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RSVP Featured Programs/Events

Volunteer Frederick RSVP Expands Its Focus

On September 29, 2005 Volunteer Frederick’s RSVP marked the beginning of its fourth year in Frederick County The RSVP grant was awarded to Volunteer Frederick as one of ten grants distributed nationwide to demonstrate the role that older adults can play in keeping our communities safe.

The project has recruited and enrolled over 500 Frederick County adults aged 55+.. Many of those volunteers work with organizations and initiatives focused on health and human services, public safety, disaster preparedness and relief efforts.

Even though Homeland Security remains a major emphasis of the project, Volunteer Frederick has been given permission to expand the focus of RSVP to include high impact volunteer assignments addressing community needs in education, the environment, arts and culture, and senior citizen assistance and advocacy- to name a few.

RSVP’s role nationally and locally is to encourage volunteering and other forms of civic engagement especially among the entire 55+ population as a key to addressing a wide range of pressing social issues. That role extends also to collaborating with other sectors of the community to find meaningful and fulfilling ways for older adults to engage in community life. One of those collaborations, with Frederick Community College’s Institute for Learning in Retirement and MOST Magazine, will be a day of discovery called “Life Mapping: Chart your Course to a Creative Retirement.”

Pro Bono Consulting Program

Our experience in working with 55+ adults through RSVP is that they are interested in achieving balance and flexibility in work, family life, leisure, and volunteer time. Many are not interested in using retirement strictly as a time to relax; they are interested in doing something real and substantial with their time and they want to choose the time, duration, and method of service. They are also interested in volunteering in new and unique ways. It is clear that the number and types of volunteer opportunities available do not always reflect their diversity, skills and needs. After examining our existing RSVP programs and taking into account the increasing numbers of mature adults with professional backgrounds who reside in Frederick County or who have recently moved to the area, we decided to replicate a program developed in Montgomery County which targets the needs and interest of many 55+ adults. The program is called the Pro Bono Consulting Program. Through focus groups and planning tools, we’re assisting agencies in assessing their unmet needs and envisioning how highly skilled transitioning and retired volunteers can meet those needs. Each job description will be designed to be time limited an measured by tangible outcomes. The following are examples of possible Pro Bono Projects:

These projects could be:

Organizational- finance, human resources, special event planning, public relations, research and evaluation, strategic planning, public relations, training and development.

Programmatic-research, design or grant writing

Technical- database design, hardware and software support and selection, IT training

Trades-plumbing, carpentry, landscape design

The Pro Bono Consultant Program will also be featured at “Life Mapping: Charting your Course to a Creative Retirement.”. Interested individuals will hear about and select projects that match their expertise.

For more information about the Pro Bono Consulting Program, contact

JimCoxjr@vounteerfrederick.org or Jeannem@volunteerfrederick.org

Volunteer Mobilization Centers

Volunteer Frederick, Inc. and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Volunteer Frederick are calling on local citizens to participate in Frederick County’s emergency preparedness and response efforts. Volunteer Mobilization Centers (VMCs) operated by Volunteer Frederick may be activated by the Office of Emergency Management following a major disaster for the purpose of linking volunteers to disaster relief and recovery efforts. RSVP conducts ongoing training and drills throughout Frederick County, preparing a growing pool of volunteers to staff the centers. Strategically located churches have been identified as VMC sites. Trainings and drills are held at those sites - For a list of upcoming training, check the Volunteer Frederick calendar and the RSVP calendar.

Life Mapping - A Day of Discovery for Retirees a Resounding Success!

Many retirees, age 50 and up, were able to find ways to connect with the community by attending a Life mapping learning day designed to help them assess retirement plans and engage in self-discovery. Attendees were able to explore activities such as employment and entrepreneurship, recreation and leisure, wellness, lifelong learning, and community service by talking to the many local and national organizational representatives at the event. Every organization was able to demonstrate how each person could contribute to the success of the organization while achieving self-fulfillment and creating a rewarding and healthy future all at the same time. This event was sponsored by Volunteer Frederick’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), MOST Magazine, and the Frederick Community College Institute for Learning in Retirement. Life Mapping was also endorsed by the Frederick County Commission on Aging, United Way of Frederick County, and Edenton Retirement Community.

Guest speaker Bob Rosenberg hugs his cousin, RSVP volunteer Sandi Lee, following his presentation and book signing ("Giving from Your Heart: A Guide for Volunteering") assisted by RSVP Director, Carol Haag.

Bonnie Hagerman, founder of Care Wear Volunteers counts 2400 volunteers in the national network who knit, crochet, and sew handmade baby items for local hospitals.

Master Gardener and RSVP Volunteer Devra Boesch invited attendees with an interest in gardening to consider enrollment in the Master Gardener program which is offered through the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Office on Montevue Lane.