On Wednesday, Nov. 15 from 1:30-2:30 p.m., the OSU Emeriti Association’s “Making the Most of Retirement” program will feature Laura Payne discussing opportunities for volunteering at the OSU Botanic Garden. The monthly program for local retirees meets at the Stillwater Public Library.
The Garden’s volunteers, called Ambassadors, perform a wide array of services, including staffing open houses/events, planting, taking cuttings, watering, painting, leading tours and creating T-shirt designs and selling them. Volunteers also act as public relations team members in the community.
According to Payne, community members with all sorts of interests and backgrounds will find satisfying volunteer work at the Gardens.
“We have so many different personalities in our group that some people like working outdoors and other indoors,” said Payne. “Taking cuttings and planting are probably the favorite outdoor activities. Indoors, Ambassadors can help plan events, and get creative with various painting projects, and some teach Junior Master Gardener lessons at Skyline Elementary School.”
Payne says that all of her volunteers do share a few things in common.
“Our volunteers have a passion for nature and like being around other people and sharing life’s experiences.”
Payne graduated in 2001 with a BS in Horticulture with an emphasis in Public Horticulture. She started working at The Botanic Garden in August 1998 as a student worker, and then went on to become the garden manager. She now serves as the Volunteer/Education/Events Coordinator and Field Producer for the television program Oklahoma Gardening, which is the longest running “how to” gardening program in the nation and in Canada.
“Making the Most of Retirement” is a free program that addresses topics of interest to retirees and those who are about to retire. The program will break in December for the holidays, but will return on Jan. 17 with another Armchair Traveler session with Daryl Nord on “A Tour of Israel.”
For more information on “Making the Most of Retirement,” visit https://retiredinstillwater.wordpress.com or contact the library Help Desk at (405) 372-3633 x8106 or [email protected].
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.). Visit the library online at http://library.stillwater.org.
