Shelby County RSVP

Retire to Inspire

July 2012205-669-3837 or www.shelbycountyrsvp.com

Care Giving

On August 23 in the auditorium of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens the Sharing the Care, Jefferson and Shelby Counties, Alabama Lifespan Respite Resource Network, is holding an open house for legislatures. We are encouraging caregivers to attend this event to share information and concerns with local legislators. The program is called Care Givers Advocacy Education in Action. The program starts at 9:30 a.m.

Yellow DotThe Shelby County Yellow Dot program has enrolled 2155 Shelby County residents. Our goal is to enroll 10,000 residents. This program is designed to help save lives in an emergency. I am encouraging you, your family and friends, to take advantage of this free program. You may find information on our website, www.shelbycountyrsvp.com.

Remember, the first sixty minutes in an emergency, known as the “GOLDEN HOUR”,is critical and gives first responders vital information that may save your life.

New Station Descriptor Station managers please find a station description form, RSVP Volunteer Assignment Description, in this mailing. This information can be used to share with your volunteers and help orient new volunteers to RSVP and your volunteer station. This was sent to you in an earlier mailing and the corrections have been made reflecting your station information.

Lauri RogersLauri Rogers, Director of the four county RSVP programs in Shelby, Jefferson, Walker and Blount counties tendered her resignation at the end of May. She has returned to school, seeking a degree in accounting. This has been an interest on her part for some time. Many have met her at the various Shelby County RSVP events and her visits to Shelby County. We wish her well as she pursues a new career. She was a strong advocate for the RSVP volunteers.

Shelby Humane SocietyCelebrate the Beneful Dream Dog Park dedication celebration July 12 at 11 a.m. in Alabaster’s Veterans Park. Jenny Wilson and her dog, Honey Belle, have made a big contribution to the animals by winning the grand prize in 2011 of the Beneful Dream Park contest. This led to the development of the dog park featuring many features for dogs and dog lovers. We are sad that we are losing Jenny to the Mitchell’s Place where she has assumed the position as director of resource development. Jenny we wish you well.

Volunteer OpportunitiesAmerican Village - Opportunities are available to help with the Independence Day celebration on July 4. Volunteers are needed to host buildings, greeters at various locations, and assist with the Honor Parade for Veterans by assisting veterans as the ground breaking ceremony takes place for the new Veteran’s Shrine.

There are several shifts available for these activities to include 1-3 PM, 3-5 PM, and 5-7 PM. If you can devote any time to this celebration, contact Martha Lewis at 665-3535 X 1035.

Respite – Critical need! Caregivers need and deserve a break from their day-to-day care giving. Respite volunteers can provide reduced stress on a family, improve family functioning, increasing time with spouse or other family members, and freedom for family members for participation in community activities.

The Shelby County RSVP in Columbiana is seeking volunteer(s) to assist in the promotion of respite care in Shelby County. This could include the development of a list of respite volunteers, development list of caregivers seeking respite help, matching the two groups, and attend respite meetings and events.

SKY – Skilled Knowledgeable Youth – A recently developed 501c3 program to bring the real world into the classroom is being conducted at Calera High School. In this program, students learn valuable science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, as well as community service. The students construct basic utility vehicles (BUV) out of raw materials. The students have taken these vehicles to collegiate competition in Indianapolis. The students have also developed a prosthetic leg made from auto parts, a biodiesel hybrid car and an electrathon car.

We are looking for a person or persons who can help develop a website for the SKY program to help promote the program opportunities to other youth and schools. ______________________________________________________________________________

Look each week for opportunities to volunteer in the Shelby County Reporter’s Lifestyle section under“Helping Hands”

VISIT - Shelby County RSVP’s website – www.shelbycountyrsvp.com

Thanks for all you do!People may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how

you made them feel.