Monica Renn is one of the newest additions to the Town of Los Gatos staff. Because the town depends on its legions of volunteers, her role as Volunteer Services Coordinator is vital.
Monica coordinates the town's more than 450 volunteers, handling logistics for a wide range of events ranging from the library's Books Together program to emergency services.
"My job is to help people who want to help," she says.
Renn joined the town in early September. She moved to Silicon Valley from Southern California about 4 years ago. Her recent experience with children and family services at EMQ prepared her well to take over from Susan Buxton, who retired two weeks after Renn started.
Renn's focus right now is the town's Community Unity web site. "People want to find out what's going on in our community and how they can help," she says.
"We're also looking to find more volunteer opportunities for youth," Renn's boss, Community Services Director Regina Falkner, chimes in. Renn mentions Project Cornerstone and its enumerated developmental assets for youth, explaining that she participated in the program, which the Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Dept. employs, when she was at EMQ.
Right now, the next thing on the radar is Art in the Council Chambers, following a very successful first annual Costume CatWalk just before Halloween. Renn's calendar includes the town's 4th of July celebration, Music in the Park, Screen on the Green, our Town-to-Town effort to aid Pascagoula, Mississippi, and helping service clubs in town mount large events such as the Children's Holiday Parade, Jazz On the Plazz, and Fiesta de Artes.
"We sometimes have to tweak the conditions of approval," Director Falkner explains. Renn coordinates the logistics of processing special events applications across 3 or 4 town departments. She will sometimes hold debriefs after an event to see what can be improved, to assist an organization to make it a better event.
Right now, Renn is looking for volunteers to read to children at the library for the Books Together program. If you would like to volunteer for this or want more information about other volunteer opportunities, call her at 354-6824 or send an e-mail.
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