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- March 2021
Stay informed and stay connected!
March 2021
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With March temperatures in the 60's and 70's the great February freeze is all but a memory, that is unless you're still dealing with the aftermath of broken pipes and other damage caused by this historic storm. But, Richardson is resilient. Our community pulls together in time of need. We’re known for that and so is Leadership Richardson. We want to offer a shout out to all who opened your homes to others in need of shelter, those who helped a neighbor, those who worked as first responders, and those who volunteered at a warming station. This is what makes our City great! There is still need in our community. Here are some organizations that could use your help: Richardson Animal Shelter https://www.facebook.com/RichardsonAnimalShelter/ Genesis Women's Shelter https://www.genesisshelter.org/ Family Place Network of Community Ministries is needing and giving support https://thenetwork.org/homepage/ |
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| Here are other ways you can get involved in the community Richardson Interfaith Alliance and Compassionate DFW have teamed up again for Feeding Children Everywhere on March 13. The event this year is at the U.S. Hunger warehouse in Grand Prairie. Under very strict COVID 19 precautions we are planning on 30 individual volunteers for each of three shifts, 9-10 am, 11-12 noon, and 1-2 pm to package 20,000 meals that will be delivered to Richardson's Network of Community Ministries. Please join us in making this a very successful event. You can register here. Donations are also needed to make this and future events possible. This is a great ways to bring community together and to share in the gift of giving of our time, talent, and resources. To donate, please send your gift with "To FCE" in the memo to Compassionate DFW, P.O. Box 836764, Richardson, TX 75083-6764. Compassionate DFW is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, EN 81-0757454. Any level of gift would be greatly appreciated. Any questions/comments, please reach out to Dr. Charles Barker at burnerb2@gmail.com. |
| Recycle Volunteers Needed The Richardson Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, a support group of the Richardson Police Department, will be having its annual Recycle/Shredding event on Saturday, April 24 from 10am-2pm. It's at the Sears store parking lot at Richardson Square Mall. They are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in working a shift for the fundraiser event, please contact Unleashed Alicia Marshall, Class XXXIII, for more details or to sign up. All funds raised go to support programs within the Richardson Police Department. |
| The Richardson Mayor’s Summer Internship Program is looking for volunteers who would be interested in supporting student applicants by providing them feedback on their resumes and meeting with them over Zoom to provide feedback and resume mentoring. The dates are below. right now we are looking for help are as follows. It’s a two hour commitment plus reviewing up to 4 student resumes before meeting with the students. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR STUDENT RESUME REVIEW Thursday, April 1; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursday, April 1; 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, April 5; 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. See more information in this sign-up link. |
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We had 60 people turn out for Breakfast with Mayor and the City Council on March 3, as part of our ongoing Leadership Development series. Mayor Paul Voelker addressed the City’s response to the recent freeze and the continuing efforts for winter weather repairs. The Zoom session also featured breakout groups with Council members Bob Dubey, Mark Soloman, Janet DePuy, Kyle Kepner, Ken Hutchenrider, and Steve Mitchell. It was a little different this year via Zoom, but the virtual format may have given more the opportunity to join in and ask questions. Thanks to all who participated! |
As one of our pillars, we encourage LR graduates to model the way. This includes service to the community. We want to recognize those who have stepped up to run for office in our City and those who are already serving on boards and commissions. It’s a pretty impressive list and this is only for the City of Richardson. We know many of you serve in other communities. Our hats are off to all who have stepped up to make our communities a better place.
2021 City Council Candidates:
Mayor: Paul Voelker, Class 16 (Unopposed)
Place 1: Bob Dubey, Class 24 (Unopposed)
Place 2: Jennifer Justice, Class 32 (Unopposed)
Place 3: Janet DePuy, Class 33 (Unopposed)
Place 6: Daniel Burdette, Class 28
Marilyn Frederick, Class 17
Arefin Shamsul, Class 25
The last day to register to vote is April 1. Early voting runs April 19-27. Election Day is May 1.
Here are the LR alums who are currently serving on City Boards and Commissions:
City Plan Commission: Ken Southard, Class 30 Stephen Springs, Class 30 Gwen Walraven, Class 28 Joe Costantino, Class 31 Civil Service Board: Richard Ramey, Class 18 Erica Yaeger, Class 17 Tim Griffy, Class 1 Eisemann Center Foundation: Shanna Sims-Bradish, Class 29 Bruce MacPherson, Class 16 Keith Dagen, Class 25 Library Board: Richard Lin, Class 31 Lisa Kupfer, Class 34 Evan Taylor, Class 36 Parks and Recreation Commission: Gene Fitch, Jr., Class 27 Steve Hendry, Class 34 Victor Garza, Class 30 Nancy Crowe, Class 23 Greg Kish, Class 24 Richardson Animal Services Advisory Commission: Erika Batzler, Class 33 Maureen Doherty, Class 32 Bill Alsup, Class 24 | Cultural Arts Commission: Catherine Burdette, Class 29 Kim Quirk, Class 22 Amy Taylor, Class 32 Sandy Palisch, Class 29 Anthony Pampillonia, Class 28 Elizabeth Gonzalez, Class 29 Richardson Building and Standards Commission: Jason Lemons, Class 28 Scott Rooker, Class 34 Jordan Everhart, Class 26 Marsha Mayo, Class 32 Richardson Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Board: Stan Bradshaw, Class 25 Jeremy Thomason, Class 27 Janice Peters, Class 15 Gerald Bright, Class 26 Sign Control Board: Alicia Marshall, Class 33 Sibyl LaCour, Class 34 Jill Blevins, Class 21 Zoning Board of Adjustment: Jason Lemons, Class 28 Scott Rooker, Class 34 Sebrena Bohnsack, Class 30 |
| Speaking of serving on boards, if you have any interest in serving on the Leadership Richardson Alumni Association board, please reach out to President-Elect Maureen Doherty. Click here to email her. This would be for 2021-2022. Here's your chance to give back to this fabulous program! |
Neil Stampe
Greetings to the Leadership Richardson Community. Over the last few months several of my LR friends who have also served as President of LRAA have shared their thoughts and insights. I totally agree with everything they have said and so, rather than plagiarizing their comments, I have decided to just ramble for a little while.
We have always promoted the idea that Leadership Richardson is not a “destination” but rather a “journey”. I probably came as close as anyone to violating that concept. Having been a member of LR XII, then a “Leadership Advisor” (aka a ROC) for three years, 5 years on the LRAA Board of Directors (including two back-to-back terms as President) and then twelve years as the Curriculum Committee Chair, I certainly made my journey an extended one. My only regret is that I didn’t start earlier rather than waiting until I had retired. LR skills could have helped me even more in my career. So, if you have a friend at work, be sure to share about LR and encourage them to give it a try.
The experience of being able to engage with class after class for so many years has been priceless and meaningful. I’m so proud of all the graduates have gone on to serve in public office, service organizations and non-profits in so many ways in our community. I owe a great deal to our former Executive Director of LR – Pam Krause as she mentored and partnered with our leadership team for over twenty years. While the fundamental principles of LR have remained over the years, there has been never-ceasing pursuit of ways to make improvements in all aspects of the program. I give special note to the efforts of Kim Quirk and Karen Ellis to adapt to the changing needs of the program through the Covid 19 era.
As mentioned earlier, LR is a journey. After so many years actively engaged in the LR program I saw the time to move on to the next phase of leadership. I encourage everyone to try to have more than one engagement in community service at a time. During my active years in LR I served many roles in the Richardson Rotary Club and volunteered at the Network of Community Ministries and Senior Source. I will point out that virtually every volunteer activity I pursued was triggered by an invitation from an LR grad. So, if there is a cause you feel is valuable, be sure to ask other LR grads to join you in the effort. This also provides transition opportunities to move forward in making a difference in our community.
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