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Community Corner

Busy Volunteer Spends Time at Kinnelon Library

Kinnelon Library and the Center for Lifelong Learning benefit from Ron Leavesley's wisdom and enthusiasm.

  • Name: Ron Leavesley retired from the corporate world and had begun consulting when he decided to take a course in painting at the Kinnelon Public Library’s Center for Lifelong Learning [CLL]. “I got involved with the library when I took an art course,” he said. “Then all of a sudden, I wound up being president of the organization, as well as the Friends of the Library. Since 1995 that’s what I’ve been doing.”
  • Part of Town: In 1973, Leavesley became president of the Oral-B Toothbrush Company. Leavesley, his wife and three children relocated from New York state. Leavesley said he knew nothing about Kinnelon before the move. “We wound up living in a motel for about three months while we were trying to find a place and we finally found a place in Smoke Rise.”
  • Married: Leavesley and his wife were married 57 years.
  • Time: Leavesley, a full-time volunteer, occupies an office at the . His dual-role as president of the Friends of the Kinnelon Library and the Center for Lifelong Learning fills countless hours, he said. “One of the stupid things about volunteers is that if you enjoy it, you spend the time," he said. "It’s ridiculous how many hours I spend. But this is the fun part. It’s fun. I could sit around and vegetate, but that’s not my style. I have too much fun watching how things evolve and are successful.”
  • Activities: “The Friends are the fundraisers for the library,” explained Leavesley. “The CLL is the educational part. Our role at CLL is to provide educational opportunities for people of all ages. For the Friends, the goal is to raise as much money as we possibly can.” Since 2001, the Friends of the Kinnelon Library have donated over $50,000 to the library, Leavesley said. They were also instrumental in the library’s expansion, raising close to $100,000, he added. “They have always had successful fundraisers,” he said about the organization's work before he assumed the lead. “We just got it to take off, that’s all.”
  • Program History: CLL launched in 1993. It began with about ten senior students, and four instructors. “Today we have over 50 instructors each semester, and over 300 students each semester,” noted Leavesley. “We’re getting close to 9,000 people that we’ve educated since this program started.” Leavesley is fascinated by the fact that about “half of our students are non-Kinnelon people; from 30 other communities.” Towns such as Wayne, and Sparta are represented on the student roster.“I think what we have is a remarkable program,” Leavesley said. “We have a lot of dedicated people. It’s been highly successful and we are trying to keep it that way. We are trying to do everything we can to do things that are different.” In addition to coordinating the program and assisting in the design and topics of course offerings, Leavesley often teaches.
  • The Library: “It takes time, and it takes enthusiasm and people to run the organization and be dedicated to what you’re trying to do” said Leavesley.“We have a great relationship with the library director and the trustees. The idea is that we’re all trying to do the same thing. That’s why it works so well. We’d never get this done otherwise.”
  • Coming Up: Between the Friends and CLL, Leavesley is involved in more than one large project or initiative each month. Coming up are two big Friends' fundraisers: the membership letter and book sale. Beginning July 20, the library will be collecting donated books. Hundreds of volunteers will sort them at the on Kiel Avenue. Books will then be on sale from August 26 through 29. In September, the 35th Annual Arts and crafts festival.
  • Career: “I just was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time,” said Leavesley. He made his niche in the pharmaceutical arena, working as president of a variety of companies. Each time he decided to make a change, “within a week I was hired at another company,” he said. His ability to serve as president of a company kept him in demand. Ultimately, Leavesley decided that he was tired of the corporate routine and he chose to retire, but the skill set he brought to being president of companies has proved useful in volunteering as president of the Friends and CLL. “Now I am busier than I ever was,” Leavesley said. “The most fun I have is to come up with creative and different ideas for the courses.”
  • Hobbies: “I have a lot of things,” said Leavesley of his interests. Leavesley enjoys painting, but he finds that, with his schedule, he does not have as much time to dedicate to his hobby as he would like. He was also in the antique business with his wife selling hand-colored photographs. Leavesley still has a large collection of them. He also likes to travel, particularly on river cruises. Together he and his wife traveled the world. “My wife and I had a good time.”
  • Philosophy: “Work hard. And be good to people who work for you. And be thoughtful in terms of how you deal with volunteers. They’re not working because they have to, they’re working because they enjoy it, they’re motivated, or something. And I think our ability to have over 50 instructors, all of whom are volunteers, that says something about their enjoyment and satisfaction,” he said.

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