Volunteer Shout-out to Techies and Recyclers!

Snapshots at some of the incredible volunteers who are part of the Tucson Bird Alliance volunteer team!


by Kara Kaczmarzyk

A couple of recent activities spurred shout-outs for two great Tucson Bird Alliance volunteers, Ann Mavko and Pete Bengtson.

To correspond with the recent launch of the online volunteer time tracking program, I wanted to highlight Ann Mavko for her contributions to this online program. As the database administrator for Tucson Bird Alliance, I work closely with Ann on a variety of database tasks. When I wrote up the volunteer hours instructions, I passed them by her to make sure they made sense (and they didn’t, really, but she had some great comments). Attention to detail is a critical part of Ann’s volunteer role at Tucson Bird Alliance and one she holds highly. I literally get giddy with excitement talking spreadsheet formulas with Ann, and it is clear that she takes a real care in the problem-solving, data-driven work she is doing for Tucson Bird Alliance. One of the projects Ann works on is connecting National Audubon members with Tucson Bird Alliance, and thanks largely to her results, an increasing number of National Audubon members are engaging with Tucson Bird Alliance’s conservation, education, and recreation programs. I remember interviewing Ann last fall; when she told me she was looking for a long-term volunteer commitment after already devoting about 13 years to another volunteer organization, I was practically sold! This time of year Ann is also busy volunteering for tax preparation related activities. When she is not behind a computer, Ann also enjoys quilting and gardening.

"I began volunteering at TBA because it allows me to combine my love of birding with my computer skills and contribute to an organization whose mission and sense of purpose are actively contributing to the natural environment of Tucson and beyond."

While Ann exemplifies the many volunteers who work behind the scenes for Tucson Bird Alliance, our other shout out volunteer, Pete Bengtson, is often front and center for the organization.

The timely idea to feature Pete was spurred at a recent Tucson Bird Alliance staff meeting, during which staff discussed ways we can be sustainable in our day to day activities. Some things seemed more obvious than others, but all were good reminders, like using reusable water bottles, recycling anything that is recyclable, buying local, and using environmentally sensitive products. Each step we take, whether as staff or as volunteers, adds up to make a big difference. During these conversations, a few staff members brought up the individual contributions that other Tucson Bird Alliance members play in these efforts, specifically highlighting Pete Bengtson. 

At Tucson Bird Alliance’s downtown nature shop, Pete often receives and unpacks new shop merchandise deliveries encased in non-biodegradable Styrofoam packing peanuts. A while ago, Pete took initiative to collect and bring the packing peanuts to a local UPS store. No longer waste, the peanuts are now reused in outbound UPS packages!

Stop by the downtown Nature Shop on Wednesday mornings to have Pete help you pick out that perfect item. You can also find him and his wife Betty engaging new people with Tucson Bird Alliance through many offsite events in which they represent Tucson Bird Alliance and share their birding knowledge. I always appreciate hearing Pete’s constructive, thoughtful feedback that focuses on how Tucson Bird Alliance can improve our services to the birding community. Pete and Betty are strong supporters of Tucson Bird Alliance’s programs and also very involved with other Audubon chapters, the Sierra Club, and local advocacy efforts.

Pete with Tucson Bird Alliance board member Nancy Young Wright at last month's Our Changing Climate gala

"My wife, Betty, and I decided we wanted to get serious about birding in about 2005.  We had always paid some attention to birding not seriously.  We bought good binoculars at the Nature shop, took a few TBA classes, and started attending birding festivals around the country.

I enjoyed birding with the TBA and felt the need to contribute some time to the organization.  I tried working in the nature shop and enjoyed it.  It is great to be one of the Nature Shop Volunteers so I can help out when I'm around and have other people work when I want to travel.

This is the perfect volunteer position for me."