Matthew Brown: Vol is for ...

Jul. 21—Welcome to Matthew's mid-life crisis.

A major part of that is my latest announcement. I am now a volunteer.

At this point, a good copy editor/proofreader would try to change that little 'v' to a capital 'V.' Only this time, no error was made. There is more than one way to be a volunteer.

So no, I am not that kind of vol ... let me put it this way, I am not now nor ever will be rooting for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

"You mean, you are doing physical tasks you don't have to do without getting paid for it?"

That is correct.

In a new part of my weekly routine that has nothing to do with athletics — when I am in town — I spend 3 and a half hours helping out at Milledgeville's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). This is the place I first went to in June to do a story on National Adopt a Cat Month.

Matthew is a cat and dog lover, though I have no pets of my own. Not even a goldfish bowl. Being at ARF and hearing of their needs — not to mention the good work they do in giving these animals a temporary home as they await adoption — it inspired me to offer those volunteer services on weekends.

What's involved with being an ARF volunteer? The list is simple: unfold newspapers. Hey! That's right up my alley. When you are done reading a masterful story on the pages of The Union-Recorder, set them aside and drop them off at ARF. Then they are put to real good use lining kennels, cages and, of course, litter boxes.

(Don't say it ... can't help it ... that will really put a couple of other publications to real good use! I guess I could mean the AJC, but that's not sold here.)

There's also some washing and drying duties, be it towels and blankets on one side of the room or bowls and pans — by hand — on the other side.

The hardest part, though, is going into that room and just spending time giving about 20 felines some company. No, that's not hard at all until you realize you need about three or four extra hands to give all the attention in demand at one time. You might also find yourself turned into a human scratching post or oak tree. Check your pants pockets or the back inside part of your shirt to make sure one isn't trying to sneak out.

The dogs are nice, too, when the more experienced members of ARF's staff take one from one room to another. Is that a dog or a bucking bronco at the rodeo?

Shout out to Rex, the office cat who makes sure I do the unfolding job correctly (Again, there's an AJC reference that could be made).

As much as I enjoy seeing the cats week after week, I really don't want to see the same ones over and over. I want to hear that these animals are going to a good permanent home. That's what the place is all about.

I get financial restraints. I even get allergies. Otherwise, I implore readers to take a good look at your situation and see if taking in a new pet is doable. So henceforth and from now on every sports column of mine in The U-R will conclude with a "Price is Right" style disclaimer/reminder to give pet adoption a try. ARF is a little red building on 711 S. Wilkinson St., and more information is available on animalrescuefoundation.org.

When visiting family — as I did a lot of recently trekking across one corner of Georgia to another — I cannot be at the shelter. But a family visit can be productive for both them and my job. One household donated some aforementioned litter via me.

There was a sports angle to my recent vacation, watching my 23-year-old niece play with former teammates at a Glynn Academy alumni volleyball tournament. It's a program Glynn didn't have when I attended school there from 1984-88, and they played in a practice gym that did not exist during that same time.

My niece's "coach" was the father of a former teammate who went on to play at Georgia College & State University. Morgan Overly was not there, but her father Brad and I talked about how I was now in Milledgeville covering the Bobcats, and that they were looking for a new coach.

Or so I thought. Brad informs me that, on that very day (July 14) GCSU named a new coach. I had to drive 3 and a half hours to find this out?

It was awesome, also, to see a former high school teacher of mine at a Saturday night church service. And he remembered me after all these decades! This would be Herman Hudson, who coached eight state golf championships and had four runner-up teams while also serving as football offensive coordinator and head boys basketball coach at Glynn. He's been retired since 1995 (28 years at the school) and is in both the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and the Glynn County Hall of Fame.