Voices of the volunteers newsletter feb 2015

VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS February 2015

“Though government has an important role to play in meeting the many challenges that remain before us, we are coming to understand that no organization, including government, will fully succeed without the active participation of each of us. Volunteers are vital to enabling this country to live up to the true promise of its heritage.�

- President Bill Clinton Thank you to the following men and women for their outstanding volunteerism. They have been nominated on behalf of their peers at their co-ops.

We appreciate all of your hard work!

Josie Barcenas Mary Belk Ruthie Carter Judy Colombo Elena Diaz Diane Ford Sue Fry Millicent Henderson John Hlubik Jackie Honstreiter

Betty Hutchinson Arthur Johnson Gloria Kellam Marion Leanza Labelle Security Task Force Richard Poe Diane Sexton Anna Taylor Rick Volante Don Wall

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Barton Towers Co-op Jackie Hohnstreiter Jackie runs our resale shop. She’s there every Monday and Wednesday night from 6:00 to 8:00. She makes sure the shop is clean, neat, and well stocked with newer merchandise. It’s always fun to look around and shop. Jackie always volunteers to sell items from the shop at our Annual Bazaar. Thanks Jackie.

Anna Taylor Anna is our “member” baker. You can tell Anna loves to bake. Her cakes, cupcakes, and cookies are so delicious. She bakes a “special” cake and has ice cream for each of our birthdays. She also volunteers to bake goodies for Barton Towers dinner and our Annual Bazaar/Bake Sale.

Bishop Co-op Sue Fry Sue Fry is Bishop Co-op's outstanding volunteer for this issue of “Voices of the Volunteers.” All those who nominated her spoke of what a good person she is and how she genuinely wants to help others. Sue also works to keep her floor clean and decorated year round.

Fellow members say:

“Sue is a kind person and is always helping others.”

“If you ask Sue for help she is there.”

“Sue will help anyone in our co-op and she is a person who cares.”

Recently, she has been working one-on-one with a member who was seriously ill by helping him exercise. I know her help has been greatly appreciated by this couple. Sue Fry, Bishop Co-op thanks you for your volunteerism!

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Dearborn Heights Co-op Arthur Johnson Arthur makes delicious lunch time meals and desserts. Many members enjoy these meals. He is an unassuming quiet person that goes about his duty without any fuss or fanfare. One can see that he enjoys what he’s doing. Arthur deserves to be our Volunteer of the Month and to know that he is appreciated.

Ruthie Carter She has done a magnificent job with the gift counter volunteering her services, the short time she has been here. She has almost turned it into a general store . She is open morning and evenings and she has recruited 6 volunteers to work with her. She definitely gives her best.

Ecorse Manor Co-op

Mary Belk Mary sells coffee and donuts every Saturday. Getting up early to get fresh donuts each Saturday. Sales profits go to our house funds.

Richard Poe

In the past he’s worked as rehab coordinator, interviewer, and marketing in leasing. Since retiring from these positions he continues preventative maintenance and helps in the office and where ever he’s needed. We couldn’t get along without him, he helps in so many ways.

Richard was our rehab man for years. He presently stepped down. While in rehab he graciously conducted tours at all hours, helped maintenance, helped many members, and he bakes cookies and other goodies for our parties. He always does it with a big smile. Thanks Richard.

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Labelle Towers Co-op Labelle Security Task Force Our Security Task Force has been very active at LaBelle. Some of the events they have conducted are: 

Hosted and catered one of our Education meetings

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Hosted and catered the Holiday Party at LaBelle

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Hosted a co-op Pot Luck which was a big hit

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Raised money to pay for their uniforms

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Held raffles to increase House Funds

This is a group of volunteers on the move and we feel that their progress should not go unnoticed. We “thank” them for their activities and we wish them an active and prosperous 2015.

Pontiac Village Estates Co-op Gloria Kellam Gloria has been such a great boost to our moral during the first months of our opening. Gloria has been so kind and gracious to all of us by keeping our new home decorated for the holidays. She put up all the decorations and tree in the lobby and decorated all of the floor lounges. She buys our plants and fills our candy dishes. Gloria donates her time and effort in keeping the main areas clean and dusted. Gloria also volunteered in helping to set up and run our gift shop. Thank you Gloria.

Millicent Henderson Millicent keeps all of us active with her energy and Karaoke machine. Millicent offers to take people to appointments and to the store if they do not have a ride. She also helps by going on shopping runs for the front office. She helps the entertainment committee with set up and clean up, and by providing her Karaoke machine for Karaoke night and the New Year’s Eve Party. Millicent is our treasurer and helps to keep us all balanced. Thank you Millicent.

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Rio Vista Detroit Co-op Josie Barcenas Josie first came to Rio Vista when her mother resided here as a member.

She spent many hours giving kind and compassionate care to this dearest of family. Members still remark about her loyalty and dedication. During her caregiving days Josie made many friends. Now that she herself is a member, Josie continues to serve as our current Vice-President. Many of our members are Hispanic and some do not speak English. This officer is bi -lingual and helps so much to continue in the smooth operation of our coop. She is our translator at our general meetings. Besides being an excellent vice-president she also likes to help care for our many plants in our lounges, assist with our dinners and parties, and helps decorate for Holidays. This great lady is very well liked, approachable, and has a great sense of humor. Thank you, Josie for all you do to make Rio Vista co-op a wonderful place to live.

Elena Diaz Elena has been a member and volunteer since Rio Vista opened its doors in 2001. She has served in our office for many years in a variety of positions, she also ran the gift shop for many years always making sure the gift shop was stocked with articles the members really needed. This include the purchasing of goods and keeping good records for our Treasurer. Due to her hard work, Elena made a lot of money which benefited the members in entertainment programs, parties, and other fun activities. Her sweet personality made it a pleasure to visit the gift shop along with purchasing paper towels, birthday cards, a variety of foods, soda and juice, cleaning products and the list goes on and on. Elena is Hispanic coming from the lovely Island of Puerto Rico. She is bi-lingual and serves as a translator on many needed occasions .Her smile and warmth would light up any room in the co-op. Being an interviewer for Leasing is also one of her volunteer jobs. One of Elena’s favorite sayings is “We are family here at Rio Vista Co-op” and she means it with all her heart.

Thank you, Elena for your many years of service at Rio Vista Co-op.

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Riverview Co-op Betty Hutchinson Betty is involved in many committees in the co-op such as, elections, welcoming, leasing, activities, and in her spare time she prints out tickets for any function, the flyers for the floors, and also does the newsletter for the co-op.

John Hlubik John has saved the co-op a lot of money fixing locks on doors when ever asked. He also helps anyone that asks him to help with anything they need done.

Tivoli Manor Co-op

Diane Sexton Diane is a very go to, get it done person. She is our leasing office leader, a floor rep, and the sunshine lady.

Judy Colombo Judy is an excellent floor rep, and she does a great job at organizing and running meetings.

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS Trenton Towers Co-op

Diane Ford Diane has been our “Sunshine Lady� for years and has been 1st alternate for a long time. She is always willing to help, do anything, selling tickets, etc.

Marion Leanza Marion is 90 years old and has turned our cards on the 6th floor for years.

She loves doing it.

Wyandotte Co-op

Don Wall Don is one of own Silent Super All-Star Volunteers. He has been a floor rep for many years. He is up at the crack of dawn cleaning windows on the first floor and cleaning the front porch and table.

Rick Volante He is a floor rep. He does check up on all the members on his floor. He makes sure I get my newspaper and anybody else who has one delivered. He is always in a good mood no matter what his problems are. He is keeping our building safe.

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VOICES OF THE VOLUNTEERS

Nominate Volunteers in Your Co-op!

To nominate volunteers to be recognized in the next issue of the “Voices of the Volunteers,� talk to your Congress Delegates.

The Congress Delegates will take nominations and then submit a maximum of two volunteers to be recognized per issue.

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