We are most fortunate to live in Jacksonville—a community where volunteerism is a way of life. This year, the Review is honored to name two outstanding citizens as 2014 Volunteers of the Year—Jeanena Whitewilson and Carolyn Kingsnorth. On any given day, Jacksonville residents and visitors benefit by their volunteerism and contributions to the community. Please join the Review in thanking them for helping make Jacksonville a nicer and more enjoyable place to live!
Jeanena Whitewilson—Jeanena is a passionate volunteer who seems to be everywhere! She wears many hats serving as the Vice President of the Jacksonville Community Center Board, lead coordinator for the annual Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts art show and as co-Chair of the Garden Club’s publicity committee. Thanks to years of work by her and others, the Community Center board recently reached an agreement with the city to locate the to-be-built center near City Hall. Jeanena’s work transforming Sheffel-Thurston Park from an empty lot into a city park gained regional praise, as does her ongoing work maintaining the park. When she’s not at the park, she can be spotted pitching-in at Cemetery clean-ups, working alongside others to beautify town. Locals and visitors will recognize her as a summertime and Victorian Christmas trolley narrator, leading guided tours through the historic core, telling our town’s history. In October, she pinch-hit when called upon to serve as a narrator for the Haunted Trolley Tours, pleasing sold-out tours with tales of Jacksonville’s spooky history. Jeanena’s work behind the scenes as a crew member for Meet the Pioneers and the Boosters Club Garage Sale is always invaluable as is her work as a Home Tour docent and as a volunteer for the annual Woodlands Hike-a-Thon. In her spare time, Jeanena works with the Southern Oregon University archeology team at local dig sites, sifting through piles of dirt in-search of buried historic artifacts! As if that wasn’t enough to keep her busy, Jeanena has served as a curator for the “Art in the Windows” displays at Ray’s Market for many years, where she created interesting displays of local art. Year-round, every day, Jeneana is a giver!
Click here to see Kathie Olsen’s Everybody Has a Story column about Jeanena!
Carolyn Kingsnorth—Carolyn is a self-described “professional volunteer.” She’s also the major life force behind Historic Jacksonville, Inc., a volunteer group dedicated to keeping Jacksonville’s historic buildings and history alive. For nearly five years, Carolyn’s passion for history has kept the historic CC Beekman House open to the public. Throughout the year, Carolyn oversees a team of well-trained docents that lead tours and presents reenactments of Beekman family life. Through her professionally-produced Beekman House Living History Tours, Carolyn uses the house as a living museum to illustrate everything Victorian—Victorian Music & Literature, Customs, Travel, Medical Practices, Hobbies and more interesting topics. (Find a full schedule of the Victorian Christmas Beekman House events on page 6 in this issue.) Carolyn keeps local history alive, making it interesting and relevant in her monthly Review column, “Pioneer Profiles.” She also volunteered to craft the spooky scripts for this year’s Haunted Trolley Tours, using her talent and love of history to create engaging stories. In addition to writing about history, Carolyn plays the part, literally, volunteering as a cast member in Meet the Pioneers. This year, her portrayal of the stately Pioneer Social Activist Josephine Lucretia Martin Plymale, was sensational. In October, Carolyn again served as the moderator for the City Council Candidate Forum, doing an excellent job keeping the discussion moving along! In her spare time, she also serves as Vice President for the Southern Oregon Historical Society and serves on the Craterian Theater board of directors. At all times, Carolyn serves as a fine ambassador for Jacksonville!
Featured image is of Jeanena Whitewilson (left) and Carolyn Kingsnorth (right)
Photo of Carolyn Kingsnorth if by Ken Gregg