The Bridge Builder RSVP of Alachua County WINTER 2010
“Everybody can be great... great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” – Martin Luther King During his lifetime, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America by uniting and taking action to make this country a better place to live. On the third Monday in January, Americans across the country will celebrate the national holiday honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As they have since 1994, thousands of Americans will remember Dr. King by serving in their communities and making the holiday "a day on," not "a day off." As the third Monday in January approaches, you can join tens of thousands of volunteers nationwide by celebrating Dr. King's life and teachings through volunteer service. RSVP is partnering with our local Foster Grandparent Program on Friday January 21, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at First Assembly of God, 2925 NW 39th Avenue, to make “no sew fleece blankets” to be distributed to the homeless in our area. Please join us on this special day as we give back to our community and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We’d love to have as many as 25 RSVP volunteers participate as space is limited for this event. Please call 264-6751 today to sign up! Lunch will be provided.
Debbie Shea
Congratulations to all of our volunteers!!! This past year, October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010, 597 of you contributed 85,944 hours to our Alachua County Community! “The Independent Sector/Research – The Value of Volunteer Time” report indicates the hours you served are valued at over $1,700,000. You make our community a better place to live! Thank you for all you do!!! Please pay special attention to a couple of the new volunteer opportunities listed further in the newsletter. One area we could use your help in is the newest “Rockin’ Reader” opportunity with the Alachua County schools. If you have an extra hour a week to spend reading to children, in addition to where you already volunteer, or would like to do something different, this is a wonderful chance to make a difference in a child’s life. Can you believe we’re already heading into the holiday season? I personally enjoy the cooler weather, but I know not everyone shares my feelings. Be sure to stay bundled up and keep warm as we go through these next few months of cooler/cold weather. ☺ Ruth, Samantha, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you, Happy Holidays and a Blessed New Year!
Adeline Bauman, a former RSVP Volunteer, recently passed away. Adeline served with the RSVP program for over 20 years. She was volunteering with The Hippodrome Theatre when she left in 2007 for health reasons. A couple of weeks ago we were honored to hear that Ms. Bauman bequeathed a generous donation to the RSVP program. Her donation will be used to continue the mission of the RSVP program.
A special THANK YOU to the businesses who sponsored this year’s awards!
HAVEN HOSPICE AND NORTH FLORIDA REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Current Volunteer Opportunities We Need Your Help!!!
NEW OPPORTUNITY!
Be a Rockin’ Reader with the Alachua County Public Schools’ Volunteer Program.
Volunteers go into an area elementary school for one hour each week to share the joy of reading and the love of books with two or three individual at-risk children between the ages of four and six. Children, likely to fall behind their peers in reading, are given the extra benefit that comes only through individual attention. In addition, you can be a significant force in helping a child develop a positive self concept as well as the emotional maturity necessary for success in the classroom. The next training and registration for new volunteers will be held in January so act now! Volunteer Tutors with the Alachua County Library District’s Literacy Program: Work one-to-one with an adult or child in any local library to help them improve their academic skills &/or obtain their GED. A minimum of 1 hour per week is required. Up to 25 volunteers needed. This is a well organized and supportive program with tutor training and materials provided. Volunteer Instructors needed to work in pairs with Elder Options to teach persons aged 60+ courses called Memory Training, and A Matter of Balance. Classes run 2-2.5 hours per week for 5-6 weeks. Training is provided for instructors 2 hours per week for 8 weeks. Six-twelve volunteers needed. Home Delivered Meals Would you like to help deliver meals to home-bound seniors? Do you have 1-2 hours per week? Well get started and deliver what could be someone’s only hot meal for the day! Respite Care -Even though many families take great joy in providing care to their loved ones so that they can remain at home, the physical, emotional and financial consequences for the family caregiver can be overwhelming without some support, such as respite. Respite provides the much needed temporary break from the often exhausting challenges faced by the family caregiver. Won’t you consider helping out at Altrusa House, Alz Place, or Catholic Charities?
Contact Ruth O’Conner @ 352.264.6752 if interested in any of the above opportunities!
Future Outings – Act Fast! The UF Center for Performing Arts has so generously donated FREE tickets to 3 upcoming performances. • February 4, 2011 at 7:30 pm – Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Hollywood: A musical revue of some of the greatest songs from Hollywood’s greatest movie musicals and classic films • February 24, 2011 at 7:30 pm – Tommy Tune in Steps in Time: Don’t miss this rare chance to view the personal side of this quintessential song-and-dance man as he also receives the Linda Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Theatre. • April 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm – UF Opera Theatre in The Magic Flute: The Magic Flute is an opera in two acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. If you are interested, please call Ruth (264-6752) to reserve your tickets. They will go quick!
November is National Diabetes Month Warning signs of diabetes include *: • • • • • • • • • • •
Frequent urination Excessive thirst Increased hunger Weight loss Tiredness Lack of interest and concentration Vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken as the flu) A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet Blurred vision Frequent infections Slow-healing wounds *These can be mild or absent in people with type 2 diabetes.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include: • • • • • • • • •
Obesity and overweight Lack of exercise Previously identified glucose intolerance Unhealthy diet Increased age High blood pressure and high cholesterol A family history of diabetes A history of gestational diabetes Ethnicity - higher rates of diabetes have been reported in Asians, Hispanics, Indigenous peoples (USA, Canada, Australia) and African Americans. -
Provided by the International Diabetes Federation
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Exposure (www.cdc.gov) What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.
Where is CO found? CO is found in combustion fumes, such as those produced by cars and trucks, small gasoline engines, stoves, lanterns, burning charcoal and wood, and gas ranges and heating systems. CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces. People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned by breathing it.
What are the symptoms of CO poisoning? The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. High levels of CO inhalation can cause loss of consciousness and death. Unless suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other illnesses. People who are sleeping or intoxicated can die from CO poisoning before ever experiencing symptoms.
What can I do to protect myself and family? • •
• • • • •
Do have your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil, or coal burning appliances serviced by a qualified technician every year. Do install a battery-operated CO detector in your home and check or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. If the detector sounds leave your home immediately and call 911. Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect CO poisoning and are feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseous. Don't use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove, or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, or garage or near a window. Don't run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open. Don't burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn't vented. Don't heat your house with a gas oven.
Attention all Veterans Some of you have indicated on your RSVP application form that you are veterans, however, we feel there may be more of you that we don’t know about. We’d love to know how many RSVP volunteers we have who are veterans. Would you take a minute and either call us, email us, or drop us a note?
Welcome New Volunteers June Armstrong
Frank Orser
Gilda Holly
Gail Polvere
Sandra Kallio
Marilyn Walker
Marilyn Kershner
Richard Walker
Volunteer Spotlight on the RSVP website! We would like to showcase a “Volunteer of the Month” each month on our website. Please let us know if you are interested in a brief interview and photo op – 264-6751!
Thank You “Friends of RSVP” Contributors Eleonore Hindery
It is so important for you to keep us updated when any of your contact information changes. Each time we have a major mail out, masses of items are returned. Not only are you missing out on the information, but we are charged for the returned mail.
Save the Date – April 20, 2011 Our Annual Recognition Banquet is set! We look forward to seeing you at the Paramount Plaza Hotel for food, friends, and fun,! More details to come.
Classes for AARP Driver Safety Program • •
December 2nd, (ONE DAY), 9:00-3:30 (The Atrium) – FREE lunch January 13, 2011 (ONE DAY) 9:00-3:30 (Trinity United Methodist)
*For information or to register, please contact Lynda LeGrow at (352) 333-3036.
A married couple, in their early 60s, was celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a quiet, romantic little restaurant. Suddenly, a tiny, yet beautiful fairy appeared on their table saying, “For being such an exemplary married couple and for being loving to each other for all this time, I will grant you each a wish.” “Oh, I want to travel around the world with my darling husband.” The fairy waved her magic wand and - poof two tickets for the Queen Mary II appeared in her hands. The husband thought for a moment: “Well, this is all very romantic, but an opportunity like this will never come again. I'm sorry my love, but my wish is to have a wife 30 years younger than me.” The wife and the fairy were deeply disappointed, but a wish is a wish. So the fairy waved her magic wand and - poof the husband became 92 years old. The moral of this story... be careful what you wish for.
RSVP Brain Boggler E Q A R T S I E U N Z L A O T
E L D B A Y I J E X T Y U Q C
F Q L R P R D W V P O K F L F
X O E I I F B I A B Q M U O O
M U O A V E R E E T N U L O V
Q B R T R S K S X W W H G P E
ALACHUA ARCHER ARTS CULTURE FOOTBALL GAINESVILLE GATORS
Y P V R B Z E L D R A A P M R
P J Y M M A I N M N T L Y G U
B Z L I T U L Y I O A I D K T
A L A C H U A L R A Y H F O L
N S D A G A H S N N G V S H U
E W Z N C L F A F D S R I R C
T S O O R E H C R A A U O B P
J Y K P V F N E M L F C O Z R
R S K Y M K F X C T N E Z U O
MICANOPY NEWBERRY NFRMC PRAIRIE SHANDS VOLUNTEER WALDO
Downeast Maine Pumpkin Bread (www.allrecipes.com) Ingredients - 1 (15 oz) can pumpkin puree - 4 eggs - 1 cup vegetable oil - 2/3 cup water - 3 cups white sugar - 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda - 1 ½ tsp salt - 1 tsp ground cinnamon - 1 tsp ground nutmeg - ½ tsp ground cloves - ¼ tsp group ginger
Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. 2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans. 3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
The Bridge Builder Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 218 SE 24th Street Gainesville, FL 32641
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 23 GAINESVILLE, FL
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
RSVP Advisory Council CHAIR Cindy Flowers
VICE CHAIR Vidya Hogan
SECRETARY Faye O’Neal
TREASURER Phyllis Hansen
Raymond Giglio Myrna Hustad Pat Knight Sadie McBroom Lee Pinkoson Stan Rakofsky SusanThompson HONORARY MEMBER Charles Gatton THANK YOU TO BEECHLER’S PRINTING FOR THEIR VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION
RSVP STAFF Program Coordinator: Debbie Shea Program Specialist: Ruth O’Conner Senior Staff Assistant: Samantha Crawford
The Bridge Builder Published by the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program RSVP is part of the Corporation for National Service and is sponsored locally by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners within the Department of Community Support Services
FRIENDS OF RSVP If you would like to become a Friend of RSVP, send your donation to: 218 SE 24th Street Gainesville, FL 32641 Please make checks payable to the Advisory Council for RSVP and enclose the form below:
I wish to become a Friend of RSVP as indicated: Individual Family Contributor Patron Benefactor Other
$5 $ 15 $ 25 $ 50 $ 100+ $____
Name: _____________________________ Address: ___________________________
City: _________________Zip__________