Matthew Cosgro, an assistant engineer from Nashua, began volunteering at the Seashore Trolley Museum in 2001, as a way to give back to the organization that he and his family had enjoyed visiting for many years. In 2008, he was invited to begin training to become a dispatcher for the museum's demonstration railway. He shares his experience and knowledge with others "with the hope that they'll become interested in transit history and perhaps volunteer" like he did.
Mike Dinardo, a working foreman - line from Littleton, volunteers as an ice rescue instructor to train fire department personnel from all over the country. In 2008, he also served as a volunteer EMT with the Bethlehem, NH, Fire Department, and taught a water rescue course for the Lancaster Fire Department. He is inspired to volunteer because he "wants to give back to the community and the people who support him." It's especially rewarding, he says, when someone he helped train is involved in a successful rescue.
Pam Gaudreault, a customer service center representative III from Candia, participated in a wide variety of volunteer activities in 2008. She raked leaves for the elderly in the fall, stocked shelves and purchased food for the St. Paul's food pantry, volunteered to serve food on Thanksgiving Day at New Horizons, and participated in a five-mile walk for Multiple Sclerosis. What inspires her the most is setting an example for her two children, ages 11 and 13. They volunteer along with her and her husband at all of these activities. She says: "I want them to feel what I feel when I volunteer. Feeling good about helping people."
Jim Lavery, a field meter specialist from Penacook, spends the majority of his free time in the spring coaching softball, in order to spend time with his daughter and her friends and to help them grow as athletes and individuals. In 2008, he led the Merrimack Valley Little League softball team to the championship finals, where they won two games in the all-star playoffs. The highlight for him was "seeing my team win with honor, and lose with dignity."
Randall Rexford, a working foreman - field electrician from Lancaster, has served as a volunteer Firefighter/EMT for the Lancaster Fire Department for almost 24 years. In 2008, he volunteered many hours to help collect donated merchandise from local merchants and residents to place in the Fire Department's annual auction. The funds he helped raise through the 2008 auction went toward refurbishing the Department's recently acquired Rescue Truck.
Christine Rohr, an IT business application systems developer from Merrimack, volunteers at the James Mastricola Elementary School in Merrimack, coaches softball for the Merrimack Youth Association, and helps lead two classes a week at Merrimack Karate because "it feels good to give back to the organizations and schools that her children belong to." In 2008, she worked with her sister to coordinate 100 volunteers and put on a "Field Day" for 400 students at her children's school.
PSNH's New Hampshire Public Television Spring Auction Team is well-known for its enthusiasm and creativity, and continually sets the bar for NHPTV's auction "theme night." According to one team member, "There are regular viewers that look forward to seeing the PSNH team...We are there every year with our outfits and enthusiasm for such a great cause. That enthusiasm spills over to inspire others to watch, donate, and simply enjoy the entity that is NH Public Television."