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Employees Volunteer

Although Basin Electric supports many charitable organizations across its service area by donating funds and allowing staff to volunteer on company time, many employees feel passionately about these programs and donate their personal time to further serve their communities.

Shawn Deisz

“I believe we are all part of one community that needs a strong support system for those times in our lives when we need assistance. We should all volunteer and contribute to

the charities, agencies, etc. that provide this support to ensure they are available when we, our friends and our families are in need. It’s incredible how many lives these organizations touch every single day. Also, volunteering can provide a great sense of personal satisfaction and opportunities to meet others.”

With values likes these, it’s no wonder volunteering is a worthy cause very close to the heart of Shawn Deisz, manager of accounting at Basin Electric. The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Bismarck is one such cause Shawn puts great effort into. She is currently the President-elect, and is working on strategic planning for RMHC of Bismarck, which includes the goal of obtaining a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® for North Dakota. The Care Mobile program is designed to bring inexpensive medical, dental and health education services to children in need. 

According to the global organization’s Web site, www.rmhc.org, RMHC® is a non-profit organization that creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. RMHC® is a significant charitable organization throughout the world. On a global scale, RMHC® has more than 265 house facilities in 30 countries, over 100 Family Rooms in 11 countries and 29 Care Mobile programs in 4 countries.

The Bismarck chapter currently has an eight-bedroom House that serves as a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment at local hospitals or clinics. RMHC of Bismarck also provides grants to other non-profit organizations for programs that directly benefit children and scholarships to deserving college-bound students.  

Shawn is able to utilize her professional skills and knowledge while serving on the board of directors and assisting the executive director in resolving accounting-related issues. She says, “Although my volunteer work mainly involves the administrative functions of RMHC of Bismarck, the volunteers and staff at the House couldn’t provide the necessary services to families without the strong leadership of the board and executive director and the financial support of the community. I am so happy that the small part I play, when added to the contributions of many other volunteers, can assist families and their seriously ill children by offering a home-like place to stay, rest and relax during a stressful time in their lives.”

She first got involved with RMHC® when a former board member recommended her for a seat on the board of directors. That was over five years ago. Shawn had served with him on another charitable organization’s board, and he believed the mission of RMHC® fit well with her views of charitable giving. 

Being a volunteer, Shawn knows the best part of donating her time and services. “The reward is the heart-felt thank you notes the RMHC of Bismarck receives, seeing a new mom and dad with their premature baby finally going home after months in the hospital, etc. Also, I truly enjoy helping others.” she says.

Katie Bommersbach

For Katie Bommersbach, help desk coordinator III, volunteering to help better the community isn’t just a now-and-then deal – it’s a passion. Katie has found an important

role to fill as she spends much of her personal time volunteering at Tracy’s Sanctuary House.

According to its Web site, www.tracyssanctuary.com, the organization was “established in honor of Tracy Rittel. On August 9, 2004, Tracy was killed in a car accident near Fargo, ND. While waiting to hear about her status, her distraught family had difficulty finding a suitable place to stay. Coping with her death, her family envisioned a sanctuary for other families in the same traumatic situation.”

Consequently, Tracy’s Sanctuary House provides a place for people from out-of-town who have a family member dealing with a medical emergency. Potential guests are interviewed before gaining admittance to Tracy’s Sanctuary House to ensure they will abide by the rules of the House. The House assures each guest has access to a bedroom, bathroom and common living space. Linens, toiletries and basic non-perishable food items are also provided.

After the House was established, to help ensure it is used to its full potential, the clientele was expanded to include chemo and kidney dialysis patients when room is available. 

Bommersbach became involved with the organization after attending its Christmas open house in December 2005. She spends her volunteer time fundraising, taking minutes at monthly volunteer meetings, doing yard work, painting and staining, cleaning and helping with the annual open house. She also helped build a pond in the backyard during the United Way Day of Caring. Bommersbach takes part in these activities because she feels it’s very important to “help others in their time of need.”

She knows guests of Tracy’s Sanctuary House are very appreciative of the hard work volunteers do to ensure they have a comfortable place to stay when going through stressful times, and that makes all of her hard work very worthwhile.

Bommersbach remarks, “I like to volunteer to help people. Helping others is rewarding and makes me appreciate how blessed I am. I have also recently registered to be a Red Cross volunteer but have not been given any assignments yet.”

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