My one regret is that I don't get a chance to visit with you often enough and it's almost impossible to get around to each of you when hosting an event of this size. It looked like everyone had a good time. It's going to be tough to top this luncheon!

Thanks to Madeline who keeps me organized, Mary Wagner for the beautiful centerpieces and Del, Julia Monroe and Dick Aime for coming early to help us set up. Many, many thanks to Anna Young for her hard work obtaining the door prizes. Without Anna's help we would not have had nearly as many gifts.

We are fortunate enough to maintain ties to former staff members. Debbie Yasinsky had a baby boy in early June. According to Deb's husband David, everyone's fine!

Of course Patsy and I have remained friends even though we live a distance away from one another. Patsy is well; she is taking some holidays with her sister from England. She now has four dogs along with 2 cats and she is still babysitting occasionally for her daughter. Patsy is also looking for work but she said the job market is very tight where she is. RSVP staff would like to thank Fred Zinsser of Copy Source in New Canaan for our new banner. It's hanging up in our office and looks great! Please come in and take a look! I also would like to mention the RSVP Auto Donation Program. If you have an automobile in good working order that you wish to donate, RSVP has a volunteer that handles all of our auto donation for us. The donor receives a tax write-off equal to fair market value. Just call our office and we will arrange to have the car picked up.

Meals-On-Wheels A Program of the Norwalk Senior Center, Meals-on-Wheals is looking for volunteers to deliver meals and have a quick visit with a person who is unable to prepare their own meals. MOW volunteers serve two hours a day one day a week. The weekend volunteers serve two hours every other week.

Tourism Help! Travel Counselors are desperately needed in the Greenwich and Darien Welcome Centers. Training is provided. Volunteers receive thirty-one cents a mile mileage reimbursement. This is a very busy placement. Volunteers work in teams and fam tours are offered in the off-season so that you become familiar with Connecticut's many attractions.

Norwalk Tree Alliance This program, which will be up and running in the fall, offers Norwalk residents the opportunity to be Corner Captains during the Tree Inventory process. Training will be provided.

Mailing Teams RSVP is always looking for volunteers to help with nailings. This is a very flexible placement. You can volunteer three times a week or once a month depending upon your schedule.

Advisory Council The RSVP Advisory Council is looking for a Secretary to keep the minutes of the meetings. The meetings take place at 9:30 a.m. the third Monday of every month and usually don't last any longer than an hour and a half at most.

Christian Community Action CCA is introducing a new service to the community. They will be opening a clothes bank here at the South Norwalk Community Center with a strong emphasis on appropriate office attire. The clothes room will be open to clients on an appointment basis. There are a number of ways RSVP volunteers can help. You Gan help the clients with their appointments or donate business type clothes in good condition to the project.

Share: A Minute & Friendly Food Shopper
Programs of the Family & Children's Agency FCA has begun two new programs for seniors in the Norwalk and Wilton communities. Share -A-Minute needs volunteers to make a call to a homebound senior on a regular basis. Calls will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time. Volunteers and clients will be matched according to compatibility. Training is provided.

Would you be willing to share your time and energy by shopping for a homebound senior? FCA needs your help! You will be matched with a senior who is right for you. On a weekly or a bi-weekly basis, you'll pick up their shopping list and payment and then buy and deliver their groceries. Funded by the United Way of Norwalk & Wilton

Norwalk Housing Authority NHA is looking for devoted people to volunteer their time to work in their Learning Centers. No amount of time is too small. Children need help with homework, reading, math, etc. Specifically; Homework Heroes. This volunteer position is suitable and offered to those individuals who would like to volunteer their time in the centers, but who require more flexibility and less commitment. They may volunteer as much time as they like, but no less than one hour per week. They will assist any child in the learning center with homework or any other academic endeavor. They will not be assigned to any one child. Their commitment should be for a minimum of three months.

Book Buddies This position is intended for people who prefer to work one-on-one with a child. The focus will be on reading. The children in this program are students who have not successfully passed their required reading level for the state testing. These volunteers will be trained by an Early Literacy Educator, in the specific curriculum used by the public schools. The volunteer will meet once a week with his/her 'buddy", possibly at Colonial Village on Saturdays. Another facet of this program will include a field trip once a month as a reward to the students and the volunteers. This trip will further enhance the relationship between the two parties. The goal of this relationship and program is for the children involved to attain their required reading level, pass the state testing, and develop a lasting relationship with a supportive role model.

HEADSTART NEON Head start is looking for people to help out in the classrooms. Read to the children, play games, assist serving refreshments or play an instrument if you are so inclined. A regular commitment is necessary, such as 2 hours once or twice a week.

Meals-On-Wheels
A Program of the Norwalk Senior Center
The Meals-On-Wheels program at the Norwalk Senior Center has been an integral part of the Norwalk Community for the past twenty-five years, since 1994 it has been housed at the Senior Center.

MOW is a not-for-profit home delivered meals program. It is designed to provide well-balanced, nutritious meals at a low cost on either a short or long term basis. This service is available to all Norwalk residents of any age who are not meeting their nutritional needs due to difficulty shopping or preparing their own meals.

The meals are delivered up to six days per week and a registered dietician prepares both the menus and the meals. Special diets are available and all have no sodium and are low in cholesterol.

What the RSVP Advisory Council is Doing
Thanks to the persistence of Aubrey Blackwell RSVP has an active Marketing Committee. The goals of this committee are to increase RSVP recruitment, re-do the brochure and take a look at how RSVP is perceived in the minority community. If you have any suggestions or would like to become involved yourself please give Sarah a call at 899-2441.

The Benefits of Getting Older
No one expects you to run into a burning building.
People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did wake you?"
There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
Things you buy now won't wear out.
You can eat dinner at 4:00.
You can't remember the last time you lay on the floor to watch television.
You ran live without sex, but not without your glasses.
You consider coffee one of the most important things in life
You constantly talk about the price of gasoline.
You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
You got cable for the weather channel.
You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
You send money to PBS.
You sing along with the elevator music.
You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn.
Your back goes out more than you do.
Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them
Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.

RSVP Advisory Council
Richard Airne-Chair Volunteer-RSVP/LLI/NCC
Aubrey Blackwell-Vice Chair Chair, Fund Development Committee
Stanley Benham RSVP Volunteer
Ruthie Brown Director, Family Support Center
Evelyn Frazier RSVP Tourism Volunteer-
Gretchen James Coordinator, Kidline
Dina Kubelle Assistant Director, NEON
Dr. Stuart Losen Ed/Psych Associates
Mary Wagner Family Council at Honey Hill

Ex-Officio
Sarah Mann, RSVP SW CT Project Director
Donald Nelson, President, Clean & Green, Norwalk
Susan Pfister, Westport Senior Center