Volunteer Spotlight
Steve Uglinica
Citizen Support Organization Award for Resource-Based Recreation
Steve Uglinica has volunteered at Oscar Scherer State Park since 2011, and he has contributed more than 2,600 hours of service. Originally, Steve started as a campground host. After a while, he purchased a house next to the park. He serves on the board of directors for the park’s citizen support organization, Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park.
Steve enjoys the opportunity to talk with folks while providing great recreational programming in the park. He facilitates three different recreation programs at the park:
- Friday guided hike and bike.
- Wednesday guided canoe or kayak tour.
- Saturday night paddles.
Steve is a true park ambassador. He shares all the great things the park has to offer with everyone he meets. Steve is an active member in the community and represents the friends group with various organizations such as Friends of the Legacy Trail, the Venice and Osprey chambers of commerce, and the Sorrento Homeowners Association. Steve’s contacts have provided great opportunities for partnerships within the community.
Francis Folkers
Short-Term Project Award for Natural Resources
Francis Folkers started volunteering at Oscar Scherer State Park in 2009 and has contributed 8,200 hours. Each week, Francis volunteers nearly 40 hours.
In 2020, Francis undertook a project to survey every management zone in the park for invasive species using a new Avenza GPS system. Having a survey of each zone allows the park to better treat and track invasive plant species. She also planted 70 longleaf pine trees while tracking their progress and location to ensure their survival.
Francis learned the new GPS system and trained staff and other volunteers on how to use it.
Francis also heads up the Florida scrub-jay surveys once a month while trap training the birds for banding each season.
Accessible Fishing Dock
Short-Term Project Award for Resource-Based Recreation
The Monday/Wednesday volunteer group at Oscar Scherer State Park sometimes call themselves the “crusty curmudgeons.” The group has been volunteering at the park for more than 20 years. Many of these people volunteer every Monday and Wednesday throughout the year.
The project was completed in 10 days; however, the volunteers who worked on this project contributed many hours through 2020. The volunteers are Mike Murphy (4,000 hours); Jim Murray (950 hours); Lee Ielpi (724 hours); Ed Deroche (207 hours); Jeff Cohen (1,242 hours); Bob Sendry (5,309 hours); and Steve Morris (61.5 hours).
The group undertook the rebuilding of the Lester Finley Barrier Free Fishing/Observation Dock. The dock was originally built in 1990s. All the decking and hardware were in disrepair. A few of the supporting beam bolts were about to fail. With the opportunity to rebuild the dock, the group worked to exceed all accessibility requirements. Some of the work needed to be completed from a boat, which made the project more challenging.
The Lester Finley Trail is the park’s premier accessible trail with many accessible amenities, including the fishing/observation dock, which provides recreational opportunities for visitors of all abilities. The improvements provide ease of access for wheelchair users to fish or just take in the scenery.
The project was completed in 10 working days. Funds were saved by reusing some leftover materials from another project.
Carolyn Morgan and Carol Cone
Volunteer Team of 2 Award for Administration
Carolyn Morgan and Carol Cone have contributed many volunteer hours scanning 35 mm slide film from 12 large photo albums to create digital images. This conversion preserves the photos since the originals can deteriorate.
Some of the photos were taken in the 1980s and 1990s. These photos provide powerful educational tools for visual learners.
An interesting aspect of this project was that the volunteers communicated through a system of notes, without talking in person or on the phone.
Carolyn and Carol have protected countless slides through systematic teamwork. They utilized an Epson Perfection V300 photo scanner to complete the task. With guidance from Park Services Specialist Diana Stinson, the volunteers organized the slides into electronic folders by category, carefully labeling each photo.
Carolyn and Carol were self-sufficient, needing very little direction from administration staff. Carolyn contributed 1,954 hours of service to this project. Carol contributed 72 hours of service.
Jeff Farnsworth
Irene Delaby Award
Jeff Farnsworth has volunteered at Oscar Scherer State Park and Myakka River State Park since November 2013. Each year, he volunteered at Oscar Scherer State Park to endure the summer.
In 2020, Jeff spearheaded a renovation for a campground restroom at Oscar Scherer. Jeff managed the restoration project completely by coordinating other volunteers and communicating with staff.