Reading Amy and Glenn Putnam's volunteer resume is like following the progression of two entities: libraries and gardens.

The Putnams have lived in Sierra Madre for 16 years and they've been involved heavily in the local Garden Club and Friends of the Sierra Madre Library during those years. Amy is also active in Sierra Madre Civic Club and Glenn is an enthusiastic participant in the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena.

Here is a rundown of what these two local people do in their spare time:

AMY: Friends of the Library President, Vice-President; Archives Chair, Chair of Wine Tasting, and member of the Friends of the Sierra Madre Library Board. Member of Civic Club, having served as Chair of the Education Awards Committee, Treasurer, Parliamentarian.

GLENN: President of Sierra Madre Garden Club, and working through five Tournament of Roses Committees: Post Parade, Formation, Parade Operations, Decorating Places, Press Photo Trophy. "The Rose Parade committee varies from committee to committee...The Tournament always gives you the opportunity to volunteer for as much extra duty as you can handle...I work between 50 and 100 hours per year as well as hours before, during and after the Parade," Glenn explained.

Both Glenn and Amy are Members-at-Large of the Historical Preservation Society Board, and they volunteer together in the following entities: Garden docents at the Pasadena Showcase House of Design, docents for the Creative Arts Group Home & Garden Tour, ushers at the Pacific Rose Society annual competition, volunteers at the L.A. Garden Show, docents at the Wistaria Festival.

They volunteer together due to their mutual interests but often in different parts of an organization.

Amy said, "Our major purpose in volunteering is to give back to the community so that we all can continue to enjoy the wonderful environment in which we live. In addition, it's a fantastic way to meet new people, who are good people. Also, we like to cycle off of major responsibilities after several years in order to give other volunteers the opportunity to work these areas. Encouraging new volunteers is very important to us."

Glenn grew up in New Mexico. He has his MBA in business and has worked at JPL for five years.

"As Master Scheduler for JPL, I work with JPL's engineering teams to determine how best to fabricate and test spacecraft. With this information a schedule is produced for fabrication and testing spacecraft through JPL's facilities to prepare them for launch. This involves setting up fabrication locations with the proper cleanliness requirements, fabrication processes and procedures, tooling and assembly personnel. Testing involves providing test environments that the spacecraft will encounter during launch (vibration and acoustics noise pressure), separation from the launch vehicle or cruise stage (pyro shock) and operating temperatures in space or Mars (Thermal Vacuum). Each spacecraft is a highly complex, unique structure requiring coordination of multiple sub-assemblies into a final integrated spacecraft," Glenn explained. 

"It is the Master Scheduler's responsibility to coordinate, facilitate, set priorities for the overall fabrication and testing of all spacecraft projects being built in JPL's spacecraft assembly and testing facilities."  There you have it -- lots of responsibility for our Sierra Madrean.

Amy was raised in the Midwest and went to the University of New Mexico. As fate would have it, she and Glenn met there, and they were married in Houston, TX. in 1976. Amy is an accountant and taught at Cal Poly Pomona and the University of Southern California. She has completed all of her course work for a Ph.D. except the dissertation.

Amy has had a debilitating digestive problem that has kept her home for a few months, but she is emerging with more vigor than ever and is eager to proceed with her many volunteer activities.

The Putnams concluded that they volunteer only for the benefit to the community and the fact that it makes them feel good. "And sometimes it even keeps us out of trouble."