This year’s recognition ceremony took place Tuesday at the City Federation Clubhouse. Area volunteers who were lauded for their volunteer efforts in 2007 are Mike Lockett, Lola Joyce and Paul Tamez.
“We are so happy to take time out to honor these dedicated volunteers,” said Heidi Couchman, the woman who introduced and described each award recipient. “They’re work matters to so many people.”
Lockett is a longtime volunteer with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Texas. Michelle Farrell, the center’s executive director, nominated him.
“Mr. Lockett has exhibited commitment over and beyond what is expected of any board member,” Ms. Farrell said. “He provides his time, financial support and expertise to benefit the Advocacy Center’s service to children.”
Serving on the center’s board of directors since 2004, Lockett has held leadership positions several times, including his current role as president and the role of vice president on the finance committee in 2006-07.
Lockett also helped with the Advocacy Center’s recent merger and acquisition of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Bell County, a non-profit group that provides care to children who have removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. Ms. Farrell said he assisted in the restructuring of the CASA program with the goal of providing quality services to a higher number of children.
“Mr. Lockett’s commitment and care for the children of this county is a true asset,” Ms. Farrell said. “And his service to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas is invaluable.”
The Christian Farms Treehouse Board of Directors nominated Ms. Joyce, another of the three volunteers the City Federation honored.
“She has been a long-term volunteer dedicated to women who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Her servanthood has dedicated more lives than we will ever know,” said Cheryl Jones, member of the Christian Farms Treehouse Board of Directors. “Because it’s not just the addicted person she helps, it’s whole families and countless numbers of friends.”
Ms. Joyce has volunteered at Christian Farms Treehouse since its inception in 1970. She was one of the first Bible teachers at the Treehouse. She continues to mentor there on a weekly basis and was on the board of directors 2000-2006.
Ms. Jones describes Ms. Joyce as a “strong Christian firm in her beliefs.”
“She mentors,” Ms. Jones said. “She likes to share and teach all that she knows.”
Her lessons are just what the people at Christian Farms Treehouse need to hear, said Robert Sims, board president.
“Her lessons - they’re right on key,” Sims said. “Lola has a heart for the people she helps. She’s the person you want to go to when you’re struggling.”
Ms. Joyce’s nomination letter also mentioned her volunteer work as a Christian counselor at the Mountain View and Riverside prison units in Gatesville.
Tamez, the third volunteer honored by the City Federation, was nominated by the staff of the Hope Pregnancy Center, a shelter for pregnant women.
“He does so much for the center,” said Cathy Osborn, volunteer at Hope Pregnancy Center. “He’s our go-to man when something breaks. He knows how to fix everything. He mows the lawn and trims the trees. He keeps it all looking beautiful.”
An ordained minister, Tamez, along with his wife, oversees the center’s Rachel’s Vineyard recovery weekend retreats.
“The retreats are for women who are mourning children lost through abortion,” Ms. Osborn said. “The women are grieving and hurting. (Tamez), as a man, has experienced abortion - and his being a minister, it really helps the women to talk to him and to heal.”
His other contributions include chairing the center’s annual fund-raising golf tournament and decorating tables and buying tickets for the center’s annual fund-raising banquet.
In all, Tamez logged about 350 hours for Hope Pregnancy Center in 2007.
--Email Tomie Lunsford at tlunsford@temple-telegram.com
