Volunteering to help their community make a good impression
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VANCOUVER, B.C.
Against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and beautiful ocean vistas, a number of Church members are playing their part in helping host the world during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Among the some 25,000 volunteers expected to be involved in these Olympics are Church members including a stake president, two counselors in stake presidencies and an LDS mother. They are motivated by the desire to serve and to give something back to their communities.
Vancouver British Columbia Stake President Thomas Walker, a dentist, is volunteering as a host with Event Services on Cypress Mountain, the location for snowboarding and free-style skiing events. Among his responsibilities are taking tickets, directing crowds, answering questions and ensuring that the guests and athletes have a safe and enjoyable experience. Part of the reason President Walker was selected as a volunteer was because he is bilingual; He learned to speak French while serving in the French East Mission. He noted that he was given a surprise test on French ability when an Olympic staff member telephoned him and spoke in French. "Apparently I passed as my uniform has 'Bonjour' on it to indicate that I can assist French-speaking visitors."
He said, "I felt that [volunteering] was a good way to give back to our great community here in Vancouver and help the world enjoy and appreciate the beauties of our area."
Also volunteering is President Walker's second counselor, David Iwaasa. He is working with the Canadian Olympic Team, serving in the British Columbia International Media Centre in downtown Vancouver. While far from the mountain slopes, he is involved in helping both the national and international media meet members of the Canadian team. Church service has also been a factor in President Iwaasa being selected to work in the media center. "I was able to polish my French-speaking skills when I was called to be a member of the high council of the Paris France Stake while on a posting with the Canadian government. My monthly speaking assignments had to be done in French, and later I was called as the Stake Young Men president, which really forced me to be able to converse."
President Iwaasa also has had the opportunity to use his other language, Japanese. "I served as a young missionary in Japan and have just recently returned from serving with my wife, Jane, as president of the Japan Fukuoka Mission. As a consequence, I was really looking forward to using some of my language skills to serve my own country of Canada. Interestingly, the Canadian Olympic Team office is flanked on either side by offices of two major Japanese newspapers. I've already had the opportunity to assist them and a Japanese television broadcaster in Japanese."
Volunteering and service are also an integral part of Frank Deyell's life, being active not only in the Church as second counselor in the Surrey British Columbia Stake presidency, but also in Boy Scouts and within his community. Born on the Shetland Islands in Scotland and a convert to the Church of some 30 years, President Deyell is the general manager of a successful manufacturing plant, supervising some 155 employees. However, during the Olympics he will be serving as a driver, chauffeuring Olympic and various national and international VIP's around the various Olympic venues.
He said, "I enjoy the spirit that you find among volunteers. You meet the nicest people and it's refreshing to be involved with people who are interested in service rather than profit."
Susan Wotherspoon is an active mother of four children: two girls attending BYU, a 17-year-old son playing semi-professional hockey with the Portland (Oregon) Winterhawks and a 12-year-old son still at home. She is serving as a host at the Pacific Coliseum where the figure skating, pairs skating and short-track speedskating events will take place. When asked why she decided to volunteer, Sister Wotherspoon, who is first counselor in the Surrey 1st Ward Relief Society presidency said, "As Church members, our whole life is getting out there and volunteering. All of my kids have been very actively involved in a variety of different sports — baseball, soccer, hockey, etc. — and I wanted to do something to support the athletes. I also felt it would be fun to have the Winter Olympics as part of my own experience."
As loyal Canadians, these Church members are rooting for the Canadian Olympic Team while actively serving athletes and spectators from all over the world. They are also busy preparing for the open house and dedication of the new Vancouver British Columbia Temple scheduled for May of this year. — Greg Hill
For a list of other members of the Church working or volunteering behind the scenes at the Vancouver Winter Olympics, see the Church News Web site: www.ldschurchnews.com.
The Church News is interested in hearing about all Church members who are working or volunteering at the Winter Olympics. E-mail information including ward and stake to: ghill@desnews.com.
