Volunteer of the Year relishes in getting involved

Vernettie Manley was born and raised in Porterville, and raised to volunteer.

That’s how some might view Manley, whose profile of involvement epitomizes that of none other than a veritable “Volunteer of the Year.”

“Some are willing to work, and others are willing to let them,” Manley’s mother, Teresa Jackson, said. “Well, she’s one of those that’s willing to work. I don’t think she ever says no.”

Jackson, a locally known volunteer herself, is retired but is nonetheless on hand to help with community projects.

She was named “Woman of the Year” in 2002.

“We’ve all been involved,” Jackson said, referring to herself, Manley and her other daughter, Barbara Hayes. ”[Manley] comes from a family where there’s no other way to live. She is very family oriented and community oriented. The community is important to her.”

Manley’s recognition by the Porterville Chamber of Commerce comes in light of her service to the chamber, working on committees for the Iris Festival, in addition to helping with any other projects she can.

A past participant and committee member for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, she will shoulder the new role as the local committee’s co-chair for the upcoming year.

Volunteerism, an evident trademark of Manley, derives from what Jackson said is her inherent nature to be involved.

“She’s a go-getter,” Jackson said, “and when she gets into something, she’s in it. She’s committed. [She has] the notion ‘if I’m there, I’ve got to make myself useful.’ That’s how she is. She doesn’t get on the committee for recognition. She’s not the type that sits back. She’s the type that really gets involved.”

That is how Jackson characterized Manley’s involvement with the chamber: “Whatever the chamber is doing, she’s backing them 100 percent, with a commitment you wouldn’t believe.”

As it was described in a video that accompanied her receipt of the award at the chamber’s annual awards banquet, “[Manley] is a lady who works behind the scenes on a variety of events to assist with their successful coordination ... She is someone who doesn’t know how to say no when called upon for the big project or just a little last minute assistance that’s needed.”

She does a lot throughout the community, but Manley was specifically recognized for her work with the chamber.

Manley’s service spans the last four years, one of her first volunteer associations being the Iris Festival.

Her roles in helping to sustain the event include out-of-town trips for vendor recruitment, marking the 200 vendor spaces, and handling the classic car exhibition, children’s area, information booths and trash detail.

She also helped two years ago to start the “cool rides” competition to the car exhibition.

Other chamber projects Manley assists with are the fireworks booth, Chem Free graduation booth, awards banquet set-up, fair booth and It’s My Party.

A prolific volunteer since she moved back to Porterville from Tennessee, Manley said she considers the community in which she grew up “home.”

She graduated from Monache High School, where she was active in the band, choir and drama programs. She then started her college education at Porterville College, where she was a student council member and eventually became the first student representative on the Kern Community College Board of Trustees, she said.

She then went to Allan Hancock College, in Santa Maria, where she obtained employment as a clown for the city.

“Involvement,” Jackson said, “is what she’s all about. Wherever she’s at, she’s involved.”

After college, she moved back to Porterville, married, moved to Tennessee and came back, upon finding she could not remain separated from the environment that cultivated her propensity to volunteer.

She now works for Porterville Glass alongside her other community leadership roles.

Manley, after stating she wasn’t the best person to describe herself, simply said: “I just like to keep active.”

“It’s a better world if we get involved,” she said.

-- Contact The Recorder newsroom at 784-5000, Ext. 1043.