Many of the countless community events, activities, services and projects that take
place in the city of Fort Morgan might never happen without one essential ingredient: volunteers.
Despite the widespread community commitment to volunteer service, however, the City of Fort Morgan has experienced difficulty in recent years getting people involved in its many city advisory boards and commissions.
From the planning commission to the library board, from the golf course advisory board to the senior center advisory board, vacancies have been common and often hard to fill.
Right now, for example, the city has openings for seats on the following advisory boards:
Tree, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board – Seven vacancies
Golf Course Advisory Board – One vacancy
Senior Center Advisory Board – One vacancy
Library Advisory Board – Two vacancies
Planning Commission – One vacancy
The Tree, Parks and Recreation Board in particular has faced a great challenge in
recruiting members and has essentially been dormant for a couple of years. City
officials now hope to revive this important advisory board, which can play a role in some of the most popular and heavily used amenities and programs offered by the city to its residents.
It is not hard to understand some of the reasons for the problems in attracting people to serve on volunteer boards. A difficult economic climate, a host of other commitments competing for people’s precious little spare time, obligations to family and other demands can push volunteer service down the list of priorities.
But the time commitment may not be as great as some might believe, and the rewards of working with fellow Fort Morgan residents for the betterment of the city and its services can be great.
While it varies depending on the specific advisory board, most require a time
commitment of just a few hours a month. In return, those who volunteer for positions on these boards get to meet new people with common interests, learn about issues facing the city and the efforts being made to face these challenges, and derive the satisfaction
of knowing they have played a role in making the community a better place to live, work and play.
Each city board or commission has a member of the Fort Morgan City Council as a liaison. New applicants for the boards are recommended by this council liaison and the current members of the board, and approved by the city council.
So take a moment to look over the list of openings for something that might match
well with your interests, abilities and experience, and consider applying for one of the vacancies on Fort Morgan’s city boards and commissions.
It’s a chance to learn more about your city, meet new people, get involved and gain a sense of accomplishment. Not many opportunities offer so many good reasons to volunteer.
For more information, visit the city’s Web site at www.cityoffortmorgan.com – click
on “Government” on the red bar across the top of the home page, then click on “City Boards and Commissions” – or call John Brennan, City Clerk and Public Information Officer, at 542-3963.
The City of Fort Morgan has openings for members on several of its advisory boards and commissions, including the Tree, Parks and Recreation Board, the Golf Course Advisory Board, the Library Advisory Board, the Senior Center Advisory Board and the Planning Commission.
Applications and more information can be found on the city’s Web site at
www.cityoffortmorgan.com – click on “Government” on the red bar across the top of the home page, then click on “City Boards and Commissions” – or by calling John Brennan, City Clerk and Public Information Officer, at 542-3963.
