Winter-Spring 2017 Winter-Spring 2016-17 one page up | Page 6

County Commissioners make Proclamation in Honor of Volunteers Proclamation County Commission Chairman Stan Hel- ton and Post Commissioners Earl John- son and Larry Joe Sosebee honored Fan- nin County volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 23-29. A procla- mation was signed at the Commission Meeting on April 25 recognizing “Fannin County Volunteer Week.” Through the Collaborative Partnership at Family Connection, a new volunteer group “Volunteers Move Mountains” has been formed and an event to showcase volunteer organizations is planned at the Blue Ridge Downtown Park on Saturday, October 7. This community-wide event is being organized to bring together po- tential volunteers and the organizations who use and rely on the services of vol- unteers. Family Connection is also offering an on- line tool for all non-profits, faith-based organizations and agencies who serve the citizens of Fannin County. This tool is free of charge to all organizations who wish to participate and is being spon- sored by Family Connection. Check it out at Resource.Directory.org. There are several counties in north Georgia who are participating in this effort. If you or your organization would like to have a listing in the Resource.Directory, please contact Family Connection at 706.632.6063 or e-mail Sherry at sherry- [email protected]. It takes only minutes to set up your organization. Family Connection will begin publicizing the Resource.Directory to the public at the time of the volunteer event on Octo- ber 7. All organizations, agencies, and churches are encouraged to participate in this free tool to aid our clients. in the Board of Commissioners for Fannin County, Georgia A Proclamation in Honor of Volunteers: ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ WHEREAS, a community rich in volunteers dedicates their time and service to ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ making significant and positive changes, great or small, through their individual and group actions; and WHEREAS, ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ is an interagency collaborative chaired by Fannin County Family Connection, Inc., representing local non-profits, government agencies, faith-based organizations, and interest groups; and WHEREAS, ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ is providing an on-line tool called Re- source.Directory for connecting all community organizations; and WHEREAS, ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ is sponsoring a community-wide event on the first weekend each October to bring together volunteers, potential volunteers and the organizations who rely on the vital services of volunteers; and WHEREAS, volunteers network and serve the Fannin County community through nu- merous schools, agencies, churches, non-profit organizations, and service organi za- tions, and WHEREAS, volunteering one’s time, talent and resources has been a significant part of our American heritage; and it is critical that we continue such a tradition of giving and sharing to preserve and improve the quality of life for the citizens of our communities; and WHEREAS, in this special week designated throughout our nation for the purpose of recognizing and honoring those individuals who give of themselves and to promote and encourage a sense of giving and service by all citizens; and WHEREAS, it is not only the receiver who benefits from the service of volunteers, but the giver who acquires skills, meets goals, and reaps a personal sense of well-being; and WHEREAS, experience teaches us that government alone cannot meet all the needs of our county, nor solve all of its social problems; and WHEREAS, our County’s volunteer force of more than one thousand (1,000) people is one of our valued treasures; and WHEREAS, volunteers are critical to the vitality and productivity of our county’s future; NOW, THEREFORE, the Fannin County Board of Commissioners do hereby thank our volunteers and proclaim April 23-29, 2017 as Fannin County Volunteer Week In Fannin County, Georgia, we urge our fellow citizens to volunteer and participate in ‘Volunteers Move Mountains’ in their communities. In doing so they will set an out- standing example for others to follow and by recognizing those who serve, we can Photo Courtesy of The Fannin Sentinel, Elaine Owens Connections, Winter/Spring 2016-17, Page 6 (L-R) Post 1 Commissioner Earl Johnson; Howell Bruce, Family Connection Board and Snack In A Backpack; Anna Speesen, UNG and Fannin County Boys and Girls Club; Kitty Taylor, North Geor- gia Mountain Crisis Network; Carlie Hammond, Good Samaritans; Joe Webb, Blue Ridge Community Theater; Melanie Davis, CASA; Commission Chairman Stan Helton; Sherry Morris, Family Connection Executive Director; Hope Burns, Blue Ridge Community Theater and Volunteers Move Moun- tains, Robert Buchanan, Emplty Stock- ing, Mary Ellen Alexander, Habitat for Humanity; and Post 2 Commissioner Larry Joe Sosebee.