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This month L.A. Works
would like to recognize one of our senior Project Leaders
-- Tom Hoctor.
While we often recognize new project leaders
who bring fresh energy to the work we do, it's worth
noting we have leaders who've been with us for a long
time, who continue to bring enthusiasm, perspective,
and committment to L.A. Works.
Project Leader burnout is a real danger in a volunteer
organization, and it takes careful pacing to remain
active in L.A. Works without burning one's self out.
Tom represents someone who has managed to remain active
in the organization for a long time, and to continually
renew and reinvigorate himself through work with different
projects, committees, and trainings.
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Tom continues to work on many committees, and recently
has returned to leading monthly projects as well. His
continued committment to the organization, and ability
to renew his energy is cause for celebration. Thanks
Tom!
Years with L. A. Works: 11
L. A. Works Experience:
7 years as an L. A. Works Project Leader/Project Coordinator
4 years leading monthly volunteer projects at Angel’s
Flight, a shelter for runaway teens
Also led or volunteered at several hundred projects
at Hollygrove, Aviva Center, Grammercy Place Shelter,
Children of the Night, Bethesda House, Bresee Foundation,
Country Villa West, Salvation Army Transitional Housing,
Alegria, Burbank Center for the Retarded, Project Angel
Food, Habitat for Humanity, Amanda Foundation, and dozens
of projects at public schools
Conducted Volunteer Orientation and Project Leader training
for several hundred L. A. Works volunteers
2 years on L. A. Works Program Committee
4 years as Committee Chair on L. A. Works Day Projects
Committee
2 years as Committee Chair on L. A. Works Training Committee
Professional and Scholastic Information:
Starting new career as a schoolteacher at a school for
educationally disadvantaged youth.
Nearly 20 years experience in Information Systems/Technology,
especially in the areas of project management, computer
systems support, requirements analysis, database programming,
and operational procedures
B.S. in Business Administration, with emphasis in Information
Systems
Tom's views on volunteerism:
"Like most L. A. Works volunteers, I initially
started signing up for projects with no specific idea
how I might best help others. In time, I began to understand
that, for me, interactive projects with kids were the
most fun and also the most rewarding. Children and “at
risk” youth are the future of our world, so the
best way to make a positive difference is to help them
grow into compassionate, caring, functional, self-assured
adults.
I feel that all children are essentially terrific and
need only adequate education, a fair, consistent and
structured learning environment, caring, emotionally-supportive
teachers and parents, and good adult role modeling to
help them develop into healthy, happy adults. I believe
that volunteers have a critical role in this development,
by helping build their scholastic skills, instilling
in them an appreciation of community service and diversity,
and helping build their self-esteem, all while having
fun. My goal as a volunteer, and in the future as a
teacher, is to help provide them with practical knowledge,
while also encouraging them emotionally, so that they
can grow to meet their potential and achieve their dreams."
Past
Project Leaders Recognition Pages
Sept, 2003
Aug, 2003
July, 2003
June, 2003
May, 2003
April, 2003
March, 2003
February, 2003
January, 2003
December, 2002
November, 2002
October, 2002 |
