Meet the OSG volunteers
Our Stomping Ground (OSG) volunteers are made up of people of all ages and backgrounds who are committed to helping us achieve our mission of building inclusive communities.
Featured Member
Our Stomping Ground (OSG) volunteers are made up of people of all ages and backgrounds who are committed to helping us achieve our mission of building inclusive communities.
Beyond our permanent team, OSG has a growing group of people who help us run groups and events, take photos, and write grants. We’d like to extend a big shout out to the following men and women who continue to show up and support OSG:
Stacey Peckins, Alesia Frerichs, Susan Teaford, Ella Knight, Finn Jensen, Tracee Gilbert, Tran Kim Senior, Elaine Halchin, Jackson Garcia, Maddy Miller, Kate Scwab, Courtney Hatcher, and Merrill Turner.
Please join us as we welcome our newest volunteers:
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Rosie & Scotch Perdue
Rosie and Scotch are wrapping up their 30+ year dual active-duty Navy careers. They recently joined the OSG Team as parent volunteers alongside their adult daughter Maggie. Since August, they’ve been integral in planning and leading bi-monthly event committee meetings, to encourage input and brainstorming ideas from OSG members about the types of activities they’d like to participate in. The meetings also help to support active engagement as well as discussions, utilizing basic zoom etiquette, and sharpening critical executive functioning skills associated with planning events. So far the group has participated in a 5 Wits Adventure Room experience followed by a snack at Ballston Quarter Mall, a three-part Saturday outing to Old Town Farmers Market, Torpedo Factory and Pop’s Ice Cream Shop, a trip to the National Museum of Natural History in D.C., and bowling at Bowlero Arcade in Arlington.
Rosie says, “Since starting with OSG, I have learned so much in the process about how I can support my daughter and the community at large. I hope more volunteers join the OSG mission, it is a reward unto itself!”
Thank you, Rosie and Scotch. We can’t wait for more weekend connections and to discover what the Stomping Zoomies Event Committee plans next!
Sign up for their events on the event calendar.
Mel Frola
Full-time nurse and friend of our Chair, Paula Manion, Mel heard we were thinking of setting up a club dedicated to what she loves most (after her husband and kids of course) – a Disney Club! Mel and her son Nick jumped straight in to host club meetings, play trivia games, and organize events, all themed around the groups’ love of Disney. October 16th we’ll be showing a private screening of Hocus Pocus at University Mall. Thank you Mel for making our Disney group more magical!
Also, help us say goodbye to a very special young man:
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John Fontham
John is a volunteer close to our hearts. While still in high school, he had been looking for extracurricular activities to get involved with, when thankfully Eleanor Long, an OSG friend, introduced him to OSG Board Director Donna Budway. The two started our first book club with John both leading and reading David Mitchell’s Utopia Avenue to the group.
Prior to volunteering with OSG, John says he hadn’t interacted much with adults on the spectrum but was excited to be a part of an inclusive experience and a welcoming community. He says, “My favorite part about leading the book club was meeting all of the amazing individuals in the group. It started out small, with just Emma, Ben, and Huong joining us for the first couple of months. However, the group grew and that made me happier as I got to meet more incredible people. I loved being able to connect with everyone on a personal level, even if there was a little bit of a communication barrier.”
John also told us how much volunteering with us meant to him: “While I came into the group thinking I would be giving something to them by reading, I think all of the members really gave me something more important – the ability to appreciate everyone for who they are. Despite all of the challenges they face, everyone in the group has such an amazing attitude about life. It was really eye-opening to be surrounded by such a great group of people. I already miss them a lot and hope to reconnect soon!”
John has just started his first year at Harvard University, and although he’ll be missed, we’re confident he’ll do great things and wish him nothing but the best.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact us here or email info@ourstompingground.org.
IMPORTANT: our volunteer Executive Board is looking for two superstars to urgently join us:
- A treasurer to join our Executive Board (all Board members volunteer their time)
- A bookkeeper with QuickBooks desktop experience (this paid role is approximately two hours per week)
If this is you or you know someone you think may be interested, please email info@ourstompingground.org, putting “Finance roles” in the Subject heading.
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