Webster's Dictionary defines a volunteer as "one who enters into or offers himself for a service of his own free will" I was born in Tennessee, which is known as the Volunteer State, and the word volunteer became a part of my vocabulary at an early age. My first act of volunteering may have been when I joined the Navy.

During my industrial career, my volunteer activities included working with Special Olympics. For my retirement years, I only thought ahead to playing Senior softball and learning to play golf. My softball game became proficient, but my golf game is still not close to par. Thanks to my wife, and her reading The Highline Times, those plans changed some.

She read that Highline Community Hospital needed volunteers, and she thought I would make a good one.

Volunteering at the hospital, now Highline Medical Center, for the past nine years may be the best thing I have done other than marrying my wife nearly 54 years ago.

I never realized the values that I would receive and also give back to others until I became a volunteer at Highline. My time is spent as a volunteer in the Surgery Center, and my duties are varied. I do my best to assist the patients and their families as they prepare for surgery and/or prepare to go home after day surgery. The many people I interact with prove to me that there are a lot of wonderful people in this world. I try to give as much satisfaction as I get.

The satisfaction that most volunteers receive and the amount of service they give may relate to the leadership of the Volunteer Department. The success of the volunteers begin with the capable leadership of our director, Mara Burke, and her more than capable coordinators, Kimberly Couret and Carol Hervin.

This trio of efficient leaders puts us through orientation and continuous training to make us the best-qualified volunteers possible. They are always available to assist us in many ways. It is an honor to serve with them, and to help others. Our thanks is to see a satisfied patient.

Sam Fenner

Des Moines