Putnam volunteering around Albia

BY HELEN HANNAN, Courier correspondent

March 20, 2008 12:42 pm

— ALBIA — “Albia is such a fun place. There is always so much going on,” said Colleen Putnam, an enthusiastic supporter of her adopted hometown. She and husband, Robert, came to Albia in 1970 from Putnam County, Mo., as new teachers, first grade and middle school math respectively. They were soon actively involved in the community they grew to love. She retired after teaching first grade at Grant School for 31 years.
One of her first projects after retirement was tutoring Wenyan Liu, a Chinese immigrant. The two met daily, Monday through Friday for about two-and-one-half years to study English. Putnam introduced her to the community by inviting her to many social functions. “Wenyan worked so hard,” said Putnam. “Her reading and writing skills were equal to a high school sophomore when she left Albia,” Wenyan now lives in Missouri. “We are still in contact,” Putnam said. “We’re life long friends.”
For the past five years, Putnam has been “catching people doing good,” with her digital camera. She is pleased that the editor of the local newspaper uses many of the photos and accompanying captions or short stories. Often the focus is on someone “who doesn’t get much recognition,” she said.
She speaks with pride of the “incredible things” some groups accomplish such as the Diabetes Foundation, which raised $75,000 in Albia last year and the Hospice Auxiliary that “put together” a hospice room, and a family room.
One of the many incidents Putnam cited supporting her belief that “whenever you help others it comes back to you,” stands out. An elderly friend insisted upon arranging her prepaid funeral the week before Putnam and her husband were taking their granddaughter on vacation.
“I really didn’t have time, but now I am so glad I did it,” she said. The vacation ended tragically when he passed away suddenly in Hawaii. Because of the time spent arranging her friend’s funeral, she was acquainted with the funeral director who took care of all of the arrangements “to get Robert’s body home.” High school sweethearts, they had been married nearly 50 years.
“Helping other people got me through Robert’s death,” she said quietly. “Everyone was so good. She has no family in Albia. Her son and three grandchildren live in another city.”
Putnam enjoys meeting people she once taught at first grades. It is fun watching them grow and to learn what they are doing now. “The last first graders I taught will graduate from high school this year,” she said.
Putnam urges people to volunteer. “You don’t have to be the president or an officer. You can just participate and enjoy what the group is doing.”
She follows her own advice and is involved in many service organizations, including Albia Chamber Ambassadors, Monroe County Retired School Personnel, Monroe County Hospital. Auxiliary, Monroe County Historical Museum, Assist Commissioner-Soil Conservation Service, St. Paul Church Women’s Group and choir, Albia Women’s Club, Albia Lions, P.E.O., Wapello County Master Gardeners, Monroe County Master Gardeners, Albia Restoration Days, Victorian Stroll, Monroe County Arts Council, American Association of University Women and library board.
Although she describes herself as a “minor player in what goes on,” Putnam has received a few awards including 1973 Albia Teacher of the Year, 1992 Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year and 2004 Iowan of the Day at the Iowa State Fair.
“This community is so fortunate, so many people ready to help others,” she said. “I never saw a place with so many active volunteers.”

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