Spotlight on Volunteers – Pat Bartmus

 More than a spectator, Cottonwood’s Pat Bartmus participates in life

Cottonwood Planning and Zoning Commissioner Pat Bartmus gives credit to her mother for teaching her the importance of volunteering to help others. As a young child, Bartmus watched what she considers her mother’s greatest work-- packing a food box from the family’s kitchen to deliver to a neighbor that had lost a job. “She did that many times, saying we must not talk to others about what we have done to help a neighbor through a difficult period in life,” Bartmus reminisces. “She cared about protecting the neighbor’s privacy.”

            Besides serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission, Bartmus is one of several neighbors who started the Main and North 16^th Block Watch program two years ago. The Neighborhood Watch program prevents crime through education, increased awareness, and the cooperative and proactive efforts of the Cottonwood Police Department and neighborhood residents. Neighborhood Watch efforts work toward improving quality of life by reducing crime and encouraging a sense of community.

            “As neighbors get acquainted, we learn about the needs of those close to us,” says Bartmus. “Some are elderly or ill and need help. We have responded to those needs.” Bartmus learned that people feel safer in neighborhoods where residents are watching out for one another. She is glad that new block watches are forming quite frequently in the city of Cottonwood.

            After living in Flagstaff where she volunteered for children’s programs, Bartmus and her husband Victor chose Cottonwood for retirement 18 years ago. In 1987 Victor opened a small wheel alignment shop until illness prevented him from continuing. He passed away in May of 2001. Although Bartmus attended college, she chose to be a stay-at-home mom to their three children. “That in itself was a full time job, as any wife and mother knows,” Bartmus says. Now grown, one lives in Salt Lake City, another in Highlands Ranch, Colo. and one in Cottonwood. “I have 10 wonderful grandchildren and I can swap pictures with the best of grandparents,” Bartmus exclaims.

            Serving on Cottonwood’s Planning and Zoning Commission gives Bartmus the opportunity to learn about her city’s government and discover what is important to citizens. She believes volunteerism can give anyone, regardless of career or education, the chance to make a huge difference. “We are limited only by our own interests,” she says. The thing she likes most about Cottonwood is the hometown attitude, even with all the development taking place,” she says. “Neighbors still care about one another.”

            In the next 10 years Bartmus says her wish for the community is to continue working toward the goals the people requested in the long range General Plan, without compromising the hometown quality she hears so much about from the citizens. “The P&Z Commission always has a great challenge in the decisions that are made. We have policies and ordinances in place, but we also need to listen to the people our decisions affect, “Bartmus says. “The solution to the latter is to make sure we have done our homework and to keep an open mind. Good ideas come from good discussions.

            Currently Bartmus is an advocate for domestic violence victims, a job she says is very fulfilling. For fun she enjoys watching Indy and NASCAR racing and horse racing. “I’m pretty good at the old Nintendo games, too,” she laughs. She also likes to read.

            Her favorite saying is, “Keep an open mind; it gives someone the chance to drop a worthwhile thought in it,” from the book Apples of Gold.        

If Bartmus could get community members to do just one thing, she would get them involved somewhere to use their talents and life experiences in volunteer work. She says there are many organizations within the city that need help. “Go to meetings…learn” are words of wisdom that Bartmus lives each day.

 Spotlight on Volunteers is written by Diane Joens on behalf of the Cottonwood City Council. Council members recognize the invaluable contributions volunteers make to the betterment of city government and the community. There are many opportunities to volunteer and make a positive difference. Council members encourage everyone to get involved. Volunteer today!