake came out of retirement to assume a unique position within the Land OLakes: coordinator of community volunteers.
The Volunteer Centre stemmed from a community partnership, primarily between Land OLakes Community Services and Pine Meadow Nursing Home, with funding provided by a Trillium Foundation grant. The Centre operated out of the LOLCS building on Airport Road in Northbrook, and it maintained an individual identity while sharing some resources and costs with Community Services various programs.
Cybulskis tenure with the Centre officially ends by resignation on September 26, and although he is on a short-term administrative leave from there, he is already busy again, having taken on a position at Sniders PetroCan in Cloyne.
I thank LOLCS staff and Board of Directors, and the people of our communities, for having afforded me the opportunity to work with them, Cybulski said, and I hope I met the expectations that were held out when I was hired as volunteer coordinator. It has been a positive experience on my part, and I would like to see the project continued and expanded upon. There is great potential to benefit the people of our area, and had I stayed, it was my expectation to see further development in the form of a Community Information and Advocacy Office, along with a renewal of the Volunteer Centre.
"However, for personal reasons, I have decided to move on in my life. My daughters are both well into high school, and my spouse has a position that sometimes takes her away from the area, so personal and family time has become increasingly important. I want to continue writing for our local papers, and there is an idea for a book knocking around inside my head, if I can only find the time to commit my thoughts to paper. I also have a few other irons that are perhaps waiting to go into the fire. I recently took on the task of President for the Hastings, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Provincial Progressive Conservative Party riding association, and I wont deny that I am thinking about taking another shot at municipal politics.
"The bottom line is that I needed to cut myself some slack, and I have done that. And my new position at Sniders still affords me the opportunity to interact with people on a regular basis.
"I particularly want to tell the 100 plus volunteers who passed through my office that their efforts were appreciated, and let them know that they made a fantastic difference in the lives that they touched, by giving of their time and talents. Our two Alzheimers Initiatives were especially enriching experiences, and I cant say enough about how much I enjoyed spending time with our seniors and young people. Thank you to all those who made positive things happen in our communities. You all know who you are; you can be as proud of your accomplishments as I am, and I am happy for the time I spent with you.
