At HeadCount, we are lucky to meet countless individuals from all backgrounds; people who love different kinds of music, represent a wide range of political beliefs, and have a variety of life experiences. We share the common belief that it's important for us all to vote. The beauty in meeting so many people is that you come across someone who embodies everything HeadCount strives to be: kind, inclusive, a firm believer of democracy, a wholehearted lover of music, and compassionate to the core. We met that person in 2008 when JR Wotring volunteered for the first time. If you ever talk to JR, you’ll probably hear him say that “his volunteer job pays him the most.” — and after 17 years together, we owe so much to JR.
JR has decided to retire from his volunteer leadership role at HeadCount, and we couldn’t let him go without saying a few words.
JR will often tell you that he started volunteering because he was an introvert, and volunteering “gave him permission” to freely go up to people and interact with them. Since becoming a volunteer in 2008, JR has moved through the ranks, becoming a local team leader in 2012 and a Regional Coordinator in 2014 – taking on the responsibility for all volunteer team leaders across seven midwestern states. JR has been bringing our mission to life for almost as long as the org has been around – so much so that he’s trained people who have gone on to become staff members. JR was the first Team Leader that Aziza (Digital Marketing Manager) had at an event, and he was the first person at HeadCount that Tom (Director of Voter Engagement) ever spoke to from HeadCount!
“I believe that the meaning of life is defined by how we serve others. I also believe that civic engagement – especially at the local level – is the cornerstone of healthy, vibrant communities.” -JR
To know JR is to know that his love for music is almost as strong as his love for democracy. For seven years, he was our team leader at LOCKN’ Festival. For seven years, JR would drive 7-8 hours from his home in Central Ohio and help create some of the most unforgettable HeadCount memories. Helping manage 18 volunteers at our Participation Row is no small feat, but JR took it in stride and recalled how lucky he felt that he was able to do it. In 2019, we crowned him our Festival Team Leader of the Year for leading his 7th LOCKN’ with us.
JR shows up every day for his friends, family, and his community. His love for democracy runs deep – not only does he spend nights and weekends with us registering people to vote, but he volunteers at his local polling place on Election Day.
After 17 years, some numbers get a little lost… but since JR became a Team Leader in 2012, he has helped us:
- Attend 186 events
- Register nearly 7,000 people to vote
- Recruited 1,200+ people who are interested in volunteering
- Helped more than 16,200 people make sure they’re ready for their next election
In 2024, JR volunteered an impressive 210 hours with HeadCount — multiplied by 17 years comes out to 3,570 hours of service. That is probably a huge understatement, because if you know JR, you know he goes above and beyond in every sense of the phrase.
JR — thank you for your years of service. We are so glad you decided to volunteer here 17 years ago.
