The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Bill Morrell didn't get home until 5 o'clock the first morning of 2011, but it wasn't because he was out celebrating. Instead, he and his fellow volunteers spent the end of 2010 and the beginning of the New Year driving home people who weren't fit to go behind the wheel themselves. It capped off another successful year for Operation Red Nose, a free service that provided 235 rides throughout late November and December. "It's all about getting people who might be driving, home safely," says Morrell, co-chair of Red Nose along with Ted Hewitt. Organized by the Rotary Club, Red Nose marked its 12th holiday season in Flin Flon. The service operated on nine Friday and Saturday nights. Not surprisingly, the busiest night came on New Year's Eve, when 73 rides were given. Donations steady While overall rides were down by 17 from last year, donations from callers essentially held steady. Though the service is free, most callers gave their drivers a tip, with the final tally coming in at $3,511. As in previous years, those funds will be pumped into youth recreation initiatives. Past beneficiaries of the program include organized soccer, Flin Flon Minor Hockey, Camp Whitney and the Aqua Centre. Red Nose sees a team of three volunteers respond to each call. A driver and navigator take the caller home in his or her own vehicle while the third volunteer follows in an escort vehicle. At the end of each trip, the escort brings the team back to Flin Flon City Hall Ð the headquarters donated by the city. The initiative required the help of about 80 volunteers, many of whom worked multiple nights behind the wheel or answering phones. That may sound like a lot, especially in comparison to other local volunteer initiatives, but it's really not. "The number of volunteers is of concern," Morrell admitted. Ten businesses and organizations supplied volunteers: HBMS, Kinsmen Club, Flin Flon Credit Union, Lions Club, Creighton School Division, Cornerstone Community Church, USW union, Border Explorers Snowmobile Club, Knights of Columbus and, of course, the Rotary Club. As useful as their efforts were in keeping roads safe, the volunteers found themselves having plenty of fun between call. They played cards, socialized and munched on snacks. "A lot of comradeship," said Morrell. While his job as co-chair involved plenty of volunteer hours, Morrell couldn't have been happier to be a part of the effort. "Just to give back to the community," he said when asked why he accepted the position. Having spearheaded Operation Red Nose each December since 1999, the Rotary Club has already decided to run the program again next holiday season. Red Nose is a national program that provides thousands of rides each year in hundreds of communities.10/1/11
