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Local volunteer effects change in global organization
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Cherie Metivier
The particulars
Age: 47
Resident of Swanzey since 2001
Married to Bill Hutwelker since 2001
Six adult children; one grandchild
Education: Nationally certified group fitness instructor and personal trainer
Employment: owner and manager of Lady of America Fitness Center
Volunteer affiliations
Since 2005, member of the board of directors: N.H. West Chapter of the American Red Cross
83 Court Street
Keene, NH 03431; 352-3210
www.newhampshirewest.redcross.org
Three years ago, Cherie Metivier joined the board of directors of the N.H. West Chapter of the American Red Cross. Since then, she’s rallied community support for the Keene-based organization, which serves 40 towns throughout southwestern New Hampshire.
“The Red Cross does so much locally, nationally and all over the world,” said Metivier, 47, who owns and operates a women’s physical fitness center in Keene. “Where would we be without them? They help out everyone and never say no to anybody.”
“A lot of people don’t know much about the Red Cross until they need it. Then, it all comes back to you,” she said. “But chances are if you took swimming lessons as a kid, you took them through the Red Cross.”
Besides swimming lessons and babysitting classes, the organization provides disaster relief, sponsors blood drives, and offers medical and safety educational programs to individuals and area businesses. Beyond that, volunteer drivers annually donate more than 7,000 free rides to community members in need of transportation to medical appointments in the Monadnock Region and as far away as Lebanon, Concord and Boston.
Metivier lives in Swanzey with her husband, a salesman for a North American paper company who’s also her business partner. Together they have six adult children. With her youngest now graduated from Keene High School, she recently took up golf.
Besides managing the daily operations of her fitness center, she’s a certified personal trainer who leads on-site classes. She also makes house calls to numerous local clients, including several octogenarians at area assisted living centers.
Still, her volunteer service remains a priority. Besides serving on the Red Cross leadership board, she works with the development committee. A certified instructor, she teaches health and safety classes, and educates local schools and businesses about the organization.
“Cherie is one of our best ambassadors,” said executive director Janet Warren. “She helps us at all types of community events and activities. She’s a businesswoman. She really knows how to relate well to people of all ages and backgrounds.”
“Everyone likes to be around Cherie,” she said. “She’s such a positive and caring individual. She’s full of ideas as well. She’s brought a lot of other great people to our board.”
Raising public awareness about the chapter’s financial resources remains her primary goal. Besides Monadnock United Way funding, the group depends solely on community support.
“I’m trying to get the word out about the Red Cross,” she said. “People say, ‘It’s just the Red Cross. They’ll always be there. They’ll always have money.’ It’s a huge misunderstanding.”
“People think the government funds the Red Cross, but that’s not true,” she added. People need to know that when we ask for money, that’s the only way we get money, except for the United Way. Times are tough, and there are lots of organizations that need help, but I can’t think of any more deserving than the Red Cross.”
She plans to host a year-end fundraising event at her downtown Keene business. She also urges prospective new volunteers willing to serve on committees or on the board of directors to contact the nonprofit.
“It makes me feel that even as one person, I can make a difference,” she said. “I’m part of something great. Everything great isn’t just about one person. It’s a bunch of people working together to help people.”
“I’m just as busy as the next person,” she said. “But, when you volunteer and make a difference, it makes you feel better about your life. It makes your heart happy.”
~ Joan Geary
“Making a Difference,” a weekly feature, is a collaborative project of The Keene Sentinel and Giving Monadnock, which seeks to raise public awareness of the role of nonprofit agencies in the Monadnock Region. For more information, e-mail info@givingmonadnock.org or call 357-7171.
“The Red Cross does so much locally, nationally and all over the world,” said Metivier, 47, who owns and operates a women’s physical fitness center in Keene. “Where would we be without them? They help out everyone and never say no to anybody.”
“A lot of people don’t know much about the Red Cross until they need it. Then, it all comes back to you,” she said. “But chances are if you took swimming lessons as a kid, you took them through the Red Cross.”
Besides swimming lessons and babysitting classes, the organization provides disaster relief, sponsors blood drives, and offers medical and safety educational programs to individuals and area businesses. Beyond that, volunteer drivers annually donate more than 7,000 free rides to community members in need of transportation to medical appointments in the Monadnock Region and as far away as Lebanon, Concord and Boston.
Metivier lives in Swanzey with her husband, a salesman for a North American paper company who’s also her business partner. Together they have six adult children. With her youngest now graduated from Keene High School, she recently took up golf.
Besides managing the daily operations of her fitness center, she’s a certified personal trainer who leads on-site classes. She also makes house calls to numerous local clients, including several octogenarians at area assisted living centers.
Still, her volunteer service remains a priority. Besides serving on the Red Cross leadership board, she works with the development committee. A certified instructor, she teaches health and safety classes, and educates local schools and businesses about the organization.
“Cherie is one of our best ambassadors,” said executive director Janet Warren. “She helps us at all types of community events and activities. She’s a businesswoman. She really knows how to relate well to people of all ages and backgrounds.”
“Everyone likes to be around Cherie,” she said. “She’s such a positive and caring individual. She’s full of ideas as well. She’s brought a lot of other great people to our board.”
Raising public awareness about the chapter’s financial resources remains her primary goal. Besides Monadnock United Way funding, the group depends solely on community support.
“I’m trying to get the word out about the Red Cross,” she said. “People say, ‘It’s just the Red Cross. They’ll always be there. They’ll always have money.’ It’s a huge misunderstanding.”
“People think the government funds the Red Cross, but that’s not true,” she added. People need to know that when we ask for money, that’s the only way we get money, except for the United Way. Times are tough, and there are lots of organizations that need help, but I can’t think of any more deserving than the Red Cross.”
She plans to host a year-end fundraising event at her downtown Keene business. She also urges prospective new volunteers willing to serve on committees or on the board of directors to contact the nonprofit.
“It makes me feel that even as one person, I can make a difference,” she said. “I’m part of something great. Everything great isn’t just about one person. It’s a bunch of people working together to help people.”
“I’m just as busy as the next person,” she said. “But, when you volunteer and make a difference, it makes you feel better about your life. It makes your heart happy.”
~ Joan Geary
“Making a Difference,” a weekly feature, is a collaborative project of The Keene Sentinel and Giving Monadnock, which seeks to raise public awareness of the role of nonprofit agencies in the Monadnock Region. For more information, e-mail info@givingmonadnock.org or call 357-7171.
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