VOLUNTEER CLEANUP OF ICE STORM DAMAGE

It was snowing at 9:00 a.m. on February 28th. Several members had arrived and were gathering at the assigned location in front of the School House for a scheduled day of ice storm damage cleanup by members who had volunteered to do their part. We had asked the Ranch Manager, Greg Watts, for some suggestions on where our volunteers help was most needed. He suggested Melody Lane and Trailer Row, and along Spring Road down the hill. Earlier smaller volunteers had worked in Fogey, Wilder and Lonesome on clearer days. Because this group was supposedly going to be larger, because I am living on the Ranch I was “unofficially” put in charge of the workday. When I say “unofficially” I mean just that. As it turned out, this group didn’t need a leader, only an organizer, and I had agreed to take on the organization process for the rest of the helpers. This wasn’t the first day that volunteers had showed up to work, but this was the first larger “organized” event and the largest since the ice storm ravaged our beautiful landscape.

At 9:05, I was a little discouraged in that we only had 7 or 8 of us gathered together. Larry Armstrong suggested that they go ahead and get on over to Melody Lane and begin working. Keep in mind, it was already snowing, but our hopes was that it would pass and we’d get a break from Mother Nature. So, I waved them on and stayed for a few minutes longer in case others showed up. Within a few minutes, 8 others showed up, then within an hour 6 more had arrived. In all, we had 22 dedicated members who showed up in the snow, all dressed in warm clothing, several layers, and were doing their part to rid the Ranch of the devastation caused by January’s deluge of ice.

Mother Nature didn’t give us a break. Within an hour, the snow was coming down so hard we could barely see each other. But that didn’t stop anyone. We just kept wiping our glasses and hauling that wood. We were working so hard that many of us were wanting to rid ourselves of a couple of layers of clothing. The outer layers were getting wet and heavy and the inner layers were collecting perspiration as quickly as the outer layers were collecting snow. But that didn’t stop anyone!!

Having a Ranch deed means a lot of things to different people. Some owners only show up to have fun, which is fine - that’s what the Ranch is for. Some owners complain about everything - that’s fine, too, as there is a lot that needs to be done. Some owners have their own agenda - which I’m not sure is okay, but they have that right. Some owners understand the term “undivided interest,” and they are the backbone of Cloud 9 Ranch Club, Inc. Not all of these owners that showed up to lend a hand live close by. Rick Carter drove from around St. Louis; Frank Gauthier came from Poplar Bluff; James and Stephanie Phillips drove down from Decatur, IL; the Payne families came from the Wheatland, MO area. They all came, they worked, and not one complaint from anyone was heard. Aside from helping the Ranch as a whole, we were able to meet and talk to each other; and that’s what being a Ranch owner should be - getting to know each other and working together as a team.

And the day wasn’t all work and no play. The group had a lot of fun with what I chose as our radio call code. VCM 1 and VCM 2 stood for Volunteer Crew Member. During the day VCM was translated to several different things: Some of the cleaner interpretations were “Volunteer Chainsaw Master” - “Volunteer Chainsaw Masacre” - “Very Cold Member” - “Violent Crazy Member” - just to name a few!! And, oh, yes, I did take time out to plot my big old butt down in that beautiful new fallen snow and make a snow angel. If you ever want to know just how much weight you’ve gained, that’s a good test. My goodness, that was one big angel! Thank goodness no one was close by with the camera.

Standing in the snow at 3:00 p.m., this group of workers were not complaining about how cold we really were, how the snow had been relentless, how our fingers and toes were stinging. No, we were all standing around in the snow discussing when we could get together again and do more. There were about six ladies working and we called ourselves, “Team Estrogen.” Team Estrogen told Team Testosterone that were finished for the day. Six hours of hauling limbs and firewood was about all this old lady could do, and the others agreed with me. Some of Team Testosterone were talking about heading for the trails, but I did not organize that! Yes, I came home, put on dry clothes and got in bed for an hour or two. Yes, I was extremely sore for two days. But the first time I drove past Melody Lane and Trailer Row, I had to stop and take a deep breath. After the snow melted, you could see just how much we did that snowy day. It was so evident that a group of people hung tough, we worked through the bad weather and kept the course. Few times in my life have I been able to say that I was so proud of a group effort like this one. Yes, I am proud of dedicated members who put the best interest of the Ranch ownership before their own comforts. You should be very proud of the members listed below, as they did all Cloud 9 Ranch owners a great service one snowy day in February. Because of members like these, you will have a clean campground!
Volunteers:
Larry & Deanna Armstrong
Mel & Cherie Hedrick
Adam Vandyke
Frank Gauthier
Rick Carter
James & Stephanie Phillips
Tracy Phillips (guest)
Cody Phillips
Bill & Dottie Phillips
Wendell & Kadye Ward
Wilbur & Willa Payne
Chris Payne
Curtis Payne
Carmen Huffmaster
Eric Jones
Cliff Webb

In closing, I want to say that snowy day was not the only day that volunteers have come to the Ranch to help with the ice storm cleanup. I’m sure there have been many limbs and sticks cut and picked up over the last few weeks. I do know of a few that I feel need mentioning. On a previous work day, Mary Ann Greig and Steve Horn drove down from Rolla. Larry and Deanna Armstrong and Mel and Cherie Hedrick live in close proximity to the Ranch, along with Adam VanDyke and Ed Horton. They all have worked many hours, not just one day. They don’t need organization or a leader, because they see what needs to be done and they do it.

There will be more work days scheduled over the next few weeks. Hopefully, it won't be snowing on those days. If you have some time available to help, please let any of the above names know or go to the member-owned Discussion Forum under Big Top section at http://www.cloud9ranch.net/ (not an official Ranch website) for dates of "organized" cleanups when you can be here and what you plan to do. Greg Watts has asked that we turn in all manhours worked on the ice storm damage cleanup to him. Make sure if you do some work on your own, that you notify the office or give a Ranger a note to give the office if you're here over a weekend.