February 4, 2004
Smart way to assist skiers
CHS honor society students volunteer at annual ski tour
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Behind the camaraderie, the chocolate and the challenges were a bevy of volunteers who made the Sixth Annual Madeleine Thomas Memorial Women's Ski Tour happen.
One solid team of volunteers this year came from Traverse City Central High School, where more than two dozen members of the school's National Honors Society signed up to help.
Lois Goldstein, a retired math teacher who now volunteers at the school, organized the effort for the event held at the Timber Ridge Resort Sunday morning.
A four-year veteran volunteer at the ski tour, Goldstein enlisted her youthful helpers and organized them into teams, shifts and jobs - as precise as any mathematical calculation. They were the floater volunteers, serving wherever needed among the sea of more than 100 other volunteers. The students were some of the smiling greeters, the cheerful check-in people and the helpful ski fitters.
"In order to be in NHS, you not only have to have academic talent but also community service, so these kids are frequently volunteering for these kinds of things," said Goldstein, who taught math for three decades in Oak Park, Ill. "So I talked to the advisor at that time, who was interested."
Goldstein said that what most impressed her about the teen volunteers was that despite their busy schedules and academic demands, they carved out time to help. She was determined to find some helpers early on after some snags with T-shirt distribution at last year's event. This year, she meticulously organized the shirts by size and last name and primed her kids to efficiency.
"I think it is really important to see that here are almost 30 kids giving up their time to help with something on a Sunday morning," she said. "They were willing to give up their time and they told me back in December."
Miles Kaufmann, an 11th grade student at Central Grade School, spent the first part of his two-hour shift helping women in a bind: he helped them snap on their skis or strap on their snowshoes.
"I heard of this event in years before and I like to help out," said Kaufmann, adding being at the trailhead was not a stretch him. "Cross country skiing is my winter sport."
A member of the varsity volleyball time, Emily Noss found time to volunteer Sunday morning, serving as a greeter and general helper for the 1,400 attendees.
"It seemed like a fun event and I like being outside," said Noss, an 11th grade student. "This is a good environment to be around."
Marie Mann, a senior this year, wanted to help because the tour contributes to the community. This year, profits from the event will benefit the Traverse Area Regional Transportation Trail System and Madeleine's House, a refuge for women and families fleeing domestic violence.
"This is a good event and a good cause," Mann noted.
Goldstein sets her own example as a volunteer, spending her days helping out in Central High School's algebra and calculus classes. In addition, she also chairs the Cherry Capital Paddle America club.
After retiring, it took her about six months to long for the classroom so she began volunteering at Central in December of 2000. She didn't miss many of teaching's administrative aspects - testing and grading and phoning parents - but she did miss the students.
"I've gotten to know a bunch of the kids," she noted of her volunteer time in class.