Barbara Dempsey, of Edwardsburg, is a longtime volunteer and board member for the Edwardsburg Museum and former board member of the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation, a charitable organization that supports the Edwardsburg school district.

 

What do you do for the Edwardsburg Museum?

I do the annual plant sale, which is the perennial plant sale we do Memorial Day weekend. I grow those flowers in the high school greenhouse. I’ve been involved in the Civil War display we’ve been putting together that opens Saturday. We have the school system involved in that, which has been nice. I’ve been working on that over the last six weeks. I am the vice president of the museum board, so we all chip in and do our thing here.

 

How long have you been with the museum?

I didn’t join the museum when it was first from in ’98, so I’d say since 1999. I guess that would be 16 years. JoAnn Boepple asked me to come join them. They were meeting at the library at that time.

 

What do you enjoy about volunteering at the museum?

I just like the interaction with the people and, of course, I like history. I especially enjoy getting involved in the Civil War display. That has been a lot of fun.

 

What do you do for the Edwardsburg Public Schools Foundation?

I am past president of that organization and I just left the board Jan. 1. I had been on the board six years, so I did quite a bit of work for them. I am not on the board anymore, but I still volunteer for the Hall of Fame — I did the news releases. I am a writer and worked for the Tribune for several years. Before that I worked for the Argus for a little while.

 

Why is volunteering important?

It is very important to give back to your community, reach out and continue to be involved in your community as you grow older. When you retire you have to stay active — you just have to.

 

Do you know a volunteer worthy of recognition? Nominate him or her by calling Craig Haupert, community editor, at (269) 687-7720, or emailing him at craig.haupert@leaderpub.com.