Abilene again recognized for volunteerism

Look at the USA Weekend inserted in today's paper, and you might think you had received an edition designed especially for distribution in Abilene.

But no, it's the same one going out to 40 million readers nationwide. That all those Americans will see Abilene displayed so prominently is but one measure of the accomplishment the whole community can take pride in.

This week's USA Weekend features the 1997 Make A Difference Day Awards. Abilene's efforts on that national day of doing good, co-sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation, have received notice before, but never more emphatically.

Bassetti Elementary fourth-grader Alisia Orosco, 10, is one of the 10 top national award recipients. Alisia spent months saving money from chores to buy and send 15 stuffed animals to hospitalized children on Make A Difference Day, each with a note saying, "You're somebody special."

Plus, USA Weekend has again singled out Abilene to receive one of its five Encore Awards for repeated community excellence in Make A Difference Day activities. In last October's turnout, some 50,000 local volunteers participated in hundreds of projects. The award carries a check for $2,000, which will go to the Volunteer Center of Abilene.

In addition, homebound Sybil Haddock, 76, was chosen as an individual honoree for her effort in telephoning the sick and invalid to offer words of cheer.

Alisia, her mother, Lisa, and Janet Ardoyno, Abilene's Make A Difference Day coordinator, will be in Washington, D.C., at a luncheon on May 1 to receive the awards and represent those here who have been part of this larger endeavor. Abilene Clean and Proud is paying Ardoyno's travel expenses.

We're proud not only of these deserving individuals, but also of the whole community involvement that stands behind them. Make A Difference Day isn't about winning awards. It's about doing good for people in ordinary but tangible ways. And that's something Abilenians are good at doing.

While we're on the subject

Speaking of Abilene's tradition of volunteerism, it's appropriate that today's Sunday Life section focuses on that very community attribute, with a look at representative individuals, a survey of how nonprofit organizations operate and why, and an examination of what kinds of obstacles volunteers overcome in order to contribute their time and energies.

We recommend this section as a tribute and an inspiration.

Given Abilene's widespread volunteer effort, it still seems wrong for the city not to have a seat at the table for the Presidents' Summit for America's Future to be held April 27-29 in Philadelphia. The process of choosing delegates for this national conference on volunteerism concentrated exclusively on Texas' largest cities, despite the national attention Abilene has received and despite the encouragement Abilene has provided for many of those larger cities' projects.

And considering local volunteer extraordinaire Janet Ardoyno will be in Philadelphia on April 28-29 on her way to Washington, D.C, to receive Abilene's Encore Award at Make A Difference Day ceremonies, it would be only logical to allow her to participate in the discussions as a community representative. She'd have a lot to contribute and a lot to bring home.

Some slots are still open, apparently, and perhaps summit organizers could be encouraged to let Ardoyno participate. U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm's office is spearheading an effort in that direction. Let's hope conference officials listen.