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RSVP
Quarterly - October 2004
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Volume 4, No. 1
Message From the Director, Teri Klein
I am very pleased to be
appointed as the Director of RSVP of SW CT. As many of you know, I have served
RSVP previously as Outreach Coordinator and as a member of the Advisory
Council. I look forward to continuing to work with our dedicated volunteers and
the many valuable programs that provide services which impact our communities.
I welcome suggestions and ideas that you may have to
strengthen RSVP’s programs and recruitment efforts. Please feel free to call
899-2443 or e-mail
tklein@neon-norwalk.org. Thanks to everyone for your
ongoing support. Together we can continue to make a positive difference in SW
CT.
Over 200 volunteers were
honored at our 30th annual Recognition Luncheon held at Giovanni’s II in
Darien.
Eight volunteers received certificates of achievement for contributing more than
700 hours of service. Those cited were Doris Allegrini of Greenwich, Eleanor
Hart and Betty Johnson of Wilton, Joseph Padula of Norwalk, Phyllis Ryan of
Darien , Molly Small of Westport and Mary Tanner and Elise Vasale of Wilton. A
special recognition went to Anna Young, who in addition to contributing more
than 700 hours of service, obtained over 100 gift certificates from area
businesses and organizations for the luncheon prizes. A special appreciation
goes to all the Community Organizations which made this annual event possible.
Edythe Ritchie, a tourism
counselor at the Darien Welcome Center since its beginning 13 years ago,
received an honorary award from the Voluntary Action Center of Mid-Fairfield for
her work welcoming visitors to Connecticut. Edythe also plans, schedules and
coordinates all the trips for seniors at the
Norwalk
Senior
Center.
Congratulations Edythe for all of your many contributions.
A special thank you to three of
our funding sources, the State Department of Social Services, the Town of
Wilton
and the United Way of Norwalk & Wilton who have funded us for the year 2004-05.
WELCOME TO
NEW ADVISORY
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Sister Mary Jane Card of Our
Lady of Fatima, Wilton,
is our newest member. She has done graduate work in gerontology and is a state
certified therapeutic recreation director of nursing homes in CT. Presently she
is serving the elderly in the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima and others in need in
the community.
Ruthie Brown, retired Director
of The Family Support Center will be re-joining the Council.
We look forward to working with
you both.
NEW RSVP OPPORTUNITIES
Stepping Stones Museum for
Children
Volunteer
opportunities to work with children ages ten and under include: a tour
facilitator who guides groups through their interactive experience at the
museum, a program presenter who leads art and science-based activities within
the galleries, and a resource center interpreter who supports museum staff
welcoming visitors and introduces them to the variety of resources available.
Volunteer Orientation and on-the-job training is provided by the staff for all
positions which vary in time commitments from one to two hour shifts on a weekly
or monthly basis.
Emergency Response Team
The Westport-Weston
Health District is recruiting both professional and non-medical volunteers to
help people move through health clinics efficiently, effectively and safely.
Volunteers will be on hand in
case of an emergency and will also be available to assist with regular upcoming
health clinics. The Health District will provide training.
The Wildlife Orphanage
This program is
dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned
wildlife and educating the community on how to peacefully coexist with our
native wildlife. Volunteers are needed to assist with marketing and educational
presentations. Training is provided
Intergenerational Programs
Interested in
sharing your stories with the younger set? A new program is beginning which
will offer an opportunity for seniors to meet with high school students to share
ideas and stories. Time and place to be decided.
Make a Difference Day
An opportunity for
RSVP volunteers to participate in this annual community-wide annual event of
volunteerism and outreach. The national program will take place locally October
17-24. There are many projects to choose from. We will focus on a few programs
of interest and feasible for RSVP volunteers. Let's make RSVP a presence this
year in this nationally recognized program. Call for project details.
Irving Freese Community
Center
Volunteers are
needed to host at this community lunch program.
Parent (and grandparent)
Leadership Training
This program enables
parents and grandparents to become effective advocates for children. A course
of study is offered at
Norwalk
Hospital
integrating child development and leadership skills. Volunteers are selected
through a competitive application process
Junior Achievement
This program focuses
on teaching life skills to children. An age-appropriate activity curriculum is
provided for grades K-12. Volunteers are currently needed to help teach the
curriculum in the 2nd grade schools in
Westport,
once a week for 5 weeks. Training at all levels is provided.
CONTINUING RSVP OPPORTUNITIES
Child Literacy and Tutoring
Programs
There are many
opportunities to read to or tutor children varying according to the ages of the
children, and the location of the program. Most programs require only an hour
or so of your time once a week.
Pre-School Age Children –
NEON- Head Start
Child Development Program.
Volunteers are needed to read approximately and hour a week to pre-school
children either one-on-one or in small groups. Hours are flexible- anytime from
8a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pediatric Waiting Rooms at the
Norwalk
Community
Health
Center and the
Norwalk Health Department
Read to children
ages 6 months to 5 years while the child attends a well child visit with a
parent or guardian. . This is part of a national program “Reach out and Read”
demonstrating reading aloud skills to parents to show both children and parents
that reading is fun.
School Age Children
Norwalk Housing
Authority – Opportunities are available to help children with reading, math,
computers and other subjects after school hours at Norwalk Housing Community
Centers. Specific reading program for children grades 1-3, 4-5 and 6-9 at the
newly opened headquarters of “Norwalk Reads” at the King Kennedy Center .
NEON After School Recreational Program
Volunteers are needed to assist the librarian, reading, and providing tutoring
for children ages 5-11 after school at Nathaniel Eli.
Naramake School Family
Resource Center
An early literacy program for children K-3. Volunteers will work with one child
either before or after school.
Child Mentoring Programs
A school based
“friendship” program that matches children who would benefit from a positive
one-to-one relationships with a caring adult.. Mentor volunteers are matched
with identified students in grades K-12. Meetings are held at the school site,
one hour a week through the school year. These often result in long-term
satisfying relationships between students and volunteers. Programs take place
in most SW CT school systems.
WORK WITH ADULTS
The
Norwalk Tree
Alliance
Volunteers are
needed to help inventory
Norwalk’s
City Trees. Information is gathered for the city to establish a long-term
comprehensive plan for the maintenance and planting of Norwalk’s city trees.
Notable, Historic and Memorial Trees are also identified. Volunteers meet on
Saturday mornings at 9:00 A.M. at the Tree Alliance Headquarters, 215 East Ave.,
Norwalk through October. Planning meetings are held on Thursday afternoons at
4:30 P.M.
Tourism
Tourism “counselors”
provide information and hospitality services to travelers at the Darien Welcome
Center. Travel assistance varies from simple routing questions to specialty
computer searches. Day trips to places of interest in CT are provided to
volunteer counselors in addition to travel reimbursements. The Connecticut
Commission on Culture and Tourism provides on-site training. The time
commitment is one four-hour morning or afternoon shift during the week or on
weekends
Friendly Connections
Telephone group
facilitators lead specialized group conference calls and classes for seniors by
phone from their own home or office. Leaders choose their own topic, a subject
they are “passionate about”. Facilitators may conduct one session, or a series
of sessions of about an hour each. Leaders prepare about 30 minutes of material
and allow seniors to discuss the topic the balance of the time.
Opportunities are also
available to make phone calls to seniors for a friendly chat. These programs are
coordinated through the Family Centers Inc., which provides training as needed
City Hall
Volunteers are
needed to staff the information desks at both Norwalk and Westport City Halls.
Mailing Teams
A popular RSVP
program gives volunteers an opportunity to socialize and meet new people while
helping local agencies get their message out to the community. Sites vary. You
may volunteer as often as your schedule permits.
Greenwich Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Volunteers are
needed in all areas of service and training is provided. Presently there is an
urgent need of receptionist volunteers for the front desk and volunteer drivers
for transportation services.
Wilton Community Team and Project Table
Volunteers are always welcome in the Wilton Area to assist the team with
mailings and special programs. People interested in creating handcrafted items
are encouraged to join the project table.
The
Norwalk
Senior
Center.
The Senior Net Computer
Learning Center has a need for volunteer coaches, instructors and administrative
assistants. The Norwalk Meals on Wheels Program needs volunteers to deliver
meals and pay a friendly visit to our meal recipients. Meals are delivered 6
days per week (Mon. – Sat.) between 10:am and 2:30pm.
Word Processing: Stan Benham, Advisory Council Member |
