Ruidoso and Lincoln County has long been a retirement destination for people seeking beautiful views, a great climate, interesting and fun venues, outstanding property values and a community of civic minded people. Don Ratay, retiree and HEAL (Help End Abuse for Life) and The Nest Domestic Violence Shelter volunteer, agrees with this statement whole heartedly.
Ratay describes himself as the son of a high school dropout who, through determination and grit, became a world traveled chemical engineer. Don chose Lincoln County as his retirement home after working for the Chevron Corporation for 26 years and retiring from the company at age 48. He jokes he’s often the youngest retired golfer at the Alto Lakes Golf & Country Club but after 8 years of retirement, is finding that status changing.
Ratay first became affiliated with HEAL & the Nest as a friend of HEAL’s Executive Director Coleen Widell, who he says is a dynamo. He describes Coleen’s passion for HEAL as being infectious, those around her cannot help but get excited and want to help.
Ratay says volunteering was a natural transition of the friendship, “Coleen asked me if I would help do this or that. She always makes volunteering for the Nest fun, it isn’t like work. That makes it pleasant for me. I enjoy the work at the Nest. The people I have met at there are all really nice.”
Ratay’s role primary volunteer role with HEAL is as a committee member for the annual Deacon Bob Racicot Open, an annual charity golf tournament to benefit the Nest.
His volunteer work with HEAL tournaments made him the only committee member who had participated in a golf tournament as a player. His first task was to draft the rules of play for the inaugural tournament in 2010 and other responsibilities include assisting with gathering teams, sponsorships and donations. Ratay credits Inn of the Mountain Gods PGA Golf Pro Daniel Nunez with professional oversight of the tournament.
The one thing Ratay would like to come out of his story is this, “I see firsthand the effort put into raising money. This is a small town and there are a number of businesses in town who support all the causes and they get hammered. They have somebody knocking on their door asking for support or a donation time and time again. So my hat goes off to those who pony up and continue to support. The Nest is really unique. I don’t believe there is any similar facility anywhere around here, certainly not right on top of the mountain. There are lots of school clubs and 4-H clubs and such, but there is only one Nest. I recognize because of its uniqueness, it needs our support. I want to acknowledge and recognize those companies and businesses that have and continue to support us year after year, despite all of the requests for funding. I know it first hand from asking for donations that not all businesses can say yes every time to every request, they are not bottomless pits and I can see that it pains them to say no. So I just want to let the local businesses know that we are appreciative of them.”
Other than golf, Don is also an avid fan of photography. The walls of his log home are adorned with photographs of his world travels. Don found himself as a model for the HEAL “Golfers Against Domestic Violence” poster. He is also the photographer for the HEAL “Pastors Against Domestic Violence” and “Body Builders Against Domestic Violence” posters. Don has photographed multiple events for the Nest, including HEAL board and staff members with Governor Richardson at a domestic violence bill signing.
Recently, Don received a newsletter from Chevron announcing a grant program for its employees and retirees called Human Needs. The grant program encourages Chevron employees to volunteer with charities of their choice, submit their hours volunteered, and then the charity benefits from a grant. Don has been notified by Chevron that HEAL will be receiving a $500 check in November. The grant is renewable and plans on applying annually to benefit HEAL. Don says he is proud to be affiliated with Chevron and their charitable contributions. Don encourages other retirees to volunteer and to contact their former corporations and see if similar grant programs are available.
HEAL is run by an all-volunteer board of directors that oversees the operation of the Nest Domestic Shelter in Ruidoso Downs. For more information about the free and confidential services of the shelter, call (575) 378-6378 or “like” the HEAL & The Nest facebook page.
Pictured is HEAL volunteer, Don Ratay with his dogs, 3 year old Ben and 13 year old Bob on the deck of his home in Alto.
