Volunteer Bill Johnson helps keep SANCA afloat

Bill Johnson, of Longboat Key, has spent a lot of time at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota over the past year-and-a-half. The retired CEO and attorney volunteers four days a week at the park, where he works with Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates (SANCA), a rowing nonprofit group that took over running the park in March 2013.

“The more I got involved the more I enjoy it,” he said. “It was totally out of my comfort zone at first, but it’s been challenging, and I welcome that.”

Johnson, who turns 70 Oct. 9, has become a full-time volunteer since retiring and moving to Longboat Key from Tampa in 2005. Although he is not a rower himself, he finds the work is a good outlet for his post-retirement energy.

Johnson started volunteering with SANCA when it needed workers for a triathlon it hosted in spring 2013. Johnson eagerly volunteered to get in a kayak and work out on the water, and he says he has been hooked ever since.

“I don’t like the expression giving back,” Johnson said. “Sarasota County has never given me anything. I’m just giving because it’s the right thing to do.”

Bob Whitford, facilities manager for SANCA, says Johnson is one of his go-to guys for volunteer work.

“He’s out here religiously,” Whitford said. “He stays out here during the summer and helps when we don’t have much going on, and he’s here when we have big races, too. He’s just a dependable, hardworking guy.”

During large events in the fall, there are sometimes more than 100 volunteers helping out with the races.

However, Johnson is at Benderson for more than just the big events. He and Bob Stem, another volunteer at Benderson Park who is there religiously, stuck around during the off-season to prepare and maintain the lake and courses for the upcoming race season later this month.

During races, Johnson helps patrol the water in a pontoon boat nicknamed Miss Regatta. On the boat, he provides safety for boats and rowers, and serves as the eyes on the water for first responders and paramedics to help them get to and from locations during emergencies.

As he prepares for the start of the rowing season at Benderson, Johnson will be on his boat while 120 teams and 3,000 paddlers head to the lake for an Oct. 24 breast cancer awareness rowing event.

Johnson said this will be Benderson’s first big race of the season and that in November, high school and collegiate races will take place nearly every weekend.

Johnson began his post-retirement volunteer work with Girls Inc., where he served for six years. He says his true passion is volunteering to help children. He recently began volunteering with Selah Freedom, a group that works to stop sex trafficking in Sarasota County.

Johnson and his wife, Mary Lou, were also two of the 20 volunteers who helped out Oct. 4, during a beach cleanup day with Longboat Key Turtle Watch.

“If you say you’re going to do something, do it,” Johnson said. “I’ve been a professional volunteer for almost 10 years, and it takes initiative.”