Spotlight on Sierra Madre Volunteers 

Spotlight on Sierra Madre Volunteers is a new weekly column that will spotlight the people who donate their time to help keep their city ticking.  Check back each week to see which of the folks you work side by side with is being recognized in the latest edition.  Back to Sierra Madre Volunteers Main Page

Karlene Englert -- Faithful Volunteer 

Everyone says it: "This town would have a difficult time without volunteers. Look at our Volunteer Fire Department. Look at the Library."

Karlene Englert was on a roll recently and voiced that common Sierra Madre opinion: lots of jobs wouldn't get done without the capable and willing volunteers.

When Karlene's three sons were young, she moved, as a volunteer, among their schools and activities: Community Nursery School, Sierra Mesa School, to name a few. "Where my children were involved, I was involved."

Karlene was on the board of the Pasadena Boys' Choir and Parent Teachers Association in Azusa (where she lived for 16 years).

Karlene is a 38-year member of Sierra Madre Civic Club and has been 1st vice-president, membership chair, committee chair for feeding the homeless with Foothill Unity Church. She's been on the Mt. Wilson Trail Race Committee, docent for the Wistaria Fete, was on the Auxiliary of the earlier Sierra Madre Nursing Center, and is a Red Hatter. What do Red Hatters do? "Absolutely nothing but have fun." And that's a volunteer job.

Karlene's volunteering at Sierra Madre Woman's Club has lasted for half a decade. She's been on the Board of Directors, House chair, Luncheon chair, and a member of the Tuesday Crew to assist with preparing clothing donations for sale at the Thrift Shop.

Karlene was born in Peoria, IL and traveled west with her family in 1951. She's a graduate of PCC (an AA degree), and she and Jim were married in 1958. They had three sons, two living in Washington State and one in LaVerne. She also has seven grandsons.

Karlene has lived in Sierra Madre, off and on, since 1960.

"I'm grateful for friendships and I volunteer to keep the good relationships...There's a comradship...They depend on me...Once you start volunteering, it snowballs. You just never quit."

Karlene Englert. She's always there.