Design: Involved

Congratulations Robert E. Donaldson, 2024 Volunteer of the Year!

Born in New Washington, Pennsylvania, Robert’s family moved to the Akron area when he was just six years- old. Bob’s interest in the environment and conservation practices began when he spent summers helping at his grandparent’s cabin as a young man, riding combines, bagging oats, and bailing hay. This interest in conservation continued into adulthood as Robert began to develop an interest in arial technology and its benefits, including its use in agricultural field monitoring.

Through his interest in conservation, Robert began volunteering with Richland SWCD in 2023, starting as a precipitation monitor, before eventually taking on more tasks. Theresa Rozic Sutter, Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator at Richland Soil and Water Conservation District says, “Bob is a wonderful volunteer.  He began as a Precipitation Monitor Volunteer and subsequent conversations led to him creating new and updating existing Excel spreadsheets, assisting at special events, and creating a power point presentation to train new precipitation monitor volunteers.  He never hesitates to provide suggestions and is enthusiastic about volunteering with us. He is kind, generous, and a great asset. We are fortunate to have him on our volunteer team.”

While there are many things Robert likes about volunteering with Richland SWCD, one of the most important to him is the opportunity to work with others, “One of the big benefits (of volunteering with Richland SWCD) is interacting with other people. At my age it’s important to stay active. Overall, the type of volunteer work I’ve been able to do for the Soil and Water Conservation District has been very interesting; I’ve learned a lot because of working with the staff.”

Robert continues to stay busy with volunteer work with Richland SWCD and other organizations such as the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, COCoRaHS (Community, Collaborative, Rain, Hail, and Snow), Kingwood Center, and SCORE. In addition, Bob and his wife, Kathy, maintain their own slice of paradise at home that includes numerous flower beds and a pond.

In early September, a Black Gum tree was donated by the District and planted at Patriot Park in Lexington in Robert’s honor. The Lexington Park staff helped with the planting and will maintain the tree in the coming years.

Each volunteer of the year picks a public location for the tree planting and Robert chose Lexington Parks.

Richland SWCD plants a tree in honor of the volunteer of the year because Robert and other volunteers are committed to soil and water health and a tree provides long-lasting benefits. In addition to providing shade and adding beauty to an area, trees reduce the amount of stormwater runoff which helps reduce erosion and pollution in our waterways. Native trees are adapted to our climate, require less watering, and their strong roots help hold soil in place.

Black Gum trees are native to the Eastern United States including Ohio, other than in the drier counties in the northwestern part of the state. A Black Gum tree also goes by the name Tupelo. Each fall the tree will be bathed in beautiful scarlet and orange hues. Although hardly noticed by humans, the flowers and fruit are a good source of nectar for bees and food for birds. As it grows, it will contribute to the beauty of the park to be enjoyed by Leonard and Kathy, their family, our community, and future generations. 

Watch this video created by intern Julian Papania to learn more about Robert and his contribution to Richland SWCD. Thank you, Robert, for all you do for the district and community!

The 76-member volunteer team has contributed more than 2,300 hours since January 1, 2024, which has saved the General Fund approximately $44,00. Volunteers contribute high quality data that is used to track soil and water health in Richland County’s eight watersheds.