January 2024 Volunteer of the Month Bonnie Livengood – Bonnie has been volunteering with CTRC for 12 years!

She is an absolutely indispensable member of our team. Chances are if you have been to the center, you have seen Bonnie as it seems she is here as much as our staff is. She volunteers in lessons, mucks, is a barn buddy to Soc, is a Training Team member, and does just about anything else you can think of around the CTRC center. Her leadership and dedication make a huge difference to our riders, horses, staff and other volunteers.

Thank you, Bonnie, for all you do!

Learn more about Bonnie:

1. How long have you been volunteering at CTRC?
Twelve years.
2. What inspired you to start volunteering at CTRC?
I was the typical horse-crazy girl (my mother said I wanted a horse so badly when I was eight that she didn’t think I would like to be nine), but I didn’t have the chance to fulfill that desire when younger. So I knew that was what I wanted to add to my life when I retired. I started out volunteering at three separate places, but then decided to focus solely on CTRC, which I found when I met another volunteer at a natural horsemanship clinic.

3. What is your favorite part of volunteering with us?
Gosh, that’s a tough question since I love so many things about it. I can’t really get it down to just one, but I can give you a few of the highlights. First, there is always something new to learn. Second, there is always something meaningful to do! And lastly and perhaps most importantly, there is such a generosity of spirit throughout the organization, and that means both staff and other volunteers, and the overall vibe is so positive, that it becomes sort of addictive!

4. What would you say to someone considering volunteering here?
Just do it! I think it’s just about the perfect activity. It’s outside, it’s service, it’s social, it’s exercise, and there are horses! There are so many different ways to contribute that chances are very good you will find something to do that you will absolutely love.

5. What do you like to do outside of your time at CTRC?
I am pretty involved with my new-thought spiritual community as a tech team leader and member of the music program. I like to stay fit with many different forms of exercise. I usually have a couple of books in progress, and I’m kind of hooked on New York Times crosswords.