Late post to say goodbye to Dianna and welcome to Jacqui. SoPo has a new volunteer coordinator. From SoPo…
Sopo is proud to announce our new Volunteer Coordinator, Jacqueline Dougherty. Jacqui is relatively new to the Sopo community but has already shown great dedication and interest as well as a great understanding of the Sopo way. We are excited for what the future brings and feel that Jacqui will be a great addition to Sopo.
We are sad to see Dianna go, she has been a wonderful and integral member of the community for many years. Many of us have become very close friends with her and she has helped many more through her hard work with Sopo. Please feel free to send your well wishes to Dianna as she embarks on a new adventure and continues to grow.
Read on for more goodbyes and introductions…
Goodbye:
Dearest Sopo,First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of Sopo and of my life for the last few years. Sopo has been a family to me and has supported me through learning my way around this position and the challenges that have come with that. Going into becoming the Volunteer Coordinator I had a lot of uncertainties. At that point I had facilitated a few orientations and even fewer classes. I had a very brief idea of what needed to get done and was skeptical of my abilities. It came with frustration, a little insanity, and, at times, tears that I became more familiar with what needed to get done. That being said there was nothing without joy in this experience, even late nights trying to decipher our old paper sign in sheets or the BHBP craft parties with low attendance where 2 or 3 of us would be cutting, pasting, and making random supplies. A recent tally has reminded me that I have facilitated around 50 Volunteer Orientations at Sopo. I have also, through this experience, been afforded better friends than I could ever even ask for. My life and my years in Atlanta have been made infinitely better because of Sopo. I’ve made friends and had opportunities that I wouldn’t have thought of without Sopo.
I hope that Sopo is able to grow even more than it has with the addition of the new VC. I hope that the new Volunteer Coordinator is better at volunteer recruitment and never has to know about the paper sign in sheets. I hope that they have a good way to communicate with current and potential volunteers, are able to treat problems in ways that are pragmatic and deal with any shop issues or mediation in a diplomatic manner. I want to check in on Sopo during my time out west and learn that the programs like Bike There, the Bike-In Movies, and classes are stronger and with amazing turn outs. I hope that Family Night at the shop and the Youth Program are thriving. I most definitely want to hear about more volunteer parties and cookouts. (But I hope that ya’ll remember a spatula at these cookouts, unlike Bill and I who improvised with a chain guard and electrical tape – true Sopo ingenuity!)
I completely believe in Sopo and what we do for the community and how we’re able to make an impact in people’s lives every day. Sopo has done so many incredible things for Atlanta and for cities spread throughout the continent. We inspire and facilitate positive change in the city and the residents of Atlanta’s lives. Sopo provides mobility and autonomy to members of the community who would otherwise have trouble attaining those basic rights. Sopo has helped cyclists in a city with an infrastructure that is somewhat lacking keep their bicycles riding safely. Sopo has made mechanics and cyclists out of folks who would never have considered themselves as those before. Sopo has brought together bike punks and vintage Schwinn connoisseurs along with BMX kids and century riders. Sopo has made even the most serious squids crack a smile and have big belly-shaking laughs that leave you gasping for breath during Broken Hearts, unable to hide how silly and fun it can be to get pied in the face, eat a PB sandwich as fast as you can, or make your best zombie face. I thank you sincerely for this opportunity that has allowed me to grow in so many ways and am eager to see how much more Sopo will continue to grow in the future.
Cheers,
Dianna
Welcome:
Hello!My name is Jacqui Dougherty. I am honored to be welcomed into the community here at Sopo as the new volunteer coordinator. This summer, as a volunteer, I participated in the Youth Summer Progam with Whitefoord Community Program Bike Rite, Charity Bikes, and did lots of work on my bike during open shop hours. I am now happy to be working with our amazing volunteers and mechanics to keep our programs, events, and workshops rolling smoothly.
As always, there are many events and workshops taking place this month. There are also many opportunities for you to come out and participate. Keep checking the blog at sopobikes.org
Here’s how to get in touch: jd@sopobikes.org
or come on by this Saturday’s open shop hours from 2-6, say hello and find out more about upcoming volunteer opportunities!next volunteer orientation:
Monday August 27th 7pm
see you soon,
jd
