VOLUNTEERS--VERY IMPORTANT PERFORMERS

Harry Sokolow

Brief description of HARRA volunteer service performed (roles, responsibilities, relate an experience or story, etc.): Volunteering at water stops in races...at the HARRA booth in various races...at the Kid ’s Run, trained as AED volunteers at the end of this past season (but never got around to volunteering in that capacity) and coaches for Students Run Houston. A story to relate: Two years ago the 25K was on October 29, our 11th wedding anniversary. The year before, on our 10th anniversary, my wife, Dena, had a plane fly over our home with a sign reading: “Dena loves Harry.” So...for our 11th anniversary, I arranged for a plane to fly over the 25K with a sign that read “Harry loves Dena.” The plane apparently was running late...and I was getting worried. We were at the point in the race where we were raking up empty cups and Gu wrappers and putting them in garbage bags, when the plane suddenly came over. I had told practically all my friends there that the plane would be flying over, and they started seeing it and yelling at Dena, “Look up! Look at that plane!” She did, and she appreciated it...but when friends asked her after that where she was when the plane flew over, she delighted in telling them “I was in the gutter, raking up paper cups!”

How did you get involved with volunteering or what motivates you to volunteer? I think our first volunteer stint came at the request of our running buddy Al Rico, who asked if we wanted to help at a 20K water station. But no matter what I volunteer for, generally it ’s my wife who drafts me without me even knowing it. As for what motivates me to volunteer...mainly it ’s because I want to give something back to the running community and all those people who have volunteered so that I could run.

Skills abilities, etc. that aid volunteer support for HARRA: Well, being a runner, I know what runners look for in races and need...and being a Family Practitioner, I know a lot about medical problems and know about First Aid, Safety, and the use of an AED.

What benefits do you perceive from volunteering? Camaraderie...feeling good about it...giving back to the community. And it’s a lot of fun.

What can HARRA do to provide a positive experience for its volunteers? I think it’s doing plenty now!

Thank you for volunteering!

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2003