Members new and old are all encouraged to “get involved”. Options include volunteering for event committees, teaching dogs new tricks, openings for association directors, special events and small projects helpers and coordinators, supporting fundraising activities, food & party prep, etc.
We're looking for advice on a number of topics. If you've any experience or knowledge in these professions, we'd like to chat with you. Also see "All About Donations".
Arborist - we need a quick walk through commentary on the condition of all our plants, shrubs and trees including maintenance tips on trimming, watering, sun and so on.
Concrete retaining walls - we need helpful advice on how to more permanently repair / install shrub and plant root ball retaining walls on the hillsides adjacent to the sidewalk curb.
Concrete re-design for the 8 drainage tubes along the eastern hillside of the upper basin. They drain the crude 'gutter' further uphill along the concrete block wall. How can we make aesthetic improvements perhaps with some fun design features too?
Ideas and Making Opportunities
Also beneficial are bringing up ideas and brainstorming. If there's a short or long term improvement suggestion, inexpensive or costly, lets hear it. Often times it takes two or three ideas (that by themselves aren't feasable) yet when combined become the greatest thing since sliced bread!
Many of VOTW members belong to other clubs. If you see something of interest in the other clubs that might work in VOTA bring it up! Also - if there's opportunities for clubs to work together either as a joint fundraiser or to help each club out - bring it up!
Helpful Opportunities
The Association can always use help with the myriad of small things that makes the VO Pet Walk the BEST pet exercise area of all parks in the Valley. (If you doubt that, see Social Director in the Activity Center and the VO real estate folks in the Administration Building!)
Most opportunities can be accomplished early or late in the day. Many take only a few minutes and most can be easily without a schedule. Once a week or alternate weeks works out just fine!
General sidewalk sweeping. The pea gravel loves to sun bathe on the sidewalk and needs to be reminded to stay off. Grab one of the dozen brooms throughout the park and make a clean sweep of things!
Power sweeping (air blower) can clear pea gravel off the entire sidewalk route and then some in 10 minutes time. Once a day is more than enough.
Watching / monitoring our plants, shrubs and trees for lack of water, trimming needs and other general plant-health concerns.
While the rolled plastic bags are replenished fairly regular, we need help replenishing the plastic shopping bags located throughout the Pet Walk. They empty quickly sometimes and refilling is fast and easy.
We need good clean plastic shopping bags to supplant the rolled plastic bags that are somewhat expensive.
When dogs run loose they sometimes sneak off far away from their owner who doesn't see 'fertilization' activities going on. Please respectfully point out where such activity went on for the dog owner to clean up.
If you see broken toys, ripped balls and general debris on the fields or sidewalk, take a moment to collect and dispose of it.
As with any club, sometimes there's an opportunity to help with fundraising, directly or indirectly. Often times helping out doesn't take a lot of time and is something to do for a few weeks or so.
Remember there's several specific events throughout the seasons that assistance is always welcome. Putting up and taking down decorations Christmas, Halloween, Easter and so forth are several examples.
We need help with counting and validating elections at every March Annual Member's Meeting.
During the Home Tours we appreciate golf cart drivers, refreshment organizers and providers, safety/health/cleanliness monitors, and so on.
At times we need event ticket sellers at the Pet Walk or other Venture Out activities.