Aroostook RSVP honors

Central Area Senior Volunteers for service

    Seventy volunteers, ranging in age from 56 to 94, were honored at the 35th annual Aroostook RSVP Volunteer Appreciation Celebration held at the Hayward-Frazier VFW Post in Presque Isle. The theme, “RSVP Reaching for New Horizons,” set the tone for the day.

    The seniors are part of the 164 volunteers in the Central Aroostook area who donate their time to help County non-profit and public programs as members of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. Sponsored by the Aroostook Agency on Aging, RSVP supports 487 volunteers Countywide. The luncheon honored service completed from Jan.1 through Dec. 31, 2009.
    Aroostook RSVP Director Eleanor Reese, serving as master of ceremonies, said the volunteers had donated a total of 93,914 hours to County agencies and programs last year. Steve Farnham, Aroostook Agency on Aging executive director, also made comments about the significant contributions each volunteer makes to the people, programs and agencies of Aroostook County. Volunteers provided such services as: medical transportation, friendly visiting, Meals on Wheels delivery, support of chambers of commerce, thrift shops, food banks, hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and museums, as well as serving at schools, day cares, knitting and more.
       Sen. Susan Collins offered congratulatory remarks in a letter read by State Office Representative Phil Bosse.  Also in attendance was Rachael Smith who gave congratulatory remarks on behalf of Congressman Michael Michaud. Bonnie Foster and Kendall Roy represented Kathadin Trust Company, a major event sponsor, and thanked the volunteers for helping in their Central Aroostook communities. Also in attendance were numerous representatives of the agencies and programs where RSVP volunteers serve.
    RSVP staff members Rebecca Legassie, Presque Isle area coordinator; Margaret Kimball, Caribou area coordinator; Connie Michaud, northern area coordinator; and program assistant and Southern area coordinator Gini Garrett planned the event. RSVP Advisory Council member Betty Rinehart from Caribou assisted with the event.
    A delicious meal was prepared and served by Dottie Sines and Noyes Flowers and Plant Shoppe and Phil’s Florist provided complimentary floral arrangements for the occasion. Dozens of businesses and organizations throughout the area provided support for the day.
    Besides recognizing years served awards, 27 volunteers were applauded for serving over 500 hours during 2009. This year, six volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for serving over 4,000 lifetime hours. In his 2002 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush issued a challenge to all Americans to make time to help their neighbors, communities and nation through service. He called on each person to dedicate at least 4,000 hours — or two years — to service over the course of their lives. He created the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to help all Americans answer his call to service and help foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility.

Photos courtesy of Gini Garrett 

    CELEBRATING 15 YEARS as an RSVP Central Volunteer — honored during a recent gathering — were, pictured from left: Eva Donovan and Minnie McGarrigle. Not present: Beatrice Paquin and Marilyn Pearson.

    Shirley Suprenant and Margaret Barker were recently recognized for 20 years’ of service with RSVP Central Volunters.

    DEDICATION TO OTHERS was recognized during a recent award ceremony, honor RSVP Central Volunteers for their many hours of commitment to local communities. Those recognized with over 4,000 lifetime hours included, from left, seated: Rosemary Hede and Margaret Barker. Standing, Willetta Gaston. Not present: Guelda Michaud, Joanne Rockwell and Betty Walker.

    RSVP Central VOLUNTEERS with 5 years’ of service included, pictured from left: Linda Davis and Dale Golder. Not present: Ezalee Smith, Mary Turner, Lillian Bonsaint, Nancy Bubar, Linda Cyr, Anita Gardiner, Dorothy Peterson and Ellen Theriault.

    CONTRIBUTING 500+ hours as an RSVP Central Volunteer were, pictured from left, seated : Luella White, Winnie Theriault, Jo Ann Johnson and Avis Woods.  Row two, from left: Arlene Wiggins, Rosalie Craig and Gloria Hebert. Row three, from left: Louise Saucier, Carolyn Turner, Robert Craig, Gladys McEachern, Nancy Dow and Gail Young. Not present: Henry Akeley, Leona Hess, Muriel Johnson, Arline Jonsson, Joanne Rockwell, Dorothy Anderson, Richard Bechtel, Minnie Butler, Richard Cilley, Brenda Curry, Rita Edstrand, Edna Graves, Betty Kierstead, and Guelda Michaud.

    MARKING 10 years of service with RSVP Central Volunteers, pictured during a recent award ceremony, were, from left, seated: Marie Hewitt and Carolyn Turner. Standing, from left, row two: Patricia Edgecomb and Nancy Dow. Not present: Lucille Cyr, Lois Howes, C Ray Jones, Shirley Kilcollins, Thomas Saucier and Rhoda Thombs.