Ron and June Silverman embrace volunteering and giving back to their community as part of their daily lives. The Silverman's have been volunteering at ECHO and its earlier waterfront incarnations from the beginning in 1995. They both played a large role in ECHO’s growth and development as they eagerly pitched in for a variety of tasks. Whether volunteering in the office with mailings or data entry, helping people in the gift shop, building life sized beluga whale puzzles, teaching school children and daily visitors about why beluga whales used to swim in the Lake Champlain Basin or why frogs blink when they eat, the Silverman’s have engaged countless visitors at ECHO with their enthusiasm and passion for the organization.

June and Ron's positive attitude and strong belief in service to others has helped recruit many other ECHO volunteers throughout the years. It's estimated that they have recruited more than 20 other people to volunteer and become part of the ECHO family. Many staff and volunteers have come and gone, but Ron and June Silverman have continued to serve ECHO, train new volunteers and share their combined knowledge of ECHO’s history.

“Ron Silverman is one of the most reliable volunteers at ECHO. I don’t think he has had a single unexpected absence and I am so impressed with Ron's willingness to do whatever I ask of him. He does not shy away from new content, messy activities or preschool crafts. He always answers me with, 'Yeah, I'll do whatever you need'”. Elizabeth Knuckles, Education Staff and Floor Captain who works with Ron every Tuesday at ECHO.

Volunteering at ECHO is only one expression of their volunteer dedication. June spent many years volunteering for The American Red Cross organizing blood drives and at Vermont Public Television working on their annual fund raising auction. In addition, June has been a long-time volunteer at The First Congregational Church Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop in Essex Junction. Ron used to be seen volunteering on Fletcher Allen Health Care's cardiac floor supporting patients that had undergone cardiac by-pass surgery. As a fellow by-pass survivor, he found it rewarding to chat with patients and let them know there were others in the community to help them through their recovery.

The Chittenden County community has benefited greatly by the more than forty years of dedicated volunteer service that the Silverman's have provided, but as June says, "It's time for the younger people to step up, get involved, and volunteer. We 'seasoned' folks are getting tired".

Join ECHO in honoring long-time volunteers Ron and June Silverman for their unwavering commitment to all things ECHO. We can’t thank them enough for their years of service and impact they’ve had in supporting this growing institution.

©2012 LCBSC - ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/Leahy Center for Lake Champlain - One College St. - Burlington VT 05401
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