ABOUT SILVER SPRING VILLAGE
MISSION, VISION & VALUES
Silver Spring Village sustains a robust neighbors-helping-neighbors network that supports older adults who wish to live as independently as possible and be fully engaged in their community as they age.
We envision the Village as an essential partner in building and sustaining an agefriendly and diverse community where engaged and caring members look out for one another and enjoy a sense of purpose and connectedness.
In pursuing its mission, the Village focuses on three core priorities:
• Offering volunteer-provided practical assistance that supports independent living and self-determination
• Providing opportunities for social interaction to build community and reduce social isolation and loneliness
• Organizing regular social, educational, recreational, and cultural activities that promote lifelong learning and physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
The Village strives to express its values in every action. As an organization, we:
• Celebrate aging as a part of the human experience;
• Respect older adults and their desire to be independent and in control of their own lives;
• Foster a sense of ownership and mutual support among members;
• Promote safe, healthy living and lifelong learning;
• Act with kindness and compassion;
• Affirm diversity as an integral part of community life; and
• Partner creatively and collaboratively with neighbors and community organizations
SERVICE AREA
There are no residency requirements for associate membership, which includes access to the Village’s social, educational, recreational, and cultural activities
Residents of zip codes 20815 east of Rock Creek Park, 20901, 20902 east and south of Wheaton Regional Park, and 20910 are eligible for full membership.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
An all-volunteer Board of Directors is responsible for governance of the Village. The directors, mostly residents of neighborhoods in the Village’s service area, are also Village members. The board is supported by policy-oriented committees including the Executive Committee comprising the elected officers and the Executive Director (ex officio); the Finance Committee; the Governance Committee; and the
Development Committee. Individuals who are not board members may serve on these committees (except the Executive Committee) by invitation.
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
The Executive Director is responsible for leading and managing the organization to achieve its mission and goals established by the board. Management responsibilities include member programs and services, staffing, volunteers, administration, fiscal management, and community outreach. The Volunteer Services Director fulfills member requests for volunteer-provided services, and manages volunteer recruitment and training. The Operations Manager provides administrative support to other staff and various committees and assists with a variety of special projects.
VOLUNTEERISM
Volunteers are critical to the Village’s success, and fully one-third of our members are also Village volunteers. They provide direct services to Full Members, help with planning and implementing events, recruit and enroll new members and other volunteers, create newsletters and other web and print publications, and much, much more. In the spirit of reciprocity a key organizational value we encourage all members to consider how they can give back so the Village and all its members can flourish.
MEMBERSHIP
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS
The Village offers two membership levels, Full and Associate, for individuals and for couples. Please note that “couples” can be any two people living in the same household (e.g., siblings, friends, etc.) Both membership levels provide full access to social, educational, recreational, and cultural programs; interest groups; the members-only listserv; negotiated discounts; Washington Consumers’ CHECKBOOK; the Village information service; and credit union membership. Volunteer-provided services are available exclusively to Full Members.
RENEWALS
Membership is valid for one year. Renewal membership fees are due no later than the first day of the month following your anniversary month. For example, if your anniversary date is any day in the month of January, your renewal is due no later than February 1. Membership fees are due in full at the time of renewal and may be paid by check or with a credit card.
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES
Associate Members may upgrade to the Full level at any time, after completion of an in-home visit to ensure the Village can meet your expectations and needs and payment of the difference in dues prorated for the remaining months in your existing membership. Full Members may change to the Associate level only on their anniversary date.
CHARITABLE TAX DEDUCTION
The Village considers the good faith estimate of your membership benefits in determining the potential tax-deductibility of your membership fees. The charitable portion of an Individual Associate Membership is $50 and that for a Couples Associate Membership is $100. No portion of the fee for Full Membership is considered a charitable gift.
REDUCED-FEE MEMBERSHIPS
Pending availability of funds, the Village underwrites a portion of membership fees for income- and asset-qualified individuals. If you believe you may be eligible for this, please contact the Executive Director. Financial information is treated in confidence, and only Village staff and the Treasurer know the names of members who receive reduced-fee memberships.
BENEFITS FOR ALL MEMBERS
SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
We invite ALL members to participate in the Village’s interesting and fun programs. Examples include social gatherings; educational presentations; discussions about current issues; restaurant get-togethers; neighborhood walks; and excursions to movies, museums, sports events, and performances. Some programs are open to the public. To see the variety of offerings, please visit the "Calendar" page on our website at www.silverspringvillage.org.
Note: By prior arrangement, members may bring a prospective member to most Village events. Please email programs@silverspringvillage.org or call the Village office to ensure space is available.
INTEREST GROUPS
In addition to the activities planned by our Programs Committee and staff, we offer many member-initiated interest groups. These include discussion groups (books, current events, poetry, mindfulness, "getting to know you," and men’s brunch); puzzles and games groups (bridge, Scrabble, poker, chess, mah-jongg, and canasta), and miscellaneous groups (walking, yoga, memoir-writing, painting, knitting for charities, and reading and writing plays.) Interest groups meet at least monthly, with some meeting every week.
New interest groups continue to form, usually initiated by individual members. All it takes is a good idea and a little effort. Groups sometimes happen organically, but they often need a little push. Posting your idea on the Village Chat (see page 13) is a great way to share your idea and find like-minded Villagers. The second step is to set a time and location for your first meet-up. It can be in your home, at a public location such as a park or café, or, depending on availability, at the Village office. When you have settled on those details, please email programs@silverspringvillage.org to get your interest group added to the Village Calendar. Upon request, staff can also publicize your new group in the Insider or Village Vibe.
NEGOTIATED DISCOUNTS
Various electricians, plumbers, lawn care services, and other home maintenance professionals that serve Silver Spring neighborhoods offer our members favorable pricing on home repairs and maintenance, and some local shops and restaurants give discounts of at least 10%. When calling one of these businesses, be sure to ask for the Silver Spring Village member discount. When visiting, be prepared to show your Silver Spring Village membership card.
Note: The list of discount providers is available on our website under the "Just for Members" tab. While we try to keep the discounts list current, it is subject to change by vendors.
WASHINGTON CONSUMERS’ CHECKBOOK SUBSCRIPTION
Upon request, members receive a subscription to the online version of Washington Consumers’ CHECKBOOK, which identifies and rates local stores, health, and personal services providers, and more.
VILLAGE INFORMATION SERVICE
Members may call our office for resource information related to health care, home care, caregiver support, consumer protection, financial assistance and public benefits, grief and bereavement, hospice and palliative care, recreation, transportation, and more. We can also help you identify qualified home maintenance professionals based on other members’ recommendations and our organizational knowledge of local resources.
Note: The Village does not endorse any professional provider, and recommendations from any Village staff member, volunteer or member should not be construed as such. Payment and scheduling of professional services is the member’s responsibility.
SKYPOINT FEDERAL CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP
Village members (and volunteers who are not members) are eligible to join SkyPoint Federal Credit Union. Benefits include free checking, consumer loans, free financial
education, and mobile banking. Visit www.skypoint.com or call 301-279-1964 for more information.
INSIDER
The Insider is a monthly publication intended primarily for members and volunteers. We distribute it by email and by USPS to those without email. Read it for Village news and special announcements, to learn about our newest members, or just to feel like an "insider"! All past issues of Insider can be found on our website under the “Just for Members” menu tab.
VILLAGE VIBE
The Village Vibe is our quarterly newsletter. It is distributed to all members and volunteers, plus many others in our community It includes a leadership column discussing current Village issues, recaps and pictures from recent Village events and activities, a spotlight on a Village member or volunteer, and announcements and articles of interest to older adults. Past issues of the Vibe are available on our website under the “Publications” menu tab.
BENEFITS FOR FULL MEMBERS
Full Members may request volunteer-provided services. Village volunteers are helpers you can trust and about two-thirds are fellow Village members. All have completed a criminal background check, provided references, and attended a training session. Volunteers providing rides to members have also completed a driving history check, updated annually. To respect individual’s health concerns, you may request volunteers to take precautions such as masking, social distancing, and contactless delivery. Similarly, volunteers may request members to take precautions such as masking.
Services provided by volunteers are offered at no additional fee. Members are responsible, however, for supplies and equipment (e.g., supplies needed to perform a household repair) and parking fees.
Village volunteers cannot provide services related to the Activities of Daily Living (ambulating, feeding, dressing, hygiene, continence, toileting), medication or financial management, routine housekeeping, or services that require a professional license. If you need a service that cannot be provided by a volunteer, Village staff can often provide referrals to professionals (See “Village Information Service” above.)
All service requests must be routed through the Village office by contacting the Volunteer Services Director by email at Vanessa.Ripps@silverspringvillage.org or by phone at 240-833-5584. Phones and email are monitored during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 9am 5pm. If your call is not answered, please leave a detailed message about your request, including the date, time, and location of the needed service. Please do not contact a volunteer directly with your request, even if it is a volunteer who has previously assisted you with a similar service.
The Village typically fulfills more than 85% of all service requests. To help us help you, please request your service at least one week in advance. Last-minute requests are often very difficult to fill. Also, keep in the mind that the Village does not substitute as an emergency service. If you are having a medical or psychiatric emergency, always call 911 first. After that, we appreciate your notifying the Village when it is safe and convenient for you to do so.
EXAMPLES OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES
The services listed below are just a starting point. If you need a service that is not listed, be sure to check with Village staff. You never know when there might be a match with an eager volunteer.
FRIENDLY VISITS AND CALLS
Volunteers can visit with you, either by phone or in person, to offer companionship and conversation, or just to say hello.
HOME ASSISTANCE
Volunteers can help you with a wide variety of indoor tasks, such as replacing a smoke detector, changing hard-to-reach lightbulbs, moving boxes or furniture from one room to another, hanging pictures, and removing window screens. Outdoors, volunteers can help with tasks such as watering plants or taking in yard furnishings for the winter. If you are away, volunteers can check for mail or packages, or provide short-term pet care.
HOME ORGANIZING
Volunteers can help you declutter and organize a portion of your home. Generally, services are confined to a specific space—a closet, kitchen or bathroom cabinets, a guest room, etc.
MEDICAL NOTE-TAKING
Volunteers can act as helpful companions during a medical appointment by meeting with you in advance to review your questions for the medical provider, making sure those questions are asked during the appointment, and taking careful notes. Following your appointment, the volunteer note-taker will provide a written copy for you and/or your caregiver.
STORM BUDDIES
In the case of a storm, power outage or other emergency, a volunteer "storm buddy" can check to make sure you are safe and that you have essential supplies.
TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE
You may request a volunteer to provide troubleshooting or coaching help with computers, remote controls, telephones, and programmable thermostats; setting up a new device; using common apps such as Google or Zoom; and more.
TRANSPORTATION
You may request a ride wherever you need to go. This service might be a “drop off” ride to a meeting, social event, or other activity; or an “accompanied errand” during which the driver provides not only a ride, but also support while in locations such as grocery stores, post offices, or doctors’ offices.
UNACCOMPANIED ERRANDS
Volunteers can run an errand on your behalf if you are unable to go along to places such as grocery stores, pharmacies, dry cleaners, or the post office.
MEMBERS ONLY: WEBSITE LOGIN
The Village website www.silverspringvillage.org has both public and membersonly features. To access the latter, it is necessary to login with your username and password. We strongly recommend that you always login when visiting the site to ensure that you can view the listserv, this Member Guide, the member directory, the calendar details, member discounts, and other important information. Logging in also gives you access to all issues of the Insider, Village Vibe, and other publications.
To login from the website homepage, click on “Member Login” at the upper right corner. When you first joined the Village, you were sent an email message containing your username and temporary password. At your first login, you were prompted to change the temporary password to something easy to remember. If you need help with your username or password, please call 240-833-5586 for staff assistance.
Note: We strongly recommend against checking the “Remember me on this computer” box, as that can create system conflicts in the event your password must later be reset. Similarly, if Google or another search engine offers to remember your password, we recommend you decline. Saved passwords in a search engine will override your password reset and prevent you from logging in. Our advice is that you simply write down your password and put it somewhere convenient!
MEMBERS ONLY: LISTSERV (AKA “VILLAGE CHAT”)
The listserv is a member-to-member communication forum that strengthens our community and helps build new friendships. It is a wonderful place to propose a last-minute meet-up, ask for suggestions about a new dentist, give away an extra
theatre ticket, or share information you believe will be of interest to many Village members. The listserv is visible only to members.
GUIDELINES
The listserv cannot be used to register for events, to request a volunteer-provided service, or to contact Village staff. Everything you post will automatically be sent to every Village member, so avoid using the listserv to send communications intended for just one or two people. Except in cases of potentially harmful or demonstrably false information posted by a member, the listserv is generally not moderated. Help us maintain an open forum by following these guidelines:
• Avoid electoral or partisan political content, or lobbying or advocating for any proposed or pending legislation or public policy;
• Avoid defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive or argumentative language;
• Avoid using the listserv to air grievances about the Village’s operations, members, staff, volunteers, or elected leadership (See “Member Suggestions”); and
• Do not grant listserv access to anyone who is not a member of Silver Spring Village.
ACCESSING THE LISTSERV FROM YOUR EMAIL
To start a fresh topic thread from your personal email, simply type “chat@villageforum.org” in the “to” line and write your message. Please be sure to use a very descriptive title in your subject line to help other members decide if your message is of interest to them.
To respond to a message posted by another member, simply click “Reply” or “Reply All,” type your message and hit “Send.”
ACCESSING THE LISTSERV FROM THE VILLAGE WEBSITE
To start a fresh discussion from the Village website, select “Just for Members”“Listserv”“Silver Spring Village Chat”“Start New Topic.” Please be sure to use a very descriptive title in your “subject” line to help other members decide if your message is of interest to them.
To respond to an existing discussion thread through the Village website, follow the above directions, but instead of selecting “Start New Topic,” find the conversation thread to which you want to respond and click on the title of the thread. You can then respond to the most recent posting in the thread or navigate down to the specific comment to which you want to reply. Click “Reply” at the bottom of the comment to which you are responding, and at the top of the next screen choose “Private Reply” or “Reply to Forum” before typing your response.
LISTSERV ETIQUETTE
It is important to be aware of the difference between replying only to the author of a message versus replying to every member of the Village. When using the listserv via your email provider, click on “Reply” to respond only to one person. Click on “Reply All” to respond to every person subscribed to the listserv.
When using the listserv from the Village website, clicking “Private Reply” will send your message to only one person. Clicking “Reply to Forum” will send your message to every person subscribed to the listserv.
When in doubt, it is best to err on the side of using only “Reply” or “Private Reply” to help your fellow members avoid listserv fatigue!
When using the listserv, keep in mind that responses like “Thanks” or “I got it,” while polite, may fill up members’ inboxes Avoid replying with such kinds of routine acknowledgements that do not move the conversation forward.
FREQUENCY SETTINGS & OPTING OUT
There are two options for how often you receive listserv messages immediately as they are posted or once daily.
You do not need to alter any listserv settings if you wish to receive messages as they are posted. If you prefer the “Daily Digest” option, you will need to make a small change to your user profile. Login to the Village website, hover your cursor over your name at the upper right of the homepage and select “Profile””Forums”“Forum General Preferences”“Message Delivery””Frequency” and then choose your desired option.
We often share important news via the listserv, so we strongly recommend all members remain subscribed. With that caveat, if you do want to opt out and not receive any messages, please email us at info@silverspringvillage.org.
MEMBERS ONLY: MEMBER DIRECTORY
The Member Directory is a helpful resource for getting in touch with fellow members. Unless you have asked not to be listed, your information is already included in the Member Directory. If you later change your mind about being listed, you can revoke the permission from your own record after logging in or ask staff to make the change on your behalf.
VIEWING THE MEMBER DIRECTORY
After logging into the website, click “Just for Members” then “Member Directory.”
• To see all members in the Directory, leave the “Search Text” field empty and click “Search.”
• To search for a specific member, enter that person’s name in the “Search Text” field and click “Search.” You can search by first or last name. If you are not sure of the spelling, you can enter just a part of the name. For example, entering “ith” in the “Search Text” field will pull up members named “Edith, Smith, or Beckwith.”
• You can also search for members who live in your immediate neighborhood by selecting from the drop-down menu in the “Metro Area” tab.
• Once you have found the member you are looking for, you can click on that person’s name to view whatever information they have chosen to share.
Members may request a printed copy of the Member Directory by email to info@silverspringvillage.org A printed copy may then be picked up from the Village office in person. Hard copies cannot be mailed.
Note: Directory information changes frequently, so printed copies become outdated very quickly. The Village is unable to send regular Directory updates by mail.
CONTROLLING YOUR INFORMATION
Your listing in the Member Directory includes some of the information you provided at the time of enrollment in the Village. Sensitive information such as income, race/ethnicity/gender identity, etc. is available only to Village staff.
Because it is on the members-only part of the website, none of your information is visible to the non-members. Additionally, you can control how much information is visible to other Village members. The privacy settings are:
• Do not list me in the Directory
• Show name, city, and state only; no bio or contact information
• Show name, city, state, and bio only; no contact information
• Show name, city, state, bio, and email; no address, work info or phone
• Show name, city, state, bio, email, and phone; no address or work info
• Show name, city, state, bio, email, phone, and work info; no address
• Show all information except email
• Show all information
Unless you declined permission for the Village to list you in the Directory, the default privacy setting is “Show all information.” You can request a change to your privacy setting by emailing info@silverspringvillage.org or do it yourself. To change your setting, login to the Village website, hover your cursor over your name at the upper right of the homepage and select “Profile””Standard Member Directory.” Choose your desired privacy option from the “Visibility” drop-down menu. You can also choose to include your birthday and a brief biographical statement to help other members get to know you better. We particularly encourage you to include a photo of yourself.
MEMBERS ONLY: CALENDAR
The Village’s events calendar is visible from the “Calendar” menu tab on the public website, or if you are logged in, from the “Calendar” or “Just for Members” tabs. If you are not logged in, you will see only the most basic information about upcoming events and activities. Logging in enables you to find a description of the event with time and location, a reservation form if required, the name and contact information for an organizer who can answer your questions, a list of other registrants, and more.
CALENDAR FORMAT
Events are grouped by general type and are color-coded to help you find the kinds of activities that interest you. Calendar entries in purple are related to “arts and entertainment,” for example. You can click on the “Legend” button at the top right corner of the Calendar page to view the categories and their assigned colors. At the top left corner of the Calendar page, you will see a “Switch to List View” or “Switch to Grid View” button that changes the page format. The content remains unchanged, but some users have a strong preference for one style over the other.
EVENT DETAILS & REGISTRATION
After logging into the website, click on a specific calendar entry to see the details. In the second box down, you will be able to see if registration is required. Not all activities require registration for some you can just show up and for others you will be asked to contact the organizer by phone or email.
If registration is required, click on the “Register Now” button on the right side of your screen. On the next page, select “Sign up yourself” to register yourself. If you are part of a Couples Membership, you can use “Sign up yourself” to register yourself and then repeat the process using “Sign up a member” to register your spouse without having to log yourself out and the other person in. You can also use the “Sign up a non-member” button if the event is open to the public or if you have requested approval from the office to invite a prospective member to a membersonly event.
Then click “Next” at the bottom of the page, and finally “Complete Registration.” You will receive a confirmation by email.
If you have difficulty registering for an event, call the Village office at 240-833-5580 or send an email to programs@silverspringvillage.org.
ADDING A VILLAGE EVENT TO YOUR PERSONAL CALENDAR
After logging into the website, click on a specific calendar entry to see more details. Click on the “Add to My Calendar” button on the right side of your screen to download the event information. You will find the download at the bottom of your computer screen with a name something like “Canasta-Group.ics.” Click on that file to save the event information directly to your own personal Outlook or Google calendar.
BUILDING THE VILLAGE OF TOMORROW
CHARITABLE GIVING 1
The Village has not increased membership dues since it opened in 2013. Our rates remain among the lowest of any large Village in the U.S. Membership growth and the addition of more complex and more frequent services and programs means that expenses continue to increase. Today, membership dues cover less than 22% of the Village’s operating expenses. Voluntary donations from members and volunteers, and from their friends and families are critical to the Village’s continued success.
YOUR DONATION AT WORK
Your charitable contribution supports:
• Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers;
• Developing social, educational, recreational, and cultural programs for Village members and the wider community;
• Reaching out to new members;
• Offering financial assistance to help members with low income take full advantage of all the Village has to offer; and
• Essentials such as insurance, bookkeeping, rent, supplies, computers, etc.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
CHECK
Checks can be made payable to “Silver Spring Village, Inc.” and mailed or handdelivered to 8700 Georgia Avenue, Suite 306, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
CREDIT CARD
Gifts by credit card can be made securely online at www.silverspringvillage.org under the “Support” tab. Please note that the maximum gift amount paid by credit card is $2,500.
1 Silver Spring Village, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Maryland corporation. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The organization’s financial statements may be examined upon written request to Silver Spring Village, Inc., 8700 Georgia Avenue, Suite 306, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Documents submitted under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available for the cost of copying and postage, from the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401.
APPRECIATED SECURITIES
Gifts of stocks, bonds or mutual fund shares that have increased in value since they were purchased can help you avoid capital gains taxes. You incur no additional out-of-pocket costs and the Village benefits from your smart financial planning.
Ask you broker to “transfer in-kind [quantity] of shares of [security name] to “Fidelity Investments, Attn: TOA; PO Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0036 for the benefit of Silver Spring Village, Inc.; Account #X96662021; DTC 0226.”
We will only see that an anonymous deposit has been made to the Village’s investment account, so it is very important that you notify us to expect a gift of securities so we can properly thank you.
IRA QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION (QCD)
If you are 70-1/2 or older, giving from your IRA can be a tax-savvy way of donating to the Village. When you make a gift in any amount up to $100,000 directly from your IRA, that amount is not recognized as income on your tax return For it to not count as part of your taxable income, it is very important that you instruct your IRA custodian to transfer the donation directly to the Village. QCDs are allowable from all types of IRAs except SEP and SIMPLE accounts.
DONOR ADVISED FUND
If you have a donor advised fund at Fidelity, Schwab, BNY MELLON, or another institution, you can instruct your broker to make a charitable gift from that account. You can also visit the Village website under the “Support” tab and click “Donor Advised Fund” to make a gift directly from any of the three brokers named above. Other brokers use slightly different mechanisms, and you will need to contact them directly for instructions.
IRA OR LIFE INSURANCE POLICY BENEFICIARY
You can name the Village as a beneficiary of your IRA/retirement plan or your life insurance policy just as you would a person. When the time comes, the Village will receive all or a portion of your IRA or life insurance policy’s value. A gift such as this can be accomplished simply with instructions to your IRA custodian or your life insurance company; it does not require any changes to your Will or other estate documents.
BEQUEST
A bequest is an opportunity for you to express your personal values beyond your lifetime. You can choose to leave a specific amount or a specific portion of your estate to the Village, or to distribute anything remaining in your estate to the Village after making provisions for your heirs.
Staff can help you confidentially prepare language to share with your attorney and financial planner for inclusion in a revision of or as a codicil to your Will. While it is
not necessary to notify us of your plans to include the Village in your estate, we prefer that you do, so we can include you in our roster of Legacy Donors.
SPECIAL OCCASIONS & MEMORIALS
If it’s your birthday or anniversary and you really don’t want another sweater or decorative item to sit around the house, ask your friends and family to make a gift to the Village in your honor This also works for holidays and for celebrations like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Grandparent’s Day.
You can also celebrate your friendships with others by donating in their honor on a happy occasion or with a memorial gift at a time of loss.
VEHICLE DONATION
The Village can accept donations of your car, motorcycle, boat, airplane, recreational vehicle, etc. For more information, call 240-833-5582 or visit the Village’s website and click on the “Donate Your Vehicle” menu tab.
SPREADING THE WORD
Most of the Village’s new members join because someone they trust told them about us. You can support the Village by enthusiastically sharing details of your Village experience with others. With advance approval from staff, you can even invite non-members to join you in an activity or two to see if the Village is right for them
VOLUNTEERING
Now that you’ve taken the first step by joining the Village as a member, you may find that becoming a volunteer is an excellent way to get the most from your Village experience. Many members tell us that the opportunity to share their time with others is one of the most rewarding aspects of being a Villager. Whether you are interested in providing services to other members or participating in committee work, we have a place for you.
All direct service volunteers, including those who are also Village members, complete a criminal background check and attend a training session. Those who want to provide volunteer transportation also complete an annual driving history check. These steps are not required for members who prefer to volunteer for administrative tasks or service on committees. For information about upcoming direct service volunteer trainings, please call the Village’s volunteer services director at 240-833-5584.
INCREASING OUR VALUE PROPOSITION
The Village is a good deal, and we offer a lot for your membership dollar. You can strengthen our value proposition by sharing your ideas and hard work. When you recruit a new business for our list of discount providers, host an event, identify and secure an exciting new speaker, or start a new program, you increase the Village’s
value to everyone involved. That, in turn, makes the Village more attractive to community partners, funders, and potential members and volunteers. It takes a village to raise a Village!
CONTACT US
We are here to help you get the most out of your Village membership! Please feel free to call the Village office at 301-833-5580 during regular business hours, Monday Friday, 9am 5pm. Outside of those hours, the extensions for the Executive Director and Volunteer Services Director will forward automatically to their personal mobile phones, and they will return your call as soon as possible.
Note: Staff may return calls from their personal cell phones on evenings and weekends, and those numbers may automatically be added to your phone’s contact list. Please respect staff members’ personal time by calling only their work numbers shown below.
If your matter is urgent, call the main office number at 240-833-5580 and dial 1 when prompted to be simultaneously forwarded to the Executive Director and Volunteer Services Director. As always, if you are experiencing a health or safety emergency, call 911 before contacting Village staff.
STAFF
Doug Gaddis Executive Director doug.gaddis@silverspringvillage.org 240-833-5582
Vanessa Ripps Volunteer Services Director vanessa.ripps@silverspringvillage.org 240-833-5584
Vacant Operations Manager operations@silverspringvillage.org 240-833-5580 x 6
If you prefer, you may also contact any Village staff member by dialing our main office number at 240-833-5580 and allowing the “virtual receptionist” to assist you.
BOARD OFFICERS
Beverly Lunsford President president@silverspringvillage.org 240-441-6048
Gail McDonald Vice President vicepresident@silverspringvillage.org 917-921-8842
Sara Anne Daines Treasurer treasurer@silverspringvillage.org 301-587-8459
KEY COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS
Gary Klauber Programs Committee Chair programs@silverspringvillage.org 240-515-5932
Connie Raab Secretary secretary@silverspringvillage.org 301-467-4201
Claire Maklan Membership Committee Chair membership@silverspringvillage.org 301-588-5535