Shelby County RSVP

Retire to InspireJuly 2010

We have reached a new milestone for our Shelby County senior volunteers – since January 1, 2000 our RSVP volunteers have volunteered over one million hours. THANKS for your help. You make the difference. Our Shelby County community, organizations, churches, historical sites, chambers of commerce, youth groups, civic organizations, military, libraries, senior centers, and seniors all appreciate your time and effort. Over the 10 year period the value of your service exceeds over $19,250,000 in services rendered.

Note volunteer opportunities are featured each week in the Shelby County Reporter. RSVP in Shelby County has over 100 volunteer opportunities available. For those who are 54 and under, Shelby County offers Shelby Volunteers in Service. Shelby County volunteer opportunities are also available online through www.handsonbirmingham.org or through the Shelby County website, www.shelbycountyalabama.com (click on the Hands On logo).

Many of you may not be aware of the fact that registered volunteers are covered with an accident and liability insurance from the Corporation for National Service and the National Senior Service Corps. There are three kinds of insurance under this policy: accident insurance, personal liability insurance, and excess automobile liability. The insurance only applies while you are performing your assignment as a volunteer in the program and while on your way to and from your volunteer site. This is offered to our RSVP volunteers at no cost. I have included the Guide in this mailing. I may not have enough for all stations, but if missed please contact me because I will be replacing my supply. This is the reason we asked for automobile license and driver’s license information. We also request beneficiary information on the application.

Please note that our fax number has changed – the new number is 669-2035. Ellen Brechin, Senior Aide, works Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning. Her number is 669-2037.

Clair Molina, Senior Aide for Cancer, Hospice, and Respite, would like to set a date where she can give presentations on this subject to your seniors and/or community organizations. She is supported by an advisory group of Lance Lee, Family Comfort Hospice, Mylessa Weatherford, Comfort Care Hospice, Gary Yarbrough, chaplain Shelby Baptist Medical Center; Julia Bassett, Wiregrass Hospice; Kylee Patrick, American Cancer Society. Her program may be scheduled through this office – 669-3837.

We are in need of volunteers to help with judging 4-H project at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana. Tuesday August 3. The youth participants come from all over Alabama. This is the youth cream of the crop. There are nearly 30 project areas to be judged. Please contact Ellen at 669-2037 or myself, Marvin Copes, at 669-3837 if you can help.

The RSVP office is seeking individuals to assist in a liaison role with the following areas – schools/education, youth, history, churches, libraries, Red Hat groups, wildlife/animals, nursing homes, disaster relief, sports, writing/publicity, and military. For more information, please contact Marvin Copes at 669-3837.

Please help me give accolades to the support of various groups and organizations that help make the Shelby County RSVP program possible. This include the National Corporation & Community Service; the United Way; Positive Maturity; Sandra Smith, RSVP Director; the Shelby Commission; the Shelby County Manager, Alex Dudchock; Shelby County Manager of Community Service, Reginald Holloway; and Shelli Thomason, Shelby County Community Services Coordinator; and the Shelby Volunteers in Service/Shelby County RSVP advisory board (Judge James Fuhrmeister; Commissioners Jon Parker and Larry Dillard; Stacey Walkup, South Shelby Chamber of Commerce; Don Armstrong, Shelby County Tax Commissioner; Sheriff Chris Curry; and Mary Ross, Pea Ridge Senior Center. Their support and encouragement to our volunteers is invaluable and helps make this program a success. Each of the groups or individuals mentioned congratulates you and thanks you for your help in making Shelby County a better place to live.

Please share information in the newsletters with your volunteers. Because of financial restrictions we are not able to do mass mailings to our volunteers. We have reached a new milestone – 800 senior volunteers in Shelby County.

THANKS for volunteering