Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
Enriching Lives, Meeting Community Needs
PRSRT-STD US Postage PAID Asheville, NC Permit no. 367
Return Service Requested
RSVP at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council 339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 (828)-251-6622 Toll Free: 1-800-727-0557
RSVP Coordinators Buncombe & Madison Patti Cameron ext 126 Patti@landofsky.org
Henderson & Transylvania Vicki Jennings, Ext. 130
A Program of:
http://sites.google.com/site/ rsvpserniorcorp/Home
Theatre Tickets
We welcome Theatre UNCA and NC Stage Company to our list of available tickets for RSVP Members. A warm welcome and thank you goes out to them for helping us to recognize the great work RSVP volunteers are doing in our community. We hope that you enjoy these new opportunities.
Theatre Tickets
Volunteers who have served 25 hours in the past quarter are eligible to request a free theatre ticket. Guests will be put on the waiting list until one week prior to the performance. We currently have tickets at the following theatres: Brevard Little Theatre , Flat Rock Playhouse, Theatre UNCA and NC Stage Company. For more information, contact Brenda at Brenda@landofsky.org
A Change in Administration
Joleen Huertas, Volunteer Services Project Assistant, will be leaving Land-of-Sky Regional Council on June 30. From assisting with event planning to gathering statistical data on our volunteers, Joleen has been an essential part of the work of the Volunteer Services Department. She has been at Land-of-Sky Regional Council for six years. We will miss you Joleen! Brenda Delacruz and Wanda Clark will join the Volunteer Services Department to assist staff and volunteers. Brenda will help with the day-to-day tasks such as theater ticket reservations and data entry. Wanda will collect and report information from our volunteer stations for our bi-yearly progress reports. We welcome Brenda and Wanda! Picture: Left to Right (Joleen, Wanda and Brenda)
July—August 2009
July-August Newsletter has emphasis on new Open this edition of the RSVP newsletter, and you’re probably going to notice some big changes – there are more pages, more highlights of special events, more information to keep you informed – well, there’s just more! Beginning with this edition, we have separated the newsletter content into two separate areas – one edition for those in Buncombe and Madison counties, and one for those who live in Henderson and Transylvania counties. “We’re excited to be able to offer our volunteers and stations more specialized information,” said Patti Cameron, lead RSVP Coordinator. “We hope that by separating the newsletter, we can offer more specific content, which will help everyone served by RSVP to be better informed about what’s going on in their communities.” There’s a tried and true adage that says the larger the organization, the better the communication has to be. With more than 700 volunteers across the four counties served by RSVP, our communication has just moved to the next level. In this issue, you’ll find information about specific volunteers in your community, volunteer stations and their needs, as well as opportunities
In This Issue The End of an Era……....……..….Pg. 2 Eileen Funke retires from IAM
Station Corner………………………...Pg. 3 Henderson County Heritage Museum
Current Opportunities………..…Pg. 4-5 New Volunteer Station……….…...Pg. 6 Transylvania Volunteers in Medicine
New Volunteer Project…………...Pg. 7 Operation Toasty Toes Staff Changes at Land-of-Sky…...Pg 8 Goodbye to Joleen Huertas
for you to make a difference. You’ll also get the latest information about special events sponsored by RSVP or many of our partner agencies. In short, you’ll be better informed about what’s going on in your community through RSVP and other organizations. We value your input. Send us your story ideas or things we can do to make this newsletter more userfriendly. ( Remember, because of production timelines, we are writing articles for the newsletter well in advance.) Also, if you have email and would like to receive our newsletter electronically, please email us at rsvp@landofsky.org.
Wellness Expo
Free Community Event hosted by Land-of-Sky Regional Council Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. NC Arboretum, 100 Fredrick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC No Cost Health Screenings Hearing Screenings * Blood Pressure *Vision * Ask a Nurse Much More...
Bring your walking shoes, a picnic lunch and stay the afternoon to enjoy the beautiful grounds and walking trails at the Arboretum For more information call Brenda at 828.251.7448
SPOTLIGHT ON...
Eileen Funke celebrates years of service to Hendersonville’s Interfaith Assistance Ministry Eileen Funke never thought of herself as a “people person,” but working with Interfaith Assistance Ministry (IAM) for the past 15 years has changed her perspective. “I will miss the volunteers so much,” she said. “They come to me with their stories about new grandbabies or their travels. They have made me so much a part of their lives.” Eileen will miss those stories – and the people associated with them. Her role as Volunteer Manager came to an end in June with her retirement from the organization. “It’s been a good 15 years,” she said. “I have loved meeting and working with the people.” Eileen and her husband, Chuck, retired to Hendersonville from Long Island, New York, in 1990. But she couldn’t stay “retired” for long – a newspaper article about IAM asking for volunteers caught her eye, and the rest, as they say, is history. After volunteering with the organization for 5 years, they asked her to join the staff as the Volunteer Manager. In the position, she has worked with many people, acting as a liaison between the staff and the volunteers. “The most rewarding part of this job is seeing the volunteers leave here feeling content with what they’ve achieved,” she said. “They have helped someone and done something for the community.” Eileen’s resume is filled with items that reflect her commitment to both her community and to herself as a professional. She has been instrumental in the development of the Henderson Association of Volunteer Administrators (HAVA), serving three terms as its president and currently serving as the recording secretary. Additionally, in 2005, she pursued professional certification and was designated as a Certified Administrator of Volunteers in North Carolina. Eileen plans to spend some time traveling and visiting her four daughters and eight grandchildren. Her plans include trips to Long Island, California and Hawaii, with an extended trip to Ireland next year. “I’m looking forward to traveling some and taking a ‘stay-cation,’ which is a vacation where you don’t have to come home if you don’t want to,” she said. She is also considering continuing her education. She has many college credits and says she likes to learn new things. “All of my daughters are college educated; I encourage that,” she said. “Going back to school appeals to me.” Whatever she does, Eileen is sure of one thing. “I know I will volunteer. It’s the best way to give back to your community,” she said. “I would say being part of volunteerism has been a true gift to me. I’ve made so many friends, and I’ve seen this community become stronger.”
Operation Toasty Toes Gets Underway
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HAT IS OPERATION TOASTY TOES? Originally, it was the making of handmade knitted and crocheted slippers. Now, it includes dickeys, headbands, helmets (a.k.a. ski masks), watch caps and wristlets (a.k.a. fingerless mitts). These items are mailed to our Armed Forces stationed overseas. It is a grass roots way to assist in America's fight against terrorism.
WHAT DOES IT ACCOMPLISH? Besides warming the service persons feet, they send a message of support that a stranger would take the time to make a pair of slippers. This shows that we at home do care. It enables many in our local community to participate. World War II had Rosie the Riveter. We have TOASTY TOES. Many, who have not knitted or crocheted in years, have found their needles and hooks. Those who can no longer craft have found the perfect solution for bags of yarn, old needles and hooks. These unused skeins have found a project, a very good project.
Volunteers Needed
Currently there is Operation Toasty Toes operating in Henderson County. If you would like to join this group please give our office a call and we can arrange for you to get started. If you are interested in joining a Toasty Toes group or work from home in one of our other counties please give us a call so that we may arrange for a group Orientation and also find a place for us to meet on a regular basis. Potential volunteers need a basic understanding of knitting or crocheting and have proper needles to get started. We will do our best to provide donated wool whenever possible.
Donate Yarn Needed for Operation Toasty Toes
Do you have left over yarn just collecting dust in your storage room? Why not donate it to a good cause? We will take any color, but the most useful yarn will be medium gauge soft to the touch—dark green sage, medium tan, gray, black and camouflage. To donate, please call our RSVP office at 828-251-6622 or rsvp@landofsky.org we will even come and pick it up!
Thank you Carol Quillianan, RSVP Volunteer, for her generous donation of large bag full of yarn!
RSVP Welcomes New Station
Licensed health care volunteers in short supply at Transylvania Free Clinic The Transylvania County Volunteers in Medicine have a simple goal—to provide free medical care and prescription drugs to those residents of Transylvania County, yet a shortage of licensed doctors and nurses is threatening to interfere with that mission. Linni Skinner, volunteer director, says the organization would like to add another clinic day but there just aren’t enough doctors and nurses to provide care for everyone who needs it.
“We would like to be able to add another day to our schedule, but we don’t have enough licensed professionals to do it,” Skinner said. “We are seeing (about) 50 patients a week in our two days of clinic.”
The clinic currently operates every Monday from 1-4 p.m. and from 5-7 p.m. They also provide appointments on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 2-5 p.m. There is also a community pharmacy that dispenses free prescription drugs on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-7 p.m. In 2009, more than 1700 patient visits will be managed by TCVIM at no cost to the patients. According to clinic estimates, approximately one-fifth of the adult population of Transylvania meet income guidelines to qualify for care at the clinic. Also, since the clinic has opened, more than $1million worth of free medications has been dispensed to those in need. If you are retired from the medical care field and would like to volunteer your services to the clinic, please contact Vicki at Land-of-Sky at (828) 251-6622 or by email at Vicki@landofsky.org.
RSVP Station’s Benefit & Gala Events Want to have some fun and also give back to your community? Below are listings of fun Benefits and Gala events organized by our RSVP partnering Stations. Do Tell Storyfest- Celebrating 100year of 4-H! -July 11, 2009 Main Venue at Historic Courthouse on Main St. in Hendersonville 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM. 4-H youth activities on Courthouse lawn and Mountain Lore Bookstore 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Workshop “Collecting Personal Stories” 11:00 – Noon. Family Storytelling 1:00 – 6:00 PM 62nd Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands July 16-19, 2009 The Civic Center in Asheville comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts made by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild.
Monte Carlo Night- July 25th from 6:30 to 10:00 at Kenmure Country Club. Proceeds benefit the clients of Blue Ridge Literacy Council and Vocational Solutions as they strive to achieve the literacy and vocational skills they need to reach their full potential. Tickets are available from BRLC at $75.00. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 696-3811. Living History Weekend, Hendersonville August 8 & 9 Living History Weekend, downtown Hendersonville, (Civil War and Revolutionary War re-enactors, demonstrations, & music) Sponsored by the Henderson County Heritage Museum. For more information call 828-6941619
RSVP STATION CORNER
Henderson County native leads Heritage Museum Encourages others to get involved
Many Henderson County residents are familiar with the name Jennie Jones Giles—she worked as an editor and reporter for the Times-News for 25 years prior to moving to the Henderson County Heritage Museum as director in 2007. Since her move, she has worked to introduce the heritage of Henderson County to both newcomers and natives. “The museum is really for the people of this region—to learn about their ancestors, their culture and those who came before,” she said. “They can have a role in preserving the heritage of their county.” As a native of Henderson County herself, Giles is passionate about the museum and encourages others to get involved by volunteering. She said many of the current museum volunteers are people who have recently moved to this area and are intrigued by its history and heritage. ‘This is a chance to learn about their new home and the place they have come to love,” she said. The primary purpose of the museum is obviously to educate its visitors, so people who enjoy education, such as retired teachers, find the museum a great place to volunteer. “Our volunteers have access to books and other resources where they can learn about the history, and we work with school groups and scout groups, too,” she said. The museum attracts both natives and international guests, and Giles said those volunteers designated as “greeters” have an opportunity to meet people from all over the world. There are also other benefits for volunteers, including museum society membership and discounts on museum purchases. Currently, Giles has needs for volunteers who are willing work one day per week for varying morning or afternoon shifts. Volunteers can greet the public, work in the museum store or be a docent in the museum. Giles also said she needs “substitutes” who could work on shortnotice and could cover areas during vacations, etc. Volunteers are encouraged to call Giles at (828) 694-1619 for more information.
The estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $20.25 per hour for 2008. (Washington, D.C., April 13, 2009) -- Independent Sector announces that the 2008 estimate for the value of a volunteer hour is $20.25, an increase from $19.51 per hour in 2007.
“The new volunteer time estimate only underscores the indispensible contributions that volunteers make in enabling our country’s 1.4 million charitable organizations to serve their communities,” said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “As our nation anticipates final enactment of landmark legislation to expand national and community service programs, this estimate provides one way to quantify America’s growing spirit of volunteerism and commitment to service.” The Independent Sector calculates the hourly value of volunteer time based on the average hourly wage for all non-management, nonagriculture workers as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a 12 percent increase to estimate for fringe benefits. Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of charities, foundations, and corporate philanthropy programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit community.
CURRENT ON-GOING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES These are just a few of the many listings we have for areas of service in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. Breeze through the listings, and if you see something that you are interested in please email us at rsvp@landofsky.org or call us at 251-6622 ext 126 for more details. Hands On! A Child’s Gallery Current needs include gallery guides and receptionist. Also need someone to do light maintenance as needed with small “odds and ends” jobs. Silvermont Senior Center in Brevard Needs Teachers. Volunteers are needed to teach 4-session classes throughout the Summer and the Fall. They need instructors in using a Digital Camera, Master Gardening, Dance, Exercise, Cooking, Storytelling, Golf just about anything you are an expert in. 75th Anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway in 2010 This exciting celebration needs your administrative help. The ideal volunteer would have some office skills – comfortable with Microsoft office, web searching, typing, mailings, prepping for meetings and proof reading. Henderson County Heritage Museum Needs docents, gift shop volunteers and greeters. Shifts include mornings or afternoons and some call-in substitutes are needed as well. Training is available. Transylvania County Volunteers in Medicine Needs licensed health care workers to see patients. Clinics are held on Mondays and Wednesdays during the afternoons. Transylvania Community Hospital Needs volunteers for several areas—outpatient registration; patient services; gift shop, wellness programs, gift shop and office services.
Land-Of-Sky Community Blood Drive
In celebration and recognition of Day of Caring, LOSRC will host a Community Blood Drive on Friday, September 4, 2009. We invite RSVP Volunteers and their friends along with our business neighbor along Leicester Hwy to participate. If you would like to give please contact Patti Cameron in our RSVP office at 251-6622 ext 126 or patti@landofsky.org. She will take down your name and phone number. Closer to the date we will call you to schedule a specific time. Volunteers often put blood, sweet and tears into a project, but we didn’t think that they meant that literally.
SHORT TERM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Try something new without the commitment through our short-term volunteer opportunity listing. If you see something that you are interested in please email us at rsvp@landofsky.org or call and ask to speak to a RSVP Coordinator at 251-6622 Opportunities are for all four counties 62nd Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands July 16-19, 2009 and October 15-18, 2009
Information Booth: Pass out information and directions at the Information Booth. Lunchtime: Provide lunchtime relief for the craft artists. Sit in the booths. Tickets and Programs: Collect the tickets and pass out programs at Craft Fairs.
Come join the Arthur Story-Time July – everyday at 10:30am
Assist staff with setting up, cleaning up, snack & beverage service, guest service, activities/crafts/games, wearing the Arthur costume and supporting the person in costume.
Super Science Saturday The Health Adventure July 4, 18th August 1st & 15th
A day full of surprise and challenge. Pick one or all the dates to help out staff.
Bele Chere July 24-26th, Fri-Sunday
Volunteers are needed to assist with the Children’s Area and the Senior Oasis both located indoors at the Civic Center, in addition volunteers are needed for Information Booths throughout the festival grounds. The shifts typically range around 4 hours in length during the weekend of the Festival.
Super Science Saturday The Health Adventure August 1, 15, Saturdays 12pm – 2pm , Sept 5, 19th Saturdays, 12pm – 2pm A day full of surprise and challenge. Pick one or all the dates to help out staff
Silvermont Senior Center in Brevard Needs Teachers.
Volunteers are needed to teach 4-session classes throughout the Summer and the Fall. They need instructors in using a Digital Camera, Master Gardening, Dance, Exercise, Cooking, Storytelling, Golf - just about anything you are an expert in.
Western North Carolina Alliance: Energy and Environment Expo August 21-23 at the WNC Ag Center
Volunteers to staff tables and enthusiastic promoters of livable communities and the natural environment are needed to volunteer for the Southern Energy and Environment Expo. Volunteers will have a short orientation and will receive free admission to the Expo on the day they volunteer