THE RSVP MISSION
To recruit volunteers fifty-five and over and place them in meaningful and challenging volunteer opportunities to serve and benefit themselves and the community.

The following assignments show the many opportunities for volunteering available at RSVP.

TOURISM  The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and RSVP offer those fifty-five and over the opportunity to volunteer as travel counselors. This is a four-hour a week commitment at either the Darien or Greenwich Welcome Centers. Darien is open year round and the Greenwich site is seasonal (May-October). There is a generous mileage reimbursement offered. Last year over 114,000 visitors to Connecticut were served by RSVP of SW CT volunteers. Training and tours of Connecticut's attractions is offered.

NORWALK CITY HALL INFORMATION DESK  Meet the Mayor! RSVP volunteers staff the information desk at Norwalk City Hall. This is a year-round position for three or four hours each week.

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

MAILING TEAMS  If you like to socialize and meet new people while helping out a local not for profit this may be just the placement for you! RSVP volunteers stuff, label, seal and zip code bulk mailings. The sites change so it's not the same old thing. Go as often as your schedule permits. Lunch is provided if you stay until three. In 2000 the teams processed over 280,000 pieces of mail for area not for profits.

AT HOME OPPORTUNITIES  NEON Head Start provides yarn for volunteers to knit hats, mittens and scarves for the children in the program. Pick up and drop off service provided. Last year over 700 pieces were made by RSVP volunteers and donated to Head Start.

NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE  The City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Tree Alliance are undertaking inventorying Norwalk's street trees. This will assist the city with implernenting a more effective and efficient management of Norwalk's "urban forest." This is a 16hour commitment that will begin in May and conclude in October. Training is mandatory.

AUTOMOBILE DONATIONS  RSVP of SW CT accepts the donations of automobiles for the purpose of raising funds for the program. A volunteer handles all donations of autos. For more information call 899-2441.

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. Volunteers will not be assigned to any one child. The commitment should be for a minimum of three months.

WILTON WORKTABLE  Help make items such as tray favors for Meals-on-Wheels and quilts for Project Linus. Help the Senior Center with mailings or be a peer counselor for Nursing and Home Care. Call Del Overby RSVP Coordinator in Wilton at 762-0520 for more information.

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" 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.

KNITTING WITH CHILDREN  The South Norwalk Community Center After School program is looking for a volunteer to teach children how to knit. This is a one-hour commitment twice a week from four to five in the afternoon. All materials will be provided.

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 will be provided. Or, on a bi-weekly basis, pick up a grocery list and payment from a homebound senior then shop and deliver their groceries

SHARE FOOD COOPERATIVE PROGRAM  RSVP is seeking a person to market this program in the Community. Housing sites such as Roodner Court and Colonial Village are targeted for expansion. This is a four-hour a month commitment.

RSVP Annual Report - September 2001
RSVP of Southwestern Connecticut continues to remain committed to the mature citizens of our communities while continuing to develop programs for impact (as per federal initiative). As I mentioned last year all volunteers make a difference in our towns and a quality volunteer experience should be determined by the volunteer, not an outside entity. It's a challenge to maintain a balance while remaining true to our mission statement.

This year we wanted to have the Annual Report say something about what we do so we've added some statistics. Also included is a success story from the Guidance for Retirees in Need program as well as a budget page. We've also shared some of the thank you notes that we have received. We hope you enjoy finding out more about the RSVP program.

The Director's message affords me the opportunity to publicly thank some of the Advisory Council members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Stanley Benham, who has been kind enough to edit the newsletter for us. Dick Aime, Aubrey Blackwell, Stu Losen, and Gretchen James who have been incredibly patient with me throughout the process of redesigning our brochures, general and GRIN. Mary Wagner, who I can always rely upon to make lovely centerpieces for the recognition luncheon. Don Nelson who has been so helpful in helping us with the donated auto program. Betty Voutsinas who patiently tabulates the results of our satisfaction survey each year. Without these wonderful volunteers I would not be able to do my job.

Speaking of the satisfaction survey here are the results. Fifty percent of all responses indicated that they were "extremely satisfied" in all categories, followed by approximately forty percent being "very satisfied", and ten percent "somewhat satisfied"

In closing, I would like to thank each of you for your support throughout the year. Whether you volunteer, donate or fund RSVP we appreciate you!

• Over 282,000 pieces of mail were processed by the Norwalk & Wilton mailing teams,
• 200 Bibs were made and donated to the Lower Fairfield Regional Center by the Wilton Worktable.
• 16,083 Visitors to Connecticut were assisted by the RSVP Travel Counselors at the Darien & Greenwich Welcome Centers.
• 82 Blankets were made and donated to Project Linus.
• 627 Hats, mittens and scarves were made and donated to HEADSTART.
• 32 Baby quilts were made and donated to Person to Person.
• Between September and December 2000, 3,151 visitors to Norwalk City Hall were assisted by RSVP volunteers.

• 87 Volunteers served over 100 hours
• 2 Volunteers served over I,000 hours
• 275 Volunteers are over the age of 75 (same as last year)
• 31 Volunteers are over 90
• 124 Volunteers have been members of RSVP for IO years or more
• 29 Volunteers were separated from the program in 2000
• 38 Volunteers were recruited in 2000

RSVP ADVISORY COUNCIL
Richard Aime-Chair Volunteer-RSVP/LLI/NCC
Aubrey Blackwell-Vice Chair Chair, Fund Development Committee
Stanley Benham RSVP Volunteer
Ruthie Brown Director, Family Support Center
Laude Dobson FORE, Rowayton
Evelyn Frazier RSVP Tourism Volunteer
Gretchen James Coordinator, Kidline
Teri Klein RSVP Volunteer
Dr. Stuart Losen Ed/Psych Associates
Donald Nelson President, Clean & Green, Norwalk
Gobind Vaswana RSVP Volunteer
Betty Voutsirlas Past Chairperson
Mary Wagner Family Council at Honey Hill