February 8, 2008

District 8 Community Roundtable honors Juli Godsil first ‘Volunteer of the Quarter’

By Donna H. Eliason
Staff Writer

Early Monday morning, Jan. 7, Juli Godsil received a phone call saying she was among six finalists for District 8 Community Roundtable’s first “Volunteer of the Quarter” award. The next evening Juli shook hands with president Jim Zito at the Evergreen Library to receive her certificate and a gift card to MHD Home Furniture and Décor.

After several months of receiving nominations, the District 8 Community Roundtable chose Juli for the first award because of her significant contributions. The award idea came from Michael Gabler, the group’s previous secretary, who felt it was important to honor people who gave time and effort to improve the community.

Sherry Gilmore credits Juli for "volunteering her time for many years, be it with the Girl Scouts, her kids’ schools or sports teams, her church, or in the greater community.”

Sherry continued, “Juli has helped raise thousands of dollars for Matsumoto School by being heavily involved in the fundraising efforts that have gone into their two golf tournaments and auctions as well as their annual book fairs which are the most successful in the U.S.”

Juli Godsil

Juli has been the lead and liaison for the Evergreen School District’s ABC/Cornerstone Project at Matsumoto School. This project stresses positive relationships with supporting values and skills. Volunteers read specific books and lead activities that emphasize values such as friendship, healthy choices and conflict resolutions. Juli has led training meetings for volunteer readers.

She’s a three-year volunteer leader for the after-school Kids’ Club program at Cadwallader School. This program builds relationships between churches and schools with children, their families, school personnel and the volunteers. She’s also taught Sunday School, worked with the Matsumoto Easter egg hunts and helped needy families at Christmas. She’s active at Evergreen Valley Church and helped with their 2007 Easter egg hunt.

Juli has taken Girl Scouts camping, and helped set up Soccer Camps and Monthly Parties for the local Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs.

Since childhood, Juli had always wanted to be a mom. Besides her own two children, she has a passion for kids, so she gets involved where she can build positive, encouraging relationships with them. “There’s something about every age group that I just love,” she says. “It helps having my own kids. I’ve learned from what they went through.”