Organizations: Tomorrow River Valley Conservation Club and Thomas P. Orsund Memorial Foundation
Volunteer Service: 8 years
What is the mission of these nonprofits?
The Conservation Club was founded in 1942 as a way to protect and restore the natural resources and promote outdoor activities in Amherst, Wis. They host a number of restoration projects throughout the year, offer hunter safety classes, community education programming, student scholarships and more.
The Thomas P. Orsund Memorial Foundation raises funds to support the community, primarily in areas that support youth and the environment.
How did you get involved?
I was inspired by my father who was very involved in the outdoors and youth coaching. I grew up hunting and fishing with him and saw how passionate he was in the outdoors while giving back to kids in any way he could. So, I decided to give back in areas that would allow others in the community to enjoy the same things. After my father passed away, my mother, sister and I founded the Thomas P. Orsund Memorial Foundation to honor his legacy.
In which ways do you volunteer with these organizations?
I currently serve as treasurer for the Conservation Club and am the President of the Memorial Foundation. I also help run the programming at the Conservation Club, such as their annual hunter safety courses, fundraising banquets, raffles and area lake/roadside cleanups. Our involvement in youth and the outdoors has allowed us to work with our school district to form an official Youth Fishing Club. The Memorial Foundation was formed in 2019, so we’ve primarily focused on fundraising so that we can support our community. I lead one of our biggest fundraisers through the concessions at youth baseball and softball games.
What is the most rewarding part of volunteering?
The most rewarding part is watching the kids learn and grow in a new skill all while having fun. There is no better feeling than to watch their faces light up as they win an ice fishing contest or graduate one of our courses with confidence.
Can you share a memorable experience as part of your involvement?
Each year, the Conservation Club hosts an annual community clean up around Earth Day. Last year, we had about twenty people and five boats with nets and magnets cleaning the lake. It’s always amazing to see the piles of garbage and type of items that we’re able to pull out of the lakes in an effort to keep our community clean.
How has volunteering had an influence on you?
It has improved my communication skills and understanding of nonprofits. By working with various age groups, I’ve learned how to effectively communicate based on my audience. Through my experience as Treasurer with the Conservation Club, I learned how nonprofits operate and was able to transfer some of those skills when we established the Memorial Foundation.
What things have you learned about your community since getting involved?
It has given me insight about the needs of my community and the nonprofits that support those needs. Through the nonprofits I’m involved with, we do a lot to support other local organizations as an effort to uplift the community overall. Whether that’s participating in fundraisers to benefit the Sheriff’s Department K-9 or helping with repairs at a nonprofit facility – we can all benefit by helping each other.
Why is it important to give back to the communities we serve?
Keeping the outdoors clean allows others to continue to enjoy it for years to come. At the Conservation Club, we create awareness of the importance of conservation and keeping our lakes and forests clean for everyone to use. It’s especially important to engage our youth in these activities to show them how to help and carry on as active members of our society.