Volunteers Give Time to TecH₂O

TecH2O volunteers and staff use the traveling rollng river exhibit at the Chihuahuan Desert Festival.

Staff recognize TecH2O volunteers at their annual banquet and awards ceremony.

Since its grand opening celebration in May 2008, the Carlos M. Ramirez TecH₂O Water Resources Learning Center has seen a constant flow of visitors. The staff has welcomed bus loads of students; seminar and conference attendees; government officials; and visitors from other cities, states and countries. The community events the center hosts throughout the year, both onsite and offsite, are popular with El Pasoans. But families and community groups also tour the exhibit hall on Saturday mornings when the center is open to the public.

The TecH₂O staff is not a large one, so how does it accommodate more than 10,000 visitors each year?

“We are a very small department and, therefore, minimally staffed,” says Diane Perez, the water conservation education specialist. We are fortunate to have recruited quality people who are dedicated to helping us teach others about water.”

Perez is referring to the volunteers who donated nearly 1,700 combined hours of assistance and support to the staff over the past year. After receiving training and orientation, they conduct tours, give presentations and answer questions about water use, water quality and conservation. They also help with after-school programs, water conservation programs and special events.

“On Sept. 30, volunteers received certificates of appreciation and pins at a banquet and awards ceremony. Bronze pins were awarded for 100 volunteer hours; silver pins for 300 hours; gold pins for 500 hours; and Willie pins for special events. Flossie Rico received the Top Volunteer Award for donating more than 425 volunteer hours.

Perez says, “The Volunteer Appreciation Banquet recognizes the hard work volunteers do for us through the year. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to effectively reach as many people as we do.”