Posts Tagged 'Volunteer'

BigTent Beautifies Bridges in McLaren Park

Published August 6, 2008 Big Culture Leave a Comment
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Late last month, the BigTent staff completed a volunteer project with Hands on Bay Area (HOBA). Decked out in our grunge wear, our team carpooled to McLaren Park, the second largest park in San Francisco. After breaking into groups we put our painting skills to the test. We spruced up several bridges in the park, while rocking out to Laney’s tunes, noshing on granola bars, and catching some rare sun on a warm San Francisco day.

Sara and her daughter, Maya, paint hand in hand.

Hats off to Pearl, resident QA guru and a seasoned social manager from her days at Stanford, for organizing this volunteer activity. Our whole team agrees that is was a great opportunity to bond and give back to our local community. There’s no denying it – it just feels good to do good! And we’re mighty fine painters, if I do say so myself.

Some team members strut their painting garb on a freshly finished bridge.

- Mary Liz McCurdy, Summer Intern

Vroom vroom! Mother of the Year stays cool

Published May 30, 2008 Big Group Additions Leave a Comment
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Recognizing your volunteers is a surefire way to increase morale in your community group. So imagine how Kat Whiteley, technology guru and leader in her Seattle parenting group, Eastside Mothers of Multiples (EMOMS), felt when she was named Mother of the Year by the club.

“Actually, I felt a little bit embarassed,” says Kat. “I’ve never been ‘good’ at receiving compliments, and this has been about the biggest compliment I could ever be given.” Kat is a mother of two sets of twins (yes, you read that right) and describes her parenting role as “the most important job I’ve ever had.”


Kat, Dave, and their two sets of twins

Since EMOMS has been active on Big Tent since August 2007, we’ve been fortunate enough to ask our resident Mother of the Year to share some parenting advice with us. Kat, in her usual down-to-earth manner, assures that “you do what you have to do.” In her words:

So much of the time we worry about doing the exact “right” thing. But when you are in the thick of things, living one day at a time, and sometimes one hour at a time, you have to just do what is appropriate in the moment. Maybe that means turning on the TV for half an hour so you can have a quiet moment to regroup. Getting through each day and being true to yourself will let you be the best mom you can be for your kids.

Throughout her busy days of parenting, Kat finds time to roll up her sleeves and get to work in the community. When EMOMS jobs for an email and website administrator went unfilled, Kat stepped up. Scanning the group discussion forums for members’ questions with zero responses, Kat chimes in — researching outside resources as needed — and makes sure everyone feels supported. In addition, Kat serves as Publicity and Web Site Manager for her church group, Northshore Baptist MOPS.

What keeps Kat going? “I know what is possible using technology, and I am anxious for groups to reap the benefits,” she says. “The other major force that fuels my continued passion for volunteering is my faith, and the belief that I can make a better world by doing what I can, one mom at a time.”

Kudos to Kat, another wonder woman walking in our midst! And when she’s not wrapped up with her seven-year-old boys and five-year-old girls, look for her to whizz by, riding a dirt bike — one of her favorite hobbies.


Vroom, vroom, there goes Kat

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

Published April 23, 2008 Big Culture Leave a Comment
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Mark your calendars! Next week (April 27 – May 3) is National Volunteer Week. In honor of the upcoming event, BigTent would like to recognize some of the devoted volunteers from the great groups we support. Here are a few of their reasons for giving back:

Anita Owens, Vice-President of Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs. “I wanted to be involved in my children’s schools. The people I meet and the work I do for all children are what keep me going, even when I want to quit. There are children in our schools that have no one to speak for them, and that is the job of the PTA — to speak for all children, not just your own.”

Jamie Heston, Co-Director of F.U.N. Mothers’ Club. “After I had my second child, I got eight meals delivered through our in a pinch program. I felt I had to give back for that, so I started delivering meals to other moms. I got such a good feeling from helping others the way I was helped. I continued to take on more and more volunteer roles in the club, as I suddenly felt this huge responsibility to let other moms know how great the club is, what resources we have, and how it gave me a great social life for me and my kids.”

Steve Teffenhardt, Vice-President of Ohio State University Aviation Alumni Society. “I originally got involved because at an early age, I figured out that you don’t get until you give first. I saw a professional fraternity as my first chance to make a difference, get to know people, to network, and to build something that I would be proud to be a part of.”

Kristen Geary, Membership Chair of Double Joy Mothers of Multiples. “I loved coming to club meetings and learning the answers to many questions that a new mom of twins might not necessarily know to ask. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and understanding. I just wanted to be part of a great group of ladies who helped me realize what a blessing I’ve received by having two babies at once.”

What inspires you to volunteer? For more information on National Volunteer Week, visit the website for the nation’s two largest volunteer networks, the Points of Light Foundation and the Hands on Network. You can also check out 1-800-volunteer.org for opportunities in your own backyard.