Someone asked me the other day, "How does so much get done here with such a
very small staff?" It is true, somehow we get done what needs to be done,
with very few people. Every person works hard and deserves recognition,
but the volunteers make all the difference.
We have a small group of volunteers who help take care of the visitors,
house and yard - with routine activities - guided tours, cleaning, gardening,
carpentering, etc., without which much could not be done. An interested volunteer
can always lend a hand helping us take care of people and things.
Additionally, The Friends, our citizen support organization, provides a backbone of
volunteer professionals. They write and print this newsletter and other materials.
The web page and computerized archive and maintenance management projects
could not be accomplished without their energy, expertise, and volunteer time.
All to meet the needs of this one small space.
In Cross Creek, Rawlings writes of Martha Mickens, who came to introduce herself to her new
neighbor and to share her love of the Creek grove. "I won't keep you," she said.
"I just wanted to tell you I was here." And later before a freeze, Martha came without
notice to gather the Spanish moss to cover the flower plants in my garden. I drove in from town and
found her bending over the plants. "I always liked to take up the slack," she said.
Often, it is still like that - the repair is made, the program planned, the group taken care of - all
without a staff member having to say a word. It is deeply appreciated and every effort helps us
to share Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings with today's visitor and to preserve her legacy for the future.
