VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE



The goal of the Volunteer Committee of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada (LSSN) is to establish an effective and sustainable Volunteer Program to assist LSSN Operation's Staff achieve its mission, which is to express the love of Christ by serving and caring for people in need.

The Volunteer Committee reports to the Executive Director of the agency and works closely with the Board of Directors. LSSN's Volunteer Committee Members demonstrate commitment, passion and leadership abilities. They hold community relations and business acumen. The members are driven and have recruitment and retention capabilities.

Volunteer Committee Members

Gail Bates
Gail Bates comes to LSSN with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Santa Clara University. She spent the first ten years of her career with NV Energy working in various departments before moving on to the Colorado River Commission of Nevada, where she currently serves as the Manager of Energy Services, manages an annual budget of approximately $60 million, and oversees 8 employees that are responsible for supplying electrical power to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Las Vegas Valley Water District, and the City of Las Vegas for their water pumping and wastewater treatment needs. She is also a Certified Public Manager.


Shirley A. Derke
Shirley A. Derke comes to LSSN with a Juris Doctor from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. She was granted a CPA certificate in 1983, admitted to the Nevada Bar in 1986, and has since been admitted to both the United States Tax Court and the US District Court of Nevada. She is a member of the American Bar Association; the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; the American Association of Attorneys and CPAs; the Nevada State Bar; the Clark County Bar Association; the Southern Nevada Estate Planning Council; and the Medicaid Practice Systems. Her practice in Las Vegas is limited to estate planning and elder law.


Pamela J. Hilts
A resident of Las Vegas since 1967, Pamela J. Hilts graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree and a triple major in Accounting, Finance, and Computers. She became a Certified Internal Auditor in 1988 and earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from UNLV in 1989. Currently working as the Manager of Energy Efficiency, Residential Programs at NV Energy, she has logged 6 years in Internal Audit, 1 years in Process Redesign, 2 years in Human Resources, 4 years in Rates and Regulatory Affairs, 2 years in Customer Choice, 2 years in Credit Risk Management, 3 years in Contract Management, and 3 years in Project Controls. Pamela is proud to offer her assistance with the National Charity League, the Cinderella Youth Scholarship Program, and Lutheran Social Services.


Robin L. Kelley
Robin L. Kelley brings a wealth of non-profit experience to LSSN, having served in various non-profit management positions for over 19 years. Currently working as the Director of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada (United Way of Southern Nevada), Robin has also held the positions of Director of the HandsOn Inland Empire (Inland Empire United Way) and Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of the Inland Empire, along with several postings with the Girl Scouts.
Robin has also been a President of the Rotary Club, which honored her with the distinctions of Rotarian of the Year in 2002 and Rookie of the Year in 2000 for San Bernadino, CA. More recently, she has served with the COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) for both San Bernardino and Southern Nevada, of which she is the present Chair. She is also a member of the Planning Committee for the 2010 National Disaster Exercise.


Barbara Schafer
Barbara Schafer comes to LSSN with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Behavior and a Master of Human Resources Degree in Organizational Development from the University of San Francisco. She retired from Pacific Bell after serving 15 years in various management capacities. Ms. Schaefer also instructed courses in management and organizational behavior at Cal State University from 2002 through 2006, as well as holding the position of Lecturer in the Master's Programs at both Chapmen College and the College of Professional Physiology.

She is proud to serve as a member of the City of San Ramon's Advisory Board on Senior Projects, the B&B Community Group's Board of Directors, and as President of St. Paul's Episcopal Church's League of Women, along with volunteering for the City of Visalia's Chamber of Commerce and lecturing for their Service Clubs.

Helen L. Smith
A resident of Las Vegas and Henderson since 1963, Helen L. Smith comes to LSSN with a B.S. in Speech and Hearing Therapy from the University of Minnesota and an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Helen served the Clark County School District from 1963 until her retirement in 1992, serving in the positions of Speech and Language Therapist, Teacher of the Deaf, Coordinator of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program, and School Psychologist. She then held the position of Vice-President with Retail Management, Inc. until 2006.

Helen has been very active in the LSSN community, having served as a member of the board of directors from 1996 until 2007, as well as holding the corporate office of Secretary and various volunteer roles. She is also a member of the Reformation Lutheran Church Council and has served there in numerous leadership capacities.

Helen also has a distinct passion for genealogical research. She teaches classes in that discipline through the Paseo Verde Library, supports the Clark County Nevada Genealogical Society in a variety of capacities, and edits their quarterly publication, The Prospector.


Richard T. Winters
A resident of Las Vegas since 1970, Richard T. Winters graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power School in 1990 and spent four years as the Chief Machinery Operator on the U.S.S. Nimitz during Operation Desert Storm. Since then, he has logged sixteen years in Power Plant Operations and Maintenance, including eight years in management. He currently holds the position of Manager, Continuous Improvement with NV Energy, as well as being a trained facilitator in the Deming Methodology of Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis. His philanthropic interests include work with the Boys and Girls Club of Las Vegas, Junior Achievement of Las Vegas, and the YMCA's On Your Side "Helping the Homeless" Fairs.


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