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Important Dates
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Program Volunteer Training
October 15
Horse Leader Level I Training
October 19
Program Volunteer Training
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Check out our Barn Team!
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Barn Team volunteers are vital to Little Bit's success.
We are currently looking for volunteers 14
years and older who can make a weekly commitment.
Mondays and Tuesdays are currently our greatest need. Will you volunteer to care for our herd from 11 AM - 1:30 PM?
Volunteers keep our horses happy and healthy by delivering lunch, re-filling water buckets, and mucking paddocks.
Email Ariel Aman for more information or to schedule a brief training!
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It's the Little Things
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 We want our volunteers to know that we notice when you go above and beyond. Here are some shout-outs to a few volunteers who were "caught being awesome" recently:
- Ann Palmason was helping with a therapy patient when the patient suddenly became ill. Ann didn't bat an eye before stepping in to help clean up the mess. You rock, Ann!
- A therapist asked a hippo patient to throw a bean bag directly at Leslie Speed's head. Leslie took a direct hit to the face, and the patient was very pleased with herself. Thanks for your sense of humor, Leslie.
- From therapist Sarah: Greg McGwire got up early this Saturday morning to help with an 8 am hippo that had a last-minute Friday night volunteer cancellation, and he still helped with his usual classes. Thank you, Greg!
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lvord Arena Improvements
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In addition to the
Mounting Platform & Ramp that opened to riders at the beginning of Fall Session, Little Bit now has two new viewing platforms in the Alvord Arena!
Swinerton
team members volunteered their entire Saturday to complete the project in ONE day. On top of the 235 hours of labor, all of the materials were donated by the company to make the platforms a possibility.
Thank you, Swinerton!
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Continued Education Opportunities
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Continued education opportunities are an excellent opportunity to learn how to work better with our herd and expand upon
horsemanship skills!
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Bonnet made by volunteer Katie Boa |
Paddock Training
Weekly, Fall Session:
Mon, 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Tues, 4 - 5 PM
Wed, 5 - 6 PM
Thurs, 12 - 1 PM
Fri,11 - 12 PM
Horse Leader Level I
Sat, October 15, 5-7 PM
Wed, November 9, 7-9 PM
Paddock Trained volunteers can
catch a
nd turn out horses before and after class. Sign up for training in the Tack Barn.
Horse Leaders are responsible for helping their horse follow directions
in class.
Volunteers must be Paddock Trained in order to participate. Please email Melanie Renk to sign up!
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Arena Volunteers
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Please contact
Dana LaRue
if you are interested in signing up for a recurring volunteer shift.
Or, call 425-882-1554
to speak with a
Volunteer Department staff member.
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Amazon Wishlist Donations
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Did you know Little Bit has an Amazon Wishlist
, featuring items needed throughout the organization?
In fact, Little Bit owes a big
THANK YOU to Karyl Alvord for her recent purchases off the wishlist!
The new Keurig is a fabulous addition to our Tack Barn just in time for the cold Winter months! Please help take care of it by using only filtered water when making your warm drinks.
Karyl also donated 100 k-cups, gift cards to raffle off to our incredible volunteers, and snacks for new volunteer orientations!
Please consider sharing
Little Bit's Wishlist to friends and family looking for charitable giving opportunities this holiday season.
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Boy Scouts of America
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If you haven't already, make sure to check out the new Memorial Garden located just north of the Murdock Arena. Eagle Scout candidate, We
sley Crowe, and friends provided all of the materials and hard-work to create a tribute to Little Bit's loved ones who have passed away.
After you reflect at the garden, take a moment to enjoy the new bleachers in front of the outdoor
arena.
Eagle Scout candidate, Beau Hopmere, and friends
provided a combined total of 300 service hours and raised funds for all of the materials to construct a comfortable and safe resting place for our community to watch the Little Bit magic in action.
Thank you, Boy Scouts of America!
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Program Volunteer Training - Support Needed
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Little Bit is looking for Training Team members to assist at Program Volunteer Training:
October 11, 6:30 - 9
PM
October 19, 6:30 - 9 PM
November 3, 6:30 - 9 PM
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Volunteer Spotlight: Marty Welliver
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Do you have a favorite Little Bit moment you can share?
I was keeping an eye on Shorty in the tack barn. It had been a couple of months since I started coming to Little Bit and I had yet to take paddock training. Shorty, not being the type who is content to wait, was not pleased with this arrangement. He decided it was time to make his departure and proceeded forward but was brought to an abrupt halt by the cross-ties he had apparently forgotten he was wearing. I politely asked him to back up and, unexpectedly, he acquiesced.
This kind of interaction is normal to me now, but it was the first time one of the horses actually did something I asked of them so at the time it was quite exciting.
What's your favorite thing about volunteering here?
I love the positive and welcoming atmosphere at Little Bit. When I'm stressed being here calms me down and when I'm feeling down it cheers me up. It feels gratifying to help people, but I think I'm getting just as much benefit by being here as the riders.
Which Little Bit horse is your favorite, and why?
One of my favorite things about being a substitute is that I get to work with almost all of the horses. I don't think I can pick a favorite horse because I like them all, even when they're giving m
e trouble. That may actually be when I like them the most because you get to see the most of their individual personalities when they decide that they would rather do something different from the rest of the class. Skip stands out to me in this regard because he can usually figure out what the class activity is going to be and tries to start doing it on his own while we're still warming up. Or maybe he just really likes weaving cones.
What do you like to do when you're not volunteering?
In my free time I like to read and play with/be played with by my dogs (Airedales turn every activity into either a game or a crime).
What's one piece of advice you'd give to a new volunteer?
Listen and ask questions. All the volunteers and staff are there to help people, including you.
Marty has volunteered over 200 hours since he joined Little Bit in November of 2015. He is a regular volunteer on Thursday mornings, but you can find him substituting as both a sidewalker and a leader in many other classes.
Thank you for all you do, Marty!
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Meet our Staff: Kristin Miller
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What do you do at Little Bit, including your official titl
e?
I am the Executive Assistant at Little Bit. I help the
Executive Director with projects as directed. I schedule meetings of the Board of Directors and the various board committees. I take minutes at meetings and prepare and distribute meeting materials.
How long have you worked for Little Bit?
I have been an employee at Little Bit since June of 2013. Before becoming an employee, I was a rider parent, volunteer and Board Member. I first came to Little Bit a rider parent 16 years ago.
What do you love most about Little Bit?
I love the work that goes on in the arena and the fact that I can be a part of that work, behind the scenes, is amazing.
What kinds of hobbies do you have outside of work?
I raise service dogs for Canine Companions for Independence. I am also the regional chairperson of the Williams Syndrome Association.
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2016 Archived Volunteer Bulletins
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Thanks for reading and thank you for your service!
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