Volunteers

Bill Coleman--Projects with Purpose

Bill's passion is helping people come together for a greater purpose! Bill leads teams of volunteers from very complicated projects to the simple. Although his passion is his vocation, Bill spends many personal hours helping non-profits that have needs that go unmet.

Most recently, Bill has spent countless personal hours working with a non profit that decorates homes for new homeowners. He's painted, cleaned and done numerous other duties to help them get their new warehouse ready for service. Bill has coordinated projects all over the globe and always takes time on a personal level to give back to the Louisville Community!

Blake Dawson--Muhammad Ali Center

Blake's smile and personality ALONE are a good reason for him to win a ROSE award. He is an excellent example of Muhammad's six core values: respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving and spirituality. He is dedicated to helping others whether at school or while volunteering at the Center.

While other middle school students are spending time watching Saturday morning characters or video games Blake dedicates his Saturday mornings to giving our museum guests tours or just talking to them about Muhammad Ali. It is hard to believe that Blake was shy after seeing the confidence he exudes while greeting our museum guests and leading tours. Blake captivates guests as well as the employees of the Ali Center with his conversational skills, intelligence and humor. After 5 minutes with Blake you know he is destined for great things. He is the best example of what a volunteer is supposed to be regardless of your age.

Neal Gabehart--Louisville Regional Airport Authority

The Louisville Regional Airport Authority nominates Neal Gabehart for the 2011 R.O.S.E. Award in the volunteer category because, not only is he a dedicated ambassador to the airport, he’s also an extremely dedicated ambassador to our community. Neal, a self-proclaimed people person, enjoys welcoming passengers to Louisville because he says it “is the greatest city in the world.” As an airport ambassador for almost six years, he has logged approximately 600 volunteer hours per year in the Information Booth and throughout the airport.

Considering that full-time paid employees work approximately 2,000 hours per year, this is quite remarkable. Our coordinators often turn to Neal when we have last minute cancellations due to illness or adverse weather patterns and he cheerfully obliges. His favorite part is “helping someone in need or trouble,” such as distressed passengers. He is very considerate of others and also chooses to work late into the night to be a friendly face to welcome people to the airport.

As a late night ambassador, he quickly learned that passengers rely more heavily on the Information Booth since most other offices are closed, hotels are often filled to capacity, and many ground transportation and out-bound flight options become less available. It takes a clear thinker to help people through situations like these. He has also dedicated additional time on various occasions to assist patrons for special events such as volunteering with the Louisville Regional Airport Authority sponsored American Association of Airport Executives NexGeneration Conference, welcoming Kentucky Derby and Ryder Cup guests and assisting 1,200-plus soldiers who have annually departed from the airport for the holidays.

Neal has received countless compliments from passengers, guests and the people who work alongside him at the airport and is truly an asset to the Airport Ambassador Volunteer Program and our community. To us, he is an ideal ambassador. One who is approachable and friendly, knowledgeable about and proud of our airport and community, generous with his time and schedule and who is never afraid to try new challenges.

Danny Robertson--The Kentucky Center for the Arts

Danny is one of the most recognized and committed volunteers at The Kentucky Center. Considering he has only worked with The Kentucky Center for approximately one year, that is remarkable. He serves the Volunteer program here in some of the most visible capacities, as an Usher, Greeter, Ticket Taker but he also provides backstage tours and art tours to the public and school groups from all over Kentucky and Southern Indiana. However, what makes him special and deserving of a Rose Award is the way in which he represents the arts organizations in Louisville through his excellent Customer Service. He knows the answers to questions, not only about events here but events and activities throughout the Louisville area.

He suggests places to go, to eat, to have a great time while I downtown to the patrons and visitors served. His smiling face and helpful, relaxed disposition are known to the staff, the volunteers and most importantly to the patrons of The Kentucky Center. Letters of support from The Kentucky Center President Stephen Klein and Actors Theatre of Louisville’s Director of Volunteer & Audience Relations, Allison Hammons attest to his ability to make a lasting impression. Danny is unique, reliable, and knowledgeable; infact he is everything I have imagined a volunteer can be. I am honored to nominate him for the 2011 Rose Awards.

Gary Serke--Frazier History Museum

 Gary Serke is an invaluable resource to the Frazier History Museum. He began volunteering three and a half years ago and has worked with almost every department in the museum, logging over 1,800 hours of service! If there is a job to be done, you can always count on Gary. He loves to share his knowledge and passion for history and the Frazier Museum with guests of all ages and has an incredible ability to tell the story not just the facts.

Gary volunteers in the Exhibits Department, where he helps build exhibits, including “Pirates” in the summer of 2010 when he and another volunteer constructed ships and interactive elements. Currently, Gary is working with our toy soldier collection, building displays and meticulously placing the tiny soldiers into scenes.
But, by far, the largest single project Gary has undertaken was the restoration of the U.S.S. Louisville model.. Gary was asked if he would be interested in restoring a model of the U.S.S. Louisville, and like always he quickly responded “Sure!” Our exhibits curator responded “Great, do you want to see the model?” Gary said he envisioned a model of wood or plastic maybe 2 or 3 feet long and a few inches wide.

Can you imagine his astonishment to discover the model was 18’ long, 2’ wide and about 5’ tall at the main mast and weighed over 1000 pounds?

The model, which had been donated to the museum, was covered in thick grime and had many broken pieces. Gary began the restoration in the basement of the museum, but soon after the model was moved to the Great Hall. While Gary was meticulously working, for 6 months, museum visitors stopped and asked questions about the model and the ship it was modeled after. Gary patiently answered every question with great enthusiasm and grace, winning over new fans for both the Museum and the model.

In addition to jobs mentioned above, Gary has also been called on to; give tours to civic groups, represent the Museum at CVB functions, work the front desk, work exhibit openings, work Museum fundraisers, do educational activities with children, write volunteer trainings, help with administrative tasks, and he even participated in a medieval fashion show.

Today as I was writing this nomination, I called a coworker to ask for a Gary story and she said “Well, just today he showed up to work on the toy soldier project but it wasn’t available. So, he stayed and helped us package and mail education guides for four hours!” If there is a job that needs to be done, Gary is always the first to arrive with great enthusiasm, and the last to leave. He is truly a great ambassador for the Frazier History Museum and we are very ,very lucky to have him as a volunteer.
 

Monnie Tingle--Muhammad Ali Center

Monnie is a very dedicated and responsible volunteer. She has been volunteering at the Muhammad Ali Center for the past 8 months, both in the Visitor Services department and the Communications Department. She is always willing to take on new challenges and excited to be able to help.

Monnie helps every employee at the Center what it means to give back. Not only does she volunteer at the Center every week, but she also spends her time volunteering at her church. Monnie has a warm heart and a caring spirit that is few and far between. She can be trusted to take on large projects and to complete them in a short amount of time. She is a great asset to the Muhammad Ali Center team.

Cecelia Wooden--Churchill Downs

Cecelia has been a volunteer in the Derby Host program for the past 23 years. As a Derby Host, Cecilia is an ambassador for the City of Louisville on behalf of Churchill Downs. Each year she takes personal vacation time from her full time job to volunteer and ensure an exemplary experience for horsemen participating in the Derby.

While many may think it’s glamorous to provide hospitality to a Derby Horseman, take a moment to consider arriving on the backside at Churchill Downs every morning by 5:00 am for a week to greet out of town horse owners with a warm smile and welcoming attitude. After the early morning workouts, Cecelia continues her volunteer responsibilities by ensuring every aspect of hospitability is covered for her assigned horse owners from transportation to dinner to hat shopping. Cecelia works tirelessly to make Derby visitors feel like true Louisvillians and even family.

Kentucky is proud of Louisville and all it has to offer, Louisville is proud of Churchill Downs and all it has to offer, Churchill Downs is proud of the Derby Host Program and all it has to offer - Cecilia Wooden, Derby Host Extraordinaire.