FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK: A Community Service Rock-star

By VERNON ROBISON

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And there are few people I know out there more worthy of being imitated than our own, esteemed Dr. Larry Moses. So this week I am going to follow his innovative technique of awarding a much deserved Gold Star. I hope he doesn’t mind.

This week’s Gold Star goes to Logandale resident Larry Griffiths. Mr. Griffiths has served as the Moapa Valley JustServe.org coordinator for the past eight years now. That is a long time in that role!

For those still not familiar with JustServe.org, it is an online platform that seeks to link community service projects with local, boots-on-the-ground volunteers. It is a nation-wide, non-denominational initiative to encourage volunteerism in communities throughout the country. The site is searchable by zip code or by community name. Local non-profits can post projects where they need help. Volunteers and groups can search the site for opportunities to do service. It is a win-win!

When Mr. Griffiths first took on this wholly-volunteer post as local coordinator, the initiative was brand new. No one had ever heard of it before. He jumped in with both feet to begin familiarizing a very service-oriented community to the new concept.

Since that time, Griffiths has almost become synonymous with community service in Moapa Valley. He has organized, coordinated, promoted and even carried out countless acts of service involving hundreds of volunteers and benefitting multitudes of people. There are too many instances to name them all. But here are a few.

• Griffiths arranged a partnership with the American Red Cross to provide smoke detectors to anyone in town who needed them. He set up a telephone number where residents could call and request the smoke detector units. Then he organized local volunteers (often himself) to go out and install the units correctly in people’s homes.

• Griffiths noticed a problem where certain elderly, disabled or otherwise infirm residents were unable to care for their property. At times, things were so bad that they were in danger of being cited by County code enforcement for code violations. So Griffiths established “Just A Little Help From My Neighbors.” This program mobilizes youth groups and service organizations to volunteer time in helping to bring these neighbors’ properties into code compliance before government action must be taken against them.

• Griffiths, along with volunteers from Moapa Valley Revitalization Project (MVRP) took over and expanded the operation of the Mobile Food Pantry which takes place monthly at the Grant Bowler Elementary parking lot. In partnership with Three Square – Las Vegas, this distribution point has brought wholesome, fresh food to many local kitchens for a number of years now.

• Griffiths has also organized volunteer help for Dolls of Hope and the Ministering Angels of Moapa Valley.

• He has helped mobilize support for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

• He has introduced the Billion Graves initiative to Moapa Valley. And there is much, much more that he has quietly done for this community.

Perhaps most importantly this week, is the annual Moapa Valley Community Resources Fair, an event begun by Griffiths himself. This year it is sponsored by Brooke’s Good Deeds. The fair will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5 in coordination with the Pomegranate Arts Festival at the Clark County Fairgrounds.

The event brings together dozens of federal, state and local agencies; as well as non-profit organizations, service groups and churches which provide services to the community. Representatives from these groups will be in vendor booths to provide information and answer questions about various low- or no-cost services available to the folks of Moapa Valley. It is a great opportunity for residents, clergy and community leaders to learn about what all is available to help folks in our outlying area.

This event has been Mr. Griffiths’ labor of love to his community for the past several years now. He has worked hard to bring these resources together year after year. Unfortunately, past attendance at the fair has been spotty to say the least. But this year, its timing and the venue couldn’t be more convenient. So be sure and stop by the Community Resource Fair during your visit to the Pomegranate Festival on Saturday. You might learn something that you didn’t know before.

Sadly, Mr. Griffiths has recently announced that he and his wife will soon be moving away from this community to be closer to their family in northern Utah. This will be a sore loss for the Moapa Valley indeed.

Undoubtedly another will come forward to take over Mr. Griffiths’ spot as local JustServe.org coordinator. But it will be very difficult to fill his shoes.

Larry, we offer our deepest appreciation for your diligent service to the Moapa Valley community these past eight years and we wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. This much-deserved Gold Star goes out to you!

Now, on a completely unrelated note, concerns have been expressed by candidates for Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board (MVTAB) regarding a perceived vagueness in the wording on the ballot. The ballot instructs voters to “Vote for not more than five” candidates in this race. That seems clear enough to me. But apparently it is confusing to some.

Since this is the first time a town board election has ever been on our local ballot, I was asked to clarify it a bit.

Logandale and Overton residents can cast votes for up to five of the eight candidates listed in the MVTAB race. More than five will not be allowed. While voters may vote for fewer than five, this is not recommended because they would be leaving their votes on the table.

In short, just choose your best five from the list. The five candidates ending up with the most votes will serve on the board.

Most importantly, don’t forget to do your civic duty and vote!