Ray Cress, CLACC Volunteer
By Muriel Nelson
Your past interest in articles about the tenants at the Clear Lake Area Community Center (CLACC) is appreciated. We’ll get back to highlighting more of them in future editions. Meantime, we’re taking a ‘side trip’ to highlight some of our volunteers, and one in particular.
Did you know that the Clear Lake Community Center Inc. (CLACC) has over 200 volunteers? That’s right! We are grateful for every one of them…from our board members to people who do special projects to the gals who work in the thrift shop to the folks who help with the Senior Luncheons and Bingo games to those who staff the office to our seasonal decorators to our custodial and handymen….and many more.
One volunteer who has helped not only with several of these activities but also does a lot of other jobs too is….you guessed it….Ray Cress. Ray became a volunteer at CLACC 13 or 14 years ago. He ‘moved back home’, as some of us do, once we are retired. Ray began volunteering for several local organizations & fortunately for CLACC, he also started helping out at the center. Ray currently serves as Vice President of the CLACC Board of Directors, but more important is his “hands on” work to keep the center on good stead.
Like some other volunteers. Ray no sooner walks into CLACC when he spots something that needs attention and then tends to it. After all, he’s one of 3 or 4 handymen that routinely help out. Through the years, Doug Cahow has delegated most of his handyman responsibilities to other volunteers including Ray, Tim Wyss, Wendy Schoggins, Mark Rundquist, Dennis Luehman, and a few others.
For example, Ray has become the primary handyman for boiler maintenance. He monitors the water quality in the heating system to ensure it can heat the huge building. When things go askew, Ray may consult with Gary Hanson and/or Mark Rundquist. Handyman work can become a group effort, especially when there’s no operator’s manual.
Several jobs around the center don’t require special knowledge but do rely on handyman skills. For instance, you can find Ray, paintbrush in hand & probably on a ladder, when the painting projects come along, e.g., repainting the exterior doors last year. There must have been several other painting projects during his tenure at CLACC because Ray has quite an inventory of partially filled paint cans. He also does his share of general repairs.
Should you need to know how many tables and chairs can be comfortably set up in the different meeting spaces, just ask Ray. He’s probably put up more chairs in the Event Center for Community Theater and similar events than anyone else. Experience proves perfectly spaced chairs in case you hadn’t noticed. Plus, he’s a great help in putting up tables and chairs in the Dining Room for the Senior Luncheons and other events. Ray is proactive in ensuring that things are ready for activities in both the Event Center and Dining Room.
Not all of his work occurs indoors. In the winter, you’ll find him shoveling snow from the CLACC steps and walkways and sprinkling deicer afterwards. Then when spring comes, he’s out working the grounds. The war on weeds is never-ending so this year, the community center has welcomed volunteers from the Rise organization, located in New Richmond, to assist.
Ray, like many other CLACC volunteers and a few tenants too, assists with fundraisers. In 2024, thanks to their help and expertise, both Cupid’s Carnival in February and a food stand at Clear Lake Heritage Days in June were successful. Still to come is a turn at the brat stand in September.
Fundraising and grant-seeking have become even more significant these days because our beloved building needs some special (and expensive) maintenance. These improvements include replacing another section of the roof, installing a new HVAC system in the former gymnasium area, removing the asbestos from the old boiler room, and doing some exterior work in the form of tuckpointing. There is also a need for a new donation center for the thrift shop plus some improvements to the Event Center stage.
Ray is also a member of the CLACC Grant Committee. The committee of seven volunteers continues to apply for grants to fund these capital improvements. The committee has applied for several grants so far in 2024 and plans to make more submissions before year’s end.
Ray is only one of a group of individuals who are responsible for the oversight and operations of the community center. As Ray points out, “They are a group of volunteers who donate their time and expertise for a common good.”
If you’d like more information about volunteering at CLACC, contact us at 715-263-2233 or at clearlakeareacommunitycenter@gmail.com. Better yet, ask Ray!
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