It Takes A Village Of People
To Make A Community
-- in this case a city --
Being a public park, the City of Pittsfield provides customary
maintenance to Sottile Park. However, being a main street park which is literally open 24/7/365 creates additional maintenance
challenges, which unfortunately includes needless litter.
Beyond this maintenance, there are individuals, civic, and business
volunteers who further enhance the Park's upkeep and image.
Individual Volunteers
ROBERT KORNN -- Above Left Photo
Robert "Bob" Kornn worked Sottile Park for over 15 years both as a daily ranger and within the RSVP
volunteers mentioned further below. For his efforts he was featured in The Berkshire Eagle... and deservedly so.
Thank you Bob.
ROBERT RUNDLE
-- Above right photo
Bob "Norman" Rundle became associated with Sottile Park as a volunteer
in an unexpected way. He was in the Park with friends. We did no know each other. I had been cleaning the
Park for hours. Then left to take a break. When I returned, the Park was trashed. Shortly thereafter, Robert
returned to the Park. He received my thoughts with "full force." He understood my upset;
mentioned that he would talk to the people; and, then offered to help. Thus started a very enjoyable acquaintenceship.
Despite being wheel-chair bound, he does more than one would imagine. He customized his motorized chair to carry
a rake, broom dust pan and more. What Robt cannot do, he asks friends to do. if Robert is
one of those unsung personalities who make the City of Pittsfield a better place.
Pittsfield Beautiful
Pittsfield Beautiful is an all voluntary organization located
in Pittsfield MA . It is mission is keeping the city beautiful by planting and maintaining annual and
perennial flower beds in public sites.
Pittsfield Beautiful’s goal is to help create a welcoming presence in the City with colorful flowers
and ornamental plants downtown and in nearby business districts as well as in parks and major entrances to Pittsfield.
It also encourages the beautification of Pittsfield through volunteer efforts and partnerships between local residents, neighborhoods,
community support groups, businesses, and the City.
Pittsfield Beautiful exisits on donation! They are responsible for the colorful planters and
gardens that one sees around town. For years there has been no City Budget line item for Pittsfield Beautiful. Notwithstanding,
the city helps in whatever ways they can with valuable in-kind services.
Still... without sufficient funding, despite the generous time donated by volunteers, Pittsfield Beautify
simply cannot continue to help keep Pittsfield beautiful and welcoming”.
Pittsfield Beautiful spends over $10,000 a year to fill the more than 100 planters and public gardens with
thousands of flowers and ornamental plants, and another $5,000 to complete the landscaping makeover in historic Park Square,
replace the dilapidated benches in the small park adjacent to City Hall, and replace the large Red Oak in the First Street
Common that was felled by a storm last year.
To give the public an idea of what it costs to help keep Pittsfield beautiful each year, Chavanne noted
that $100 fills a planter with colorful flowers and $500 or more provides a spectacular show of color in such important sites
as Park Square, Redding Park and City Hall. “Even a few dollars can make a difference and is always greatly appreciated”,
she added.
Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Pittsfield Beautiful, PO Box 725, Pittsfield, MA 01202-0725.
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| Flowers provided by Pittsfield Beautiful. Work performed by RSVP Volunteers |
RSVP
Retired Seniors Volunteer Program
WHO WE ARE: The RSVP Volunteer Program in Berkshire County provides recruitment,
training and placement of persons 55 years of age and over as volunteers. The program enables volunteers to use their time
and lifetime experience to: meet new people, help others, be productive and creative, grow personally, explore new careers
and make a difference through community service assignments. RSVP is a national organization, funded in part by the
Corporation for National & Community Service (Senior Corps), and is sponsored locally by the City of Pittsfield.
RSVP has chapters in every county of our country, with over a half million volunteers Nationwide making a positive difference
impacting communities.
WHAT WE DO: In 2009, RSVP coordinated the activities of
450+ local volunteers who provided 40,081 hours of caring and essential community service in Berkshire County.
Berkshire County RSVP volunteers are participating enthusiastically in a wide array of community service projects such as
our PALS Friendly Visiting Project for elderly residents in area nursing homes, driving for Road to Recovery cancer
patient treatment, Senior Resource Calendar, Books on Wheels, Friends Read Youth Literacy, Senior Meal Sites, exciting, one
time community events and celebrations, Pittsfield Visitors Center, Downtown Pittsfield Walking Tour, Recording for the Blind
and Dyslexic, and environmental projects such as Arbor Day, Tree Watch and many more
OUR MISSION: To encourage mature adults to volunteer and
to match their skills and interests with appropriate community service assignments. •To provide adult volunteers and
project services which assist at-risk, low income individuals and contribution to the success of community agencies and municipal
departments in Berkshire County. •To work in partnership with local groups and agencies to identify unmet needs and
to design projects which make a measurable impact and improvement for those in need. •To promote the concept of volunteerism.
•To foster future potential volunteers, specifically Baby Boomers through the RSVP Associate Member Program.
RSVP ADVISORY COUNCIL: Meetings are held monthly (except July & August) to review matters
pertaining to budget, staffing, program projects & related policies
For More Information about getting involved through National Service,
Berkshire Bank Foundation
Berkshire Bank Foundation Inc. and Berkshire Bank Foundation - Legacy Region,
Inc., the charitable arms of Berkshire Bank, have long been leaders in philanthropy and community involvement. The foundations
demonstrate their commitment to the communities where the bank does business through their grants, scholarships, and volunteer
programs. All of these efforts fulfill the bank's goal to help create healthy, vibrant, sustainable communities where educational
and economic opportunities are available for everyone.
Employee Volunteer Program
Serving & Investing in Our Community
Video and accompanying text Block Page Video At Berkshire Bank, part of the reason why we are America's Most Exciting
Bank is our commitment to making a difference in our community. We understand that being a committed community partner is
about more than writing a check and that's why we provide our employees with paid time off to participate in our exciting
and nationally recognized Employee Volunteer Program. This program began in 2008 and undertakes community service projects
that employees participate in during regular business hours and on weekends. The Employee Volunteer Program is open to all
the company's employees and is overseen by Regional Employee Volunteer Committees that select projects and guide the program.
The program is overseen by Berkshire Bank Foundation.
The Employee Volunteer Program was established with the following goals:
•Allow employees to get involved in and give back to their community
•Increase the Bank’s involvement and visibility in the community
•Help employees gain new organizational and leadership skills
•Build teamwork and strengthen employee morale
Program Operation & Accomplishments: Over two hundred volunteer projects benefiting
non-profit organizations or governmental entities have been carried out in every region served by Berkshire Bank since the
program's inception. Annually 50% of the bank's employees participate in the program and last year they gave over 37,000 hours
of community service through both company-sponsored and individual volunteer efforts. At Berkshire Bank we believe it's our
responsibility to contribute to health, success, and vibrancy of our community because it's our home.
Submit Idea/Request for Volunteer Project: The Volunteer Program is always looking for suggestions
for projects to undertake. If you have recommendations, please contact the Foundation office at foundation@berkshirebank.com.
About Volunteerism
Click on the below images to read the articles.
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| Yours truly unfortunately playing "mom" to park litters |
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