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| Going Out to Help in Colorado June 2007
Though she can hear the shush of her skis carving a path through the snow and feel the air fan her face as she gathers momentum, the 93-year-old woman cannot see the steep slope ahead of her. Blinded by macular degeneration, Elsa cannot marvel at the breathtaking scenery of the Colorado Rockies. But thanks to MITRE engineer Beth Blakney, she can experience the thrill of a downhill run with a 1,400 foot vertical drop. Elsa is just one of the many area residents who have benefited from the good hearts and generous spirits of those who work at MITRE's Colorado Springs site, where a large proportion of the staff is engaged in activities ranging from mentoring to fundraising. Because their location about 60 miles south of Denver is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the United States, many of them volunteer outdoors. Skiing Blind and Teaching Fishing Among them is Beth Blakney, an active member of VIBeS (Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers). For those who shudder at the thought of skiing blind, Blakey explains how it works: "Skiers with some vision follow me, listening and watching my movements to get indications of what the slope is like and what the conditions are. For those with no vision, I ski behind and call out directions. I also watch the other skiers and snow boarders to make sure they don't run into us," she says, adding that these skiers range from "never evers" to those who ski moguls on expert slopes. Another volunteer who works outdoors is Shane Morrison, who teaches fly fishing and casting with the Federation of Fly Fishers, consults on aquatic environmental issues, and supports the National Alliance on Mental Illness. For the past 12 years, David Collette and Mary Pulvermacher have organized the MITRE team for the Great Strides Walk/Run for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation each May. Bob Jurgens and Jackie LaForge are also regular participants in this annual 10K fundraiser, which takes place within sight of Pike's Peak. One year all of the site's administrative assistants joined the MITRE team, which raises about $1,000 a year for the foundation. Walking, Writing, and Hoofing It Another person who goes out to volunteer is Norman Michaels, who donates about 180 hours per year as a Colorado Mounted Ranger. Daryl Hild's work as an assistant Scoutmaster and assistant leader with a Boy Scouts' Venture Crew take him outside too, as do Lawrence Grimaldi's activities as assistant Scoutmaster. Howard Lau helps out with In the Lord's Service, doing "handyman fix-up type stuff for people who can't afford to pay a professional for repairs." Last summer, he and his family worked on a construction project for the Navajo Missions organization in New Mexico. Lorien Saenz has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. But not all volunteering is outdoors. Mark Harter serves as vice president of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the ITEA (a space and missile testing organization). Keith Hartley teaches a young adult church group. Lori Dickerman and Kim Sheehan have tutored children and also organized many of their MITRE colleagues to mentor students at a local elementary school. Eric Todd works for Silver Key and Care-n-Share, which help seniors and children. Karen Fox volunteers on the boards of Pikes Peak Writers and the Romance Writers of America. Inspired by Nature's Generosity These are just some of the many good deeds done by a group of only 150 people. Which begs the question: what accounts for the high level of volunteerism at MITRE's Colorado Springs site? Some attribute it to the close bond among the staff. Another cause could be the location itself. The dry, mild climate attracted many tuberculosis sufferers in the early 1900s, which led to the building of numerous sanitariums and a culture of caring. It could also be the gold and silver discovered in the late 19th century. Many who "struck it rich" there shared their good fortune. Today, Colorado Springs is home to approximately 400 non-profit organizations. Or maybe it's just that living in the midst of so much natural beauty, people are inspired to give back... to repay this gift of nature in any way they can.
Page last updated: June 2, 2007 | Top of page |
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