December
2006
I’m in the process of doing a
little reminiscing since becoming the Lubbock RSVP director in March. I
can’t believe that it has already been nine months. I have enjoyed these
eight months tremendously. That’s not to say that I have not had some
struggles. Every time I have started a new job I have faced learning new
tasks. I have gotten frustrated, but have pushed myself through to the
other side and end up with feelings of satisfaction. New jobs bring a
refreshing new excitement to my life and keep me confident that old dogs
can learn new tricks. What I really want to tell you is that I am happy.
I have met so many nice people.
The RSVP volunteers continue to amaze me in their efforts to make
Lubbock a better place. In 2005, over 900 RSVP volunteers gave 129,789
hours of service to 112 non-profit agencies in Lubbock. This is
equivalent to over $2,000,000 in wages.
I have also been blessed with an
Advisory Council that is more than phenomenal. On October 19th we had
the annual RSVP Recognition Dinner with approximately 265 people in
attendance. I absolutely could not have carried out this project without
the Advisory Council members, and I want to recognize and honor them in
this column.
They are: Sue Castles with Xcel
Energy, Wanda Davis with Elmbrook Estates, Frank Foley with Alliance
Home Medical, Dodie Grinnell with Calvert Home Health, Jane Prince Jones
with Clear Channel Communications, Pete Lara with Area Agency on Aging/SPAG,
Peter Laverty with Senior Are Special/UMC, Cary Magness with Lubbock
Senior Source, Wanda Parker with Plains Capital Bank, Jess Peterson with
Grand Court, Floyd Price with Lubbock City Council, Dr. JoAnn Shroyer,
Executive Director on RSVP with Texas Tech University – Department of
Design, Jo Stone with Word Publication/Golden Gazette, Sharon Thiel with
Covenant Health Systems, Joel Trevino with Foster Grandparent Program
and Jamie Thomason with Carillon Senior LifeCare Community.
Four RSVP volunteers were
recognized at the dinner with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
This award is given by President Bush to volunteers who have contributed
over 4000 hours of service since Lubbock RSVP started counting
cumulative hours in 1999. The honorees are: Carol Taylor, Mary Barton,
Geri Anderson and Maxine Clayton.
It would be impossible for Lubbock
RSVP to have such an elegant dinner without our many table sponsors.
They are: Alliance Home Medical, Beyond Faith HomeCare, Calvert Home
Health, Caprock Home Health, Carillon Senior LiveCare, Cottage Village,
Covenant Health System, Edward Jones, Elmbrook Estates, Golden Gazette,
Grace House, Grand Court, Heritage Oaks, Home Instead Senior Care,
Hospice of Lubbock, Inspirations, Interim Health Care, Lubbock Adult Day
Center, Lubbock Hospitality, Lubbock Power and Light, Lubbock
Professional Fire Fighters, Mobile Housecalls, Odyssey Healthcare,
Plains Capital Bank, Professional Home Oxygen Service, Quail Ridge
Alzheimer’s Special Care Center, Rix Funeral Directors, Seniors Are
Special, SouthHaven, VistaCare, and Xcel Energy.
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Needed at UMC - Do you know
someone that loves the smell of movie theater popcorn? Or even you
yourself? If you are interested in an exciting, rewarding volunteer
experience then Popcorn is for you. No sales or cooking experience
necessary! Only four hours a week! Meet new and exciting people as you
help support the University Medical Center Auxiliary Scholarship
Fund. Great benefits include: all the popcorn you can eat, a handsome
volunteer smock with matching latex free gloves and being part of a
wonderful team on hospital volunteers. Be a Popcorn Volunteer!
Are you good at scrapbooking? The
South Plains Food Bank is looking for someone to update their
scrapbook. This is a fun and creative opportunity.
Do you want to ‘Be a Santa to a
Senior’? There are a couple of ways to help with this project sponsored
by Home Instead Senior Care and Meals on Wheels. From
November 15th through December 18th they sponsor trees at Kmart, Quail
Ridge Alzheimer’s Special Care, Ventura Place, Wedgewood South, and
Texas Senior Trails with ornaments you can pick up with a specific item
listed to purchase for financially challenged and lonely seniors in our
community. On December 12th, they need volunteers to help wrap packages.
Volunteers are also needed to deliver these wrapped gifts to the
recipients from December 12th through December 18th.
To
volunteer, or for more information about these or other volunteer
positions, please call the RSVP office at 742-2423.
HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or
Dana Bear about your interests. If you are not certain what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just the right job for you. Just mail in the
enrollment form
(requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!
|
