The South Portland Volunteer Network is a new, informal,
stewardship group in South Portland that focuses on recruiting volunteers to
complete beautification or preservation projects. This group rose out of the positive experience from the
volunteer painting of the Willard Beach bathhouse in April of 2001.
Ideas for projects are solicited from volunteers and interested people.
The Network reviews the feasibility and necessity of the projects,
obtains City approval, appoints a project coordinator, organizes a list of
materials needed, if any, and seeks donations of materials from either the City
or local businesses. When project
planning is complete, e-mail is sent to the Volunteer Network members as to the
number of volunteers needed, work to be done and length of time estimated to
complete the project. The projects
with the most volunteer energy and City support are the ones that have the best
results.
South Portland Land Trust volunteer coordinator Theresa
Wiper organizes the Volunteer Network. Projects
are coordinated primarily via e-mail that eliminates the necessity, in most
cases, for meetings. Currently, the
Network has a membership of over 120 individuals and groups, including
neighborhood organizations. We are
looking for the Network to better link neighborhoods and organizations with
ideas, issues, and project coordination.
The Network would like to encourage projects throughout the
City, with some of the volunteers coming from the neighborhood in which the
project is carried out. The idea is
to build community in South Portland and teach our children the value of
neighborhood stewardship.
If you are interested in participating in the Volunteer Network, please contact
Theresa Wiper (767-1160) with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address.
List
of projects completed
May
2001 – Willard Beach Bath House Painting
18 volunteers over a ten-day period
Earth Day – beach clean up
September,
2001 – Participation in International Coastal Cleanup at Willard Beach,
beaches in Ferry Village, SMCC beaches, and Bug Light Park
May
2002 – Willard Beach Projects for Earth Day and number of volunteers in
parenthesis:
Fish Shack roofing, shingling, staining (10)
Bath house deck staining (5)
Beach Clean up (40)
Fisherman’s Point Trail clearing (4)
Willard Street and Willow Street Beach Entrances: plantings (12)
and invasive plant removal (5)
September
2002 – Participation in International Coastal Cleanup at Willard Beach
Beach Cleanup (10)
Dune restoration (beach pea and dune grass seed
planting and fertilizing with seaweed) (20)
June
2003 – National Trails Day
Cleaned up section of Barberry Creek that runs along
the greenbelt walkway extension/bike trail (6)
September
2003 – Participated in International Coastal Cleanup (15) at Willard Beach