Guardian Ad Litem to celebrate volunteers w/ Kristin Cooper
By Joey Pitchford
Published in News on April 26, 2018 5:50 AM
jpitchford@newsargus.com
Guardian Ad Litem will welcome North Carolina first lady Kristin Cooper to Goldsboro Friday, as the program holds its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon.
Sebastian Ratliff, program supervisor for Guardian Ad Litem in Judicial District 8, said that the luncheon is a way for GAL to recognize the volunteers which keep it operating.
"Our volunteers represent kids in the abuse and neglect courts, and the help determine permanency for kids in the court system," he said. "We do this every year to say thank you to our volunteers for their service."
The luncheon will take place at Outback Steakhouse at 2617 North Park Drive. Doors will open at 11:30, and lunch will be served at noon. Colleen Kosinski, district administrator for the GAL district 8, will open the event, followed by an invocation from GAL volunteer Brenda McLamore.
Cooper -- herself a long time GAL volunteer -- will speak next, followed by Cindy Bizzell, N.C. GAL Administrator, Senators Don Davis and Louis Pate, and Rep. George Graham. Chief District Court Judge Les Turner and Superior Court Judge Imelda Pate will also speak.
Gavin Tucker Hayes will provide entertainment.
Ratliff said he expects between 80 and 100 volunteers will attend the luncheon. Guardian Ad Litem enlists fewer than 170 volunteers in District 8, he said.
The program is always looking for volunteers, but becoming does require time and effort. Interested individuals can fill out an application at www.volunteerforgal.com, after which they will need to complete a program which adds up to around 30 hours of training. After that, they will be sworn in by a judge, at which point they are ready to begin work.