Hampton woman named among top volunteers nationally

After retiring from teaching in the Shaler Area School District 17 years ago, Elizabeth Spence decided she “wasn’t going to waste my time going to lunches.”

So, she went to work – volunteer work, that is.

Spence was named as one of the top 100 volunteers nationally for the 2021 Small Town America Civic Volunteer Award. The award was given by CivicPlus, a Kansas company that provides technology for local governments. Spence was among 700 nominees.

Hampton council recognized the award and Spence’s volunteer efforts during a recent council meeting.

“Liz works tirelessly in support of the environment and helps to ensure that the care of our natural spaces is carefully considered during development within the township,” said Carolynn Johnson, council president. “Hampton has been exceedingly fortunate to be one of the main beneficiaries of her efforts.”

Johnson and Mike Peters, a former council president, nominated Spence for the award.

That nomination meant more to Spence than winning the award, she said.

An avid outdoorswoman steeped in the appreciation and conservation of the natural world, Spence gravitates to environmental issues and preservation.

She has been serving on the township’s Environmental Advisory Council for the last 14 years. Spence is president of the Pine Creek Conservation Trust, a volunteer naturalist at the Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve, a docent for the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, and an ambassador for Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh.

Volunteerism is a way of life for Spence, whose volunteer activities time-wise amount to a half-time job, she said.

In addition to township and other committee meetings, Spence likes to get out in the field and pull out weeds and eradicate invasive plants.

“At the end of the day, you’re getting something done. It makes people feel good to volunteer,” she said.

Spence believes that volunteerism enriches people’s life and everyone should participate if they can make the time.

One of her favorite quotes for the importance of giving time to community works comes from the humanitarian and baseball great Roberto Clemente: “If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and if you don’t do that, you are wasting your time on this earth.”