Dr. Janice Novello has been volunteering with Keep Manatee Beautiful (KMB) for six years. She has been on the KMB Board of Directors for two years and currently serves as the secretary. She believes when she joins other volunteers, they get things done. “I enjoy meeting others who like keeping our environment clean and safe. The makeup of our board is unique and important. We have so many resources to draw on to help solve problems. From publicity to pulling permits, we make things happen quickly with a lot of support.”
Dr. Novello represents KMB well on many projects. She participates in road cleanups at Lakewood Ranch on the east side of the county. She looks for business owners and residents to plant native species that do not need a lot of water.
Dr. Novello also enjoys working with youth groups. She teaches them about plants and taking care of the space around them. “I hope I am making a difference as I spread the word and educate others about taking care of the environment.”
Her enthusiasm is contagious. This volunteer goes into area schools using Keep America Beautiful curriculum. Students are learning by doing hands-on projects. They are learning about what items are most hurting the environment.
The classroom is not her only setting. Dr. Novello hosts popup sessions or informal sessions. She works with children in parks and at the beach so they can see and learn first-hand about the environment.
She strongly encourages everyone to get involved and volunteer with KMB. “Take pride in the beauty of your community. You have to participate. When you do, you develop a whole new pride for your community. For example, when you take ownership of adopting a street or spot and you see your name on the sign, you are not going to let anything to happen to area. If you see trash, you will probably stop and pick it up.”
