Wayzata issues call for volunteers

When Deanne Straka, a Wayzata resident for all of her 63 years, learned that her hometown was short on money and needed caretakers for its gardens, she sprang into action on the cul-de-sac near her home.

Straka dug up and replanted the 20-year-old overgrown perennials in a city garden, added colorful impatiens and strung together multiple hoses to keep them watered.

"It lets people show their pride in their community by stepping up to the plate and helping the town when it needs it," she said.

Last year's Adopt-a-Garden program was such a success that city officials are now trying their luck at expanding the volunteer base -- this time in City Hall and around the senior citizen population -- in an effort to make up for $279,000 in cuts to 2010's projected budget.

"People are coping in different ways with this bad economy we have," said City Council Member Mary Bader, liaison to the project. "We're trying to turn a negative into a positive with our volunteer program."

Coordinating the novel venture is Lynn McCarthy, a 40-year resident who said there are plenty of willing participants in town -- it's just a matter of finding them.

"I firmly believe there are so many people out there in this community just waiting to be asked," said McCarthy, who retired two years ago after heading an international public relations firm. "We have these long winters and people are bored. They're tired of reading."

"That's a major loss," McCarthy said. "It's a human project that has faces on it."

Now, it will be up to volunteers to lead activities for the elderly, such as exercise classes, pot lucks and craft projects like knitting.

The city is even looking for help in City Hall.

Having cut five positions -- a police officer, parks officer, engineer, city clerk and inspector -- the city is seeking volunteers to fill empty desks.

"Our staff is really bare bones now," Bader said. "We just thought we could give them some assistance to catch up on projects, whatever they need."

For example, the city staff recently embarked on the task of electronically archiving minutes from City Council meetings dating back to 1874. While minutes from recent years are already available online, the plan is to get the old documents up for reference as well, Bader said. Volunteers could help out with the labor-intensive scanning work involved.

Gardening is another prime target for volunteer help.

Last year, about a dozen families, individuals and merchants took charge of 16 of the city's 41 gardens. Many of the volunteers were children.

The staff at the municipal liquor store tended to the garden out front. A group who called themselves the "Kids of Wayzata Beach" created a large garden at the popular summer hangout. An anonymous couple planted rose bushes along Lake Street, the city's main drag. This spring, the number of gardeners is expected to grow.

Both men and women are needed, and will be matched with jobs that fit their interests. The age range of workers is expected to be across the board, from young children to retirees.

Since the call for volunteers went up on the city's website last Wednesday, at least 27 people had expressed interest by Monday, including some from surrounding cities.

Wayzata's small-town character and tradition of philanthropy make it an ideal place for such a call for volunteers, Bader said.

"People are willing to volunteer because they're so close to their town," she said. "Many have deep roots in the community and others are newcomers that want to pitch in. It's been kind of amazing to see the spirit that generates."