Our Star Volunteer, Fred Allebach

Left to right: Supervisor Susan Gorin, Fred Allebach, Caitlin Cornwall, Congressman Mike Thompson

Sonoma Valley Collaborative recognized Fred Allebach as our Star Volunteer of the year, at Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund’s award ceremony in early October. The Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund hosted the annual Sonoma Valley Star Volunteer Awards at the Hanna Boys Center, where thirty-seven nonprofit organizations honored thirty-nine of Sonoma Valley’s most active and valuable community volunteers during the awards ceremony. Sonoma Valley Catalyst Fund presented each Star Volunteer with a special trophy and certificates of recognition from Sonoma County District 1 Supervisor Susan Gorin and Congressman Mike Thompson.

Fred volunteers his time to represent Sonoma Valley Housing Group, and the interests of low-income residents generally, on the Council of Sonoma Valley Collaborative. He also provides a unique service to Sonoma Valley by keeping track of what our local governments are doing. He attends probably 10 or more meetings of agencies and elected officials every month, reads hundreds of pages of dense government documents, and remains unintimidated by new complex topics or bureaucratic jargon. 

Whether it’s about the 8-year housing plans that are out for review right now, the future of the Sonoma Developmental Center, climate action, or the groundwater we all share, Fred shares his findings and analysis with a broad range of people, even those who have differing agendas from his, and they benefit from his work, because who can keep up with all those documents? The net result is that we who work toward a better community have a regular-guy window into what our governments are doing, so we can participate more effectively. Some might wish that Fred's emails were shorter, but all of Sonoma Valley benefits—even those who don’t know it—from his service. 

Thank you, Fred!