50+ Lifestyles

Community Partners Make RSVP Volunteer Recognition a Success

By Dave Layton
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois

RSVP volunteers were honored in grand style at two great events supported by the efforts of many business and non-profit partners. They were treated to great food, fun entertainment and an outstanding master of ceremonies at luncheons at the Camden Centre in Milan May 5th and The Fountains Senior Living in Bettendorf May 12th.

Both events were kicked off with a welcome by RSVP Advisory Council president, Beth Martinez of Lighthouse Homecare. Then stirring renditions of the National Anthem were sung by Fountains Director, Becky Lee Hinton at the Milan event and by a Fountains staff member, Nyilah Davis at the Bettendorf event. Coach D. Robinson, a well-known inspirational speaker and a pastor at Calvary Church in Moline, emceed both events with a delightful mix of humor and inspiration. The Geneseo Kitchen Band brought much audience participation, laughter and applause with their songs, skits and antics at the Milan event. The “Just for Fun” band had folks singing along and tapping their toes in the fun mix of popular favorites with old-timey string band music at the Fountains. The luncheon at the Milan event was catered by Hy-Vee, Milan, and the Fountains catered the meal at the event at their facility.

The broad range of community partners included speakers, volunteers, planners and supporters. Supporters included major in-kind sponsorship from The Fountains Senior Living as well as table sponsorships from Chuck Taylor Insurance, Creekside Winery, Cribbs Landscaping, Peeples Heating and Air-conditioning, Genesis Health, United Neighbors, Inc. and Scott County Sheriff’s Office. The planning committee included co-chairpersons Margie Mitchell and Bonnie Beechum (United Neighbors, Inc.), Alisha Espey, (Davenport Volunteer Connection), Amy Dillingham (Rock Island County Senior Center), Pam Bennett (Scott County Sheriff’s Office and RSVP staff member Marcia Cook.

Along with Beth and Coach D, speakers included Beverly Mital, (Creekside Winery), Heather Wessel, (Genesis Health), committee members Amy, Alisha and Bonnie as well as RSVP Director Dave Layton.

A special thank-you must also be given to the volunteers who served as greeters, registration table helpers and escorts. They were as follows: the Davenport Police Department – Officers Hank Jacobson and Nick Shorten, Scott County Sheriff’s Office – Deputy Rachelle Kunde, as well as Elderly Consortium members – Suzy Bailey, Gwen Gladfelter, Sarah Crose, Susan Thompson, Glenda Verdick, Kathy Horrell, Mary Ricketts, Ann Sieprawski, Sarah Borsdorf, Debi Ervin, Karen Bender and Peggy Dykes.

Finally, it is necessary to note that, even as our great RSVP volunteers were being honored, they also paid honor to our veterans who fought in the Korean Conflict and will soon be on Honor Flights to the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. RSVP volunteers wrote nearly 200 letters of thanks to those veterans at the two events. This demonstrates how RSVP volunteers lead by example. Even as the spotlight was on them, their hearts and minds were focused on others.

If you wish to focus on others with volunteer service or possibly be part of the broader community support for our future volunteer recognition events, please contact the RSVP staff by calling (309) 793-4425 or email: dlayton@wiaaa.org.