The Volunteer View The Monthly Newsletter for Marin County Civic Center Volunteers and Student Interns

VOL 42 ISSUE 4 APRIL 2019

Civic Center Fan Keeps Things in Order By Shirley Trimble

An eye-opening tour of the Marin eye and scoured shelves for misfiled RR County Civic Center many years ago books, which were then returned to was the beginning of Montserrat their correct places.

Sthymmel’s love affair with the Frank PHOTO ANNE BY STA Recently, Montserrat has been Lloyd Wright-designed building. shelf-reading to make sure library For 10 years, Monserrat was an enthu- items are in proper order. siastic Civic Center Volunteers tour “Montserrat is a person of great docent and relished her opportunity to energy and flair and is a treasured meet people from all over the world and volunteer,” said Teressa. tell them about this national monument. Her lingual fluency in Catalan, English, “She makes the most of her weekly French, and Spanish made her tours one-hour gig and the library especially valuable. benefits all the time from her work. She is such a pro at what she does. After the death of her husband, Gary, We applaud her excellent work and and caring for her then-infant grand- dedication.” Teressa added: “She daughter, Violette (now a college also makes the very best Key lime student), Montserrat returned to the pie!” beloved building as a library aide at the Marin County Free Library’s Civic Montserrat, who studied the Center branch, located on the fourth history of floor under the dome. and met his protégé, architect Montserrat Sthymmel ensures that books are Aaron Green, says she loves the properly shelved at the Civic Center Library. Volunteering with Library Desk Civic Center at all hours, espe- Supervisor Teressa Snyder, her first cially at sunset when the sun’s rays projects were re-labeling library materi- said Montserrat. “The atmosphere is turn the atrium walls to gold. “One of als to indicate “Marin County Library.” delightful, and everyone treats me with the best rooms for me is the library,” Section by section, she used her eagle (Continued on page 2)

VOLUNTEER NOTES CCV STAFF Volunteers and Interns Praised as Models of Caring Anne Starr, Coordinator of Volunteers 415-473-7167•[email protected] In appreciation for volunteers and interns’ positive impact, the Board of Supervisors has Joy Fossett, Internships Coordinator proclaimed April as Volunteer and Student Intern Recognition Month in Marin. Board of 415-473-7447•[email protected] Supervisors President Kate Sears sponsored the proclamation, which notes that Civic Robyn Madias, Administrative Assistant Center Volunteers participants are models of our community’s ability to care for one another 415-473-7407•[email protected] through direct and indirect sevice. VOLUNTEERS The proclamation highlights individual and team roles, including patrolling open space Writers: Shirley Trimble, Scott Harrop, trails, cataloguing historic maps, tutoring students at Juvenile Hall, writing articles, pulling Tiyona Pariani, Pilar Goodman, Ed Remitz invasive plants, designing logos, ushering at Marin Center events, advocating for long-term Copy Editor: Pamela Ross care residents, drafting legal briefs, facilitating focus groups, preparing for emergencies, Design Consultant: Eleanor Lau keeping foster children safe, assisting at the Marin County Fair, watching for wildfires, Graphic Design Aide: Bobby Wood Administrative Aides: Joanne Elder, conducting surveys, leading Marin Civic Center tours, building a solar-powered welcome Deborah Fox, Deborah Gregor sign for the county airport, and much more. Civic Center Fan Keeps Order (continued from page 1) respect -- perhaps because at 81 I am As a Marin County Free Library volun- the oldest volunteer there!” teer, Montserrat is part of a large group active at nine of the library system’s 10 Originally from Catalonia, Spain, PHOTO BY ANNE STARR STARR ANNE BY PHOTO branches. Last year, 115 library volun- Montserrat went to school in Paris for teers and interns served 6,240 hours. two years to improve her French. Later, back in Spain, she taught French to Included in those numbers are Library Beyond Walls liaisons, who deliver adult students. In 1963 she came to to learn English and met her materials to homebound patrons, and husband, Gary, at an art gallery in the youth volunteers fulfilling their high city. school community service requirements. The couple had two daughters, Nuria Interested in volunteering with the and Adriana. Today, Nuria and her library? Next time you visit your local husband own the charming Larkspur branch, speak with a staff member -- or boutique Coquelicot. Montserrat works contact the CCV office at 415-473-7407. at the shop, filling in whenever needed. For Library Beyond Walls only, contact She stays busy with family activities Montserrat Sthymmel Community Library Specialist Ann and enjoys touring museums, attending traveling. Her reading list favors biogra- Bertucci at [email protected] or the opera and symphony, hiking, and phies, art books, and historical fiction. 415-669-1288. English Coach Encourages Conversational Fluency By Tiyona Pariani

Civic Center Volunteer Chuck his work. “Chuck is a pleasure to work Viebrock volunteers Monday mornings with,” said Maria Lee. at the English Conversation Club held “He is always expanding our horizons at the Novato Library’s main branch with his ‘Ship Days as Captain’ and PARIANI TIYONA BY PHOTO on Novato Boulevard. There he helps teaching about the world around us, non-English speakers develop language whether it be where he has explored or skills. what is happening in areas around us He began volunteering six months ago today.” after a 25-year career as a ship captain Chuck is from Queens, New York, and certified to command any vessel in the has lived 41 years in Novato with his world of any tonnage. wife Rebecca, a prominent soprano Chuck decided to volunteer at the singer and teacher. He has one son and County of Marin after taking a class to two grandchildren. help him learn Spanish. Chuck Viebrock Besides teaching, Chuck is devoted to Chuck believes what he does is import- nature photography, especially docu- ant because English is the one language menting bird migrations throughout Chuck’s biggest pleasure from volunteer- used throughout the world. “With the Northern . ing is working with people who are open exception of the original British settlers to learning. “Many recent immigrants to the and those from English-speaking areas, US know basic English but lack the He enjoys helping with homework, everyone who has immigrated here, plus confidence to speak it,” Chuck says. meeting people from different cultures the Native Americans, has had to learn “Being able to volunteer with this class and languages, and learning more about to speak it,” he says. allows me to help them improve their other countries from his students than if Library Assistant Maria Lee Goodrich confidence.” he only turned on the TV. is Chuck’s staff supervisor and praises

2 The Volunteer View April 2019 We congratulate these volunteers who celebrate their Happy Anniversary! anniversaries this month and thank them for their involvement.

26 YEARS Scott McDaniel (San Rafael), Search & Rescue Nancy Oswald (San Anselmo), Administrative Aide, Art Marthinsen (San Rafael), Health Program Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office Veterans Services Office, HHS Consultant, Community Development Agency 8 YEARS 3 YEARS 24 YEARS Rick Bartolacelli (San Rafael), Docent, California David Gannon (Corte Madera), Timothy Mahoney Linda Davis (Sausalito), Consumer Mediator, District Room, Civic Center Library (Fairfax), Marion Matthews (Petaluma), Jon Attorney’s Office Robert Gehlen (San Rafael), Rich Shelton (Tiburon), Melberg (Kentfield), Search & Rescue Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office 22 YEARS Search & Rescue Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office Rich McGrath (San Rafael), Flag Raiser, Cultural Joey Melberg (Kentfield),Sean Sweeney (Larkspur), Dan Healy (Woodacre), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Search & Rescue Youth Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office Service/Auxiliary Communications Service (RACES/ACS) Services Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office 7 YEARS Paul Minault (San Rafael), Steward, Marin County Parks Shirley Trimble (Mill Valley), Volunteer View Newsletter Deborah Gregor (Novato), Event Aide, Human Writer, Human Resources Resources Austin Patel (Kentfield), Teen Coding Instructor, Corte Madera Library 19 YEARS Terry Norton (San Anselmo), Kathryn Thyret (Mill Valley), Ombudsman Volunteers, HHS Mark Stoering (Tomales), Tomales Station Firefighter, John Pope (Novato), Search & Rescue Volunteer, Fire Department Sheriff’s Office 6 YEARS 1 YEAR 16 YEARS Bruce Bowser (Bolinas), Duncan Hopkins (Bolinas), Chrisula Asimos (San Rafael), FAST Volunteer, HHS James Selfridge (San Anselmo), Aide, Fire Department Stewards, Marin County Parks Brian Beidelman (San Rafael), Gideon Bernstein 15 YEARS Larken Bradley (San Rafael), Senior Peer Counselor, HHS (San Rafael), Arran Caddy (San Rafael), Gabriel Tom Zarraonandia (Novato), Steward, Marin County Carsillo (San Rafael), Tom Kennedy (San Rafael), Parks Lisa Jack (Novato), Shelver, Novato Library Calvin Schrader (San Rafael), Tate Thompson (San 13 YEARS Scott Mullen (San Rafael), Search & Rescue Volunteer, Rafael), Search & Rescue Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office Sheriff’s Office Sue Baty (Pt. Reyes), Knitting Instructor, Point Reyes Nancy Carlisle (Novato), Michael Fischer (Mill Library 5 YEARS Valley), William Hitt (St. Helena), Ann Ivan (Santa Rosa) Christian Jordan (Mill Valley), Kami Kitchen Emily Cushman (San Rafael), Search & Rescue Roberta Cohen (Mill Valley), Senior Peer Counselor, HHS (San Francisco), Drew Levy (Sonoma), Joe Lopardo Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office (San Francisco), Sean O’Leary (San Rafael), Mark 11 YEARS 4 YEARS Rudo (Novato), Steven Virshup (Novato), Fire Larry Atkinson (San Carlos), Catherine Way Liam Anderson (Corte Madera), Search & Rescue Youth Lookouts, Fire Department (Larkspur), Search & Rescue Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office Volunteer, Sheriff’s Office June Bernstein (San Rafael), Cassidy Fragakis (San Susan Bunker (San Rafael), Library Beyond Walls Cachitin Brister (Kentfield), Chaplain, Sheriff’s Office Rafael), Alexander Mormorunni (San Rafael), Kyle Liaison, Marin County Free Library Valerie Lels (Kentfield), Financial Abuse Specialist Team Nelson (San Rafael), Paul O’Driscoll (San Rafael), (FAST) Volunteer, HHS Kasia Page (San Rafael), Sofie Shafer (San Rafael), 9 YEARS Michael Shirado (San Rafael), Genevieve Wyatt Genny Duffin (Sonoma), Erica Shafer (San Timothy Holmes (San Rafael), Sarah Loughran (San Rafael), Search & Rescue Youth Volunteers, Sheriff’s Anselmo), Senior Peer Counselors, Health & Human (San Rafael), Search & Rescue Volunteers, Sheriff’s Office Office Services (HHS) Christine Camilleri (Novato), Mounted Patrol, Marin Gary Robards (San Rafael), Survey Archivist, California County Parks Room, Marin County Free Library

W h o’s New & Welcome! 

Jody Berman (Novato), Spanish Tutor, Novato Library David Hernandez (San Rafael), Teen Shelver, South Naydelin Santos (San Rafael), Teen Shelver, South Phil Danskin (Sonoma), Map Archive Docent, Researcher Novato Library Novato Library & Cataloger, California Room, Marin County Free Library Lorena Paredes (San Rafael), Legal Support Intern, Mia Tokarski (Mill Valley), Marin Teen Girl Ambassador, Alexander DeGroat (Petaluma), Law Clerk, County District Attorney’s Office Human Resources Counsel’s Office Sonia Saltzman (Mill Valley), Marin Teen Girl Ashley Winslow (San Rafael), Legal Support Intern, Ambassador, Human Resources District Attorney’s Office

3 The Volunteer View April 2019