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Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
RSVP Newsletter
Serving Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced & Tulare Counties
In California’s Great Central Valley
A Program of HandsOn Central California
Volume 8, Issue 3 July/August/September 2009
Special Issue...We Are Now Five Counties Strong!
We continue to move ahead with the goal of strengthening
RSVP’s impact in our Central Valley. On 1 April, HandsOn
Central California became the sponsoring agency for
RSVP in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare Coun-
ties. Robbie Cranch continues as Program Director, with
Bill Celaya as Field Coordinator for Fresno, Madera and
Merced. They are based in the RSVP office in Fresno.
The exciting news is that Kings and Tulare Counties now
have a staff member each, with an RSVP office in Tulare to
serve those counties’ needs. Laurie Killian has joined the
HOCC/RSVP team as Field Coordinator for Tulare County,
and Rosalinda Verde has joined us at Field Coordinator for
Kings County. (continued on page 3)
Laurie Killan & Rosalinda Verde at the new RSVP office
Kings/Tulare Volunteer Appreciation Where Did The “Old” RSVP Staff Go?
Event—Save The Date! Mary Ann Lawrence, former director for the Kings/
Active RSVP volunteers in Kings and Tulare Coun- Tulare RSVP, sends greeting from her new job with the
ties—mark your calendars for Friday afternoon, 30 Tulare County Master Gardener Program. She is in
October, 2009 for the “Harvest of Volunteers” ap- regular touch with the new RSVP staff and supplies
preciation event. This event is complimentary to all priceless assistance with her wealth of knowledge, ex-
volunteers reporting hours in the last year. Invita- perience and affection for RSVP and its volunteers.
tions will be mailed in September. Watch your Ramon Sanchez, former director for the City of Visalia
mailboxes! RSVP continues to work with the City of Visalia Parks
and Recration Department, where he oversees over 40
Interested in helping plan? Call the Tulare RSVP programs. Ramon also had been a cordial welcomer
office! and helper to our new staff.
We Want To Be Sure We Know All Our Active Volunteers
All five counties have solid corps of active volunteers and active volunteer stations. As we are bringing
the three programs together, we are going over volunteer records. If we have no hours reported for a
volunteer since January, 2008, we check with their volunteer site. If the volunteer is working, we request
that hours be update so the volunteer gets credit. If the volunteer has retired or moved away, we move
them to “inactive” status. A volunteer may return to active status at ANY time by reporting hours.
Page 2
Why Those Hours...And Are There Any Changes In
Miles...Matter Time Sheets?
Retired & Senior Probably the most frequent question
Yes. They’ve gotten simpler!
Volunteer Program Robbie gets from volunteers is, why
should I bother reporting my hours and
Serving Fresno, Kings, my miles? I don’t claim mileage reim- In Fresno, Madera and Merced Coun-
Madera, Merced, Tulare bursement. I don’t volunteer to be ties, there are no changes in procedure.
Counties thanked. So why bother? Volunteers continue to report hours ei-
A Program of ther through individual time sheets
Here are a couple of answers:
HandsOn Central mailed to you three times a year, or tho-
California Your hours and miles serve three im- rugh station time sheets mailed to your
portant purposes. They are one meas- stations three times a year. Completed
ure that we are meeting the goals set
by the grants that fund our program. time sheets may be mailed, faxed or de-
Miles may count as in-kind contribu- livered to the RSVP office, 732 North
tions when we calculate the matching Van Ness Avenue, Fresno Ca 93728-
contributions for our grant funding. 3424.
Kings/Tulare RSVP Office And, equally important, they become
157 South “K” Street part of the data we present to the pub- In Kings and Tulare Counties, blank
Tulare, CA 93274-4001 lic and the media when we talk about
559/688-7926 the power, value and impact of senior individual time sheets will available for
volunteering. pickup at any time from your stations.
Fresno/Madera/Merced Stations requesting them will have sta-
RSVP Office So please help us give the big picture—-
tion time sheets mailed or hand-delivered
732 North Van Ness Ave. including you. Report your volunteer
Fresno CA 93728-3427 hours and miles!
to them. Individual or station time sheets
559/237-3101 may be dropped off at the RSVP box at
559/237-6860 fax So What About the Visalia Senior Center, 310 Locust,
866/476-7787 toll free Visalia, 93291; at the RSVP desk at
Mileage Reimbursment?
Kings County Commission on Aging
A modest mileage reimbursement is
HandsOn Staff 680 North Campus Drive Suite D, Han-
available to RSVP volunteers. Due to
changes in the grant, we are now re- ford 93230; or dropped or mailed to the
Executive Director RSVP office, 157 South “K” Street, Tu-
imbursing drivers .25/mile for up to
Cathy Caples lare CA 93274-4011. You must use an
35 miles a month, with a minimum of
RSVP Director 12 hours a month volunteered. You individual time sheet if you are re-
Robbie L. Cranch may receive a higher reimbursement IF questing mileage reimbursement—no
you are driving for a program which separate mileage sheet is needed
RSVP Field Coordinators pays RSVP a supplement. We wish this
Bill Celaya, Fresno/ amount could be a great deal larger,
Madera/Merced Counties RSVP Name Badges
but we are limited by the size of our
Laurie Killian, Tulare
County grant.
Handsome blue and white RSVP name
Rosalinda Verde, Mileage reimbursements are made
quarterly: in April for January/
badges, with red lanyards, are available
Kings County
February/March; in July for April/ to all active RSVP volunteers.
Administrative Assistants May/June; in October for July/
Nadine Malone, Fresno/ Are you in Kings or Tulare Counties?
August/September; in January for
Madera/Merced Your new field coordinators will be visit-
October/November/December.
Mary Krieg-Vasquez ing your sites and will take a name list for
Kings/Tulare Mileage must be submitted in an
individual time sheet. New, sim- badges.
RSVP Newsletter pler time sheets are available to all
Are you in Fresno, Madera or Merced
Published Quarterly volunteers during July.
Distribution – 2500 copies Reimbursemnt is available to the
Counties? You may request a replace-
ment or new badge from the Fresno
driver of a vehicle, not to passen-
gers. RSVP office.
Mary Krieg-Vasquez has just been hired as the Tulare office administrative as-
Page 3
sistant. Volunteer Marlene Chambers will continue to staff the RSVP “branch
office” in Hanford. (See article this page). The new office is located in the Kings County Commission On
beautiful old Bank of Italy building at 157 South “K” Street, Tulare. The phone is Aging Moves To New Office
559/688-7126, 866/476-7787 (toll free to the RSVP main office in Fresno). Of-
fice hours are 10-3 M-F. Stop by and say hello! We are mindful that one RSVP Kings County Commission on Aging
now serves a very large geographic area. We will keep many things the Executive Director of Services Sharon
same—-time sheets practices, advisory councils, recognition events. The DeMasters announces that they have a
newsletter will serve all five counties: in each issue, there will be a section for new home. Effective 1 August, the new
Kings/Tulare, a section for Fresno/Madera/Merced, and a section of interest to site is 690 North Campus Drive, Suite
all counties. We hope you will find the combination of local and regional news “D” Hanford 93230. Phone remains
of interest. Advisory Councils for each area will continue as is, with the pro- the same at 559/582-3211 x 2824.
posal that they meet jointly twice KCCOA graciously continues to make
a year. (See article this page.) space available for an RSVP desk in
Our new staff will spend most of their new office space. Thank you,
their time visiting volunteer sites, KCCOA! RSVP wishes you many
transferring records, and updating happy years in your new space.
data including miles and hours.
We ask your patience as we work “Senior Prom” Attendees
hard on this formidable task. The Danced And Dined
entire staff—-Robbie, Rosalinda, Fresno/Madera/Merced
Laurie, Mary—-are working hard RSVP’s annual appreciation luncheon
to learn about all the sites, to saw 350 volunteers dressed for the
meet volunteers, and to make the prom, dancing the “snowball dance”
transition as seamless as possi- and enjoying Pardini’s delicious roast
ble. Do you have suggestions ? is a proud supporter of the Retired & beef luncheon. On 17 June, volun-
Skills you could share with us? Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). teers took home miniature rose plants,
Thoughtful input or friendly awards, door prizes and posed for
words? We would love to hear Visit us at pardiniscatering.com or
complimentary photographs.
from you. 559/224-3188.
Our annual raffle winners,
drawn at the luncheon, were: Doris
RSVP Advisory Councils Welcome Input, Ideas From You Robinson for the Chukchansi Getaway;
Louise Ward for the red-and-white
RSVP Advisory Councils serve as advisors, event planners, fundrais- handmade quilt; Ernie Ramirez for the
ers, and supporters of RSVP. Members are active volunteers in the hooked rug wall hanging; Joyce Kroker
counties they serve. Meetings are scheduled regularly and are open to for the 7-course hors d’oeuvres in the
the public. Chairs may be contacted through the RSVP offices. garden party. Many, many thanks, as
Fresno/Madera/Merced Counties’ AC meets on the 4th Tuesday of always, to Merle Anderson for running
the month, 4pm, in the Fresno RSVP office. Shirley Main, Chair. the raffle on site!
Kings/Tulare Counties AC meets on the 2nd Monday of the month The luncheon is hosted by the
at 10am in the Tulare RSVP office. Rey Arcino, Chair. F/M/M Advisory Council and friends.
Are You Interested in Being
“On Call” for One Time Volun-
teering Opportunities?
Each issue of our newsletter will feature a sampler of volunteer opportunities in
We are updating and expanding our your county. If you are interested in additional volunteer opportunities, or have
list of volunteers interested in one- friends who are interested in volunteering, this is the place to look for the new
time volunteer events. If you would and the interesting. RSVP adds volunteer sites, and new volunteer opportunities
like to be called for single events, at existing sites, on a regular basis.
either half or full day—-always with
the right to pass, of course!—-please
call the field coordinator for your Do you have friend you think might be interested in volunteering? We would be
county and ask to be added to our happy to call them or to send them information about RSVP and our volunteer op-
list. portunities. You are our best recruiter!
HandsOn Central California
RSVP—-Retired & Senior Volunteer Program
732 North Van Ness Avenue
Fresno Ca 93708-3424
Return Service Requested
Experience Ireland!
See enclosed flyer for RSVP
(and friends) tour of Ireland,
6-15 November, 2009.
$1,999 all-inclusive.
The best price you will find
...anywhere
Who Sponsors And Funds RSVP?
HandsOn Central California (formerly the Volunteer Center of Fresno County) has been the
RSVP sponsor in Fresno, Madera and Merced Counties for over 9 years. Our mission is to inspire,
equip, and mobilize individuals and agencies to take action in their communities. HOCC staff, board
and volunteers believe that volunteers and civic-minded people, with hands-on experience, can be a
lever for change. HOCC serves a variety of volunteer events and programs in all five counties.
The RSVPs serving our five Central Valley counties—-Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tu-
lare—-have been in existence for over 35 years, with various sponsors over the years. When the City
of Visalia and Kings/Tulare Area Agency on Aging relinquished their sponsorships of RSVP last year,
several agencies applied to take over the sponsorship. HandsOn Central California was selected.
The major funding of RSVP comes from a federal grant through the Corporation for National
and Community Service (CNCS). This program funds three Senior Corps programs: RSVP, the Fos-
ter Grandparents Program, and the Senior Companions Program.
HandsOn supplies substantial funding and other support to RSVPs in all five counties. Addi-
tional funding also comes from sources in individual cities and counties, often earmarked for special
use such a mileage reimbursement or volunteer appreciation. RSVP also holds fundraising events
such as cruises, trips, and raffles.
HandsOn Central California is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in the State of California.
Questions about HandsOn Central California? Please contact Executive Director Cathy Caples
at 559/237-3101 or toll free 866/476-7787.
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