Village volunteer emphasizes value of teamwork
LORIEN E. DAHL
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — The 2016 President’s Award was recently bestowed upon Jim Patton for his outstanding volunteer efforts in the Hot Springs Village community, but when he talks about those efforts, it’s clear he has a deep appreciation for the value of teamwork.
Patton credits his wife, Nancy, as being the person who helped him develop his giving nature. Until 2012, the couple lived in the Chicago area, where he served on the Habitat for Humanity board and their church’s council.
Nearing retirement, she visited the Village and fell in love with the area. The two spent time searching for a house, but finally decided to build their dream home instead, choosing a location near Isabella Golf Course.
On the links is where he met former Friends of the Dog Park Chairman Joe Moreau, and learned about that group’s aim to create an amenity for area canines and their people.
The site chosen for the DeSoto Dog Park was a vacant developed lot owned by the Property Owners’ Association. Patton gave his time to the development and creation of the park, even assisting in building 24 wooden benches for seating.
The park opened in 2013, and has been a popular meeting place since. During Patton’s interview with some 15 dogs roamed the acreage, and the owner of golden retrievers Morgan and Madison said that’s a pretty low number, as he’s seen upwards of 40 during peak visitations.
Though this was his first foray into Village volunteerism, it’s hardly been his last.
He soon became friends with standout member Rolland White, and when White learned of Patton’s professional background as a civil engineer for the state of Illinois, he steered him toward service on the Public Works Committee, where Patton has now been chairman for two years.
Patton likes the committee aspect of working with POA staff, and said, “I think their goal is the same as mine — to make this community a viable one.”
He also appreciates the efforts of Public Utilities Director Jason Temple and Public Works Director Bill Staggs. “We have some true professional engineers here,” he said.
Though he’s been approached each year to run for the POA board, Patton said he’s not quite ready to give up his golfing time for that position, saying, “That is a job of dedication.”
He does turn his golfing skills into volunteerism, though, by assisting in in the summertime Junior Golf Program, where he not only teaches mechanics of the game, but also course etiquette to some 100 youths each year. “It’s very rewarding to me to see those kids smile and have a good time,” he said.
As part of the Hot Springs Village Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Patton serves as fundraising chairman. While he spoke about both the academy and alumni groups, his trademark energetic enthusiasm sparkled, just as it did when he described other organizations with which he’s involved.
The academy itself was formed to show members of the community how the police department operates, and give citizens an opportunity to learn about the good works of its officers. “We want to be sure that the community understands that the police are our friends and not our adversaries,” he pointed out.
The HSVCPAAA was formed to support the department, and cover needs beyond the basics provided by the POA. Patton said, “We want our officers to be just as proud working here as an officer in Hot Springs or Little Rock would be.”
The building for the new Police Training Center, which he had toured hours earlier, will be located at the entrance to Ponderosa Way, in the former Fuel Stop. Patton said the hope is to have the center open this summer, then have funds raised for a MILO Range simulator by the end of 2016, or into 2017.
The HSV Animal Welfare League also benefits from him, as he’s a member and attends fundraising efforts for the organization. Not only that, but his dog, Madison, was a rescue from there.
Patton’s volunteerism extends beyond the Village, even, as he’s board president of the Mountain Valley Sportsman’s Association in Hot Springs. He said he wants to enhance the club so it can better instruct young adults about proper handling of firearms. This is one of many ways he’s made it obvious how important safety is to him.
While he understands the value of an individual’s contributions to any project, he emphasized the importance of teamwork with all his ventures. He said, “The knowledge and the brain power in this place (HSV) is far beyond anything anyone would think.”
When presented with his award during the May meeting of the POA board, Patton said, “I was tremendously surprised. … This is a fantastic place to volunteer.”