RSVP Newsletter Enriching Lives

Meeting Community

Needs

RSVP is the Volunteer Cen-

ter for adults 55+ that

works to keep you

healthy, active and in-

volved in your community.

RSVP partners with over

120 community agencies

in the counties of

Buncombe, Henderson,

Madison and Transylvania

to offer you, volunteer,

social and educational

opportunities.

Call us to get involved

828-251-6622

March –April 2010 Henderson/Transylvania Counties

Special Thanks to our Newsletter Sponsor

RSVP Signature Program UpdatesRSVP Signature Program UpdatesRSVP Signature Program Updates

A group of 7 volunteers met at Silvermont Senior Center in

Brevard to launch Operation Toasty Toes and to knit much-needed

items for our troops oversees.

At the last meeting we had

seven competed items ready

to be sent off to the troops

with more to come.

The group meets the 3rd

Thursday of each month at Silvermont from 10-11am. Just

give us a call so we will know

to expect you. Our next meet-ing will be March 18th.

After a successful

launch of Toasty Toes in Bre-

vard we are ready to expand

the program to Buncombe and Madison counties.

Interested in getting in-

volved? Call us at 251-6622 and ask for Patti, or contact

us through email at rsvp@landofsky.org. Once

we get enough interest we

can pick a time and location.

Recent Letter of Thanks To Operation Toasty Toes I would like to thank you all for thinking about us and spending

your time making all the hats, gloves and other items for us. Something like

that has a very personal touch that means much more than candy or the

other items that people send. They will be very useful for us even after re-

turning to the US. Our unit is based in Alaska and I am used to a very active

personal life, so the caps and gloves will be great.

I grew up in the Asheville/Hendersonville/Brevard area and gradu-

ated from A.C. Reynolds HS. It was a surprise to find out that both my and

Maj. Taylor's parents live in Hendersonville. Again, thank you for all the

thoughts. Your generosity has really been a godsend and brought warm

thoughts of home.

Sincerely, Staff Sergeant Matthew MacRoberts

Afghanistan

Launch of Operation Toasty Toes in Transylvania County a success

Seniors at Laurel Woods Apartments in South Asheville spent a

day drafting (oops, I mean crafting!) a whole family of Drafty, the

Draft Constrictors to share with friends and neighbors. This group

launched the RSVP Simple Acts of Green signature project in Bun-

combe County.

Residents volunteered to stuff and decorate 17 draft-stoppers

or “draft-constrictors” as we like to

call them. The completed “draft-

constrictors have been donated to the Council on Aging and Meals on

Wheels for their at-home clients.

Draft-constrictors are a very simple act of green with a big im-

pact on our environment. Sealing

drafts under doors and windows

can save anywhere from 5% to 30%

on home energy costs. Plus, that

type of savings can offset close to 550 lbs of CO2 per home, which

means the volunteers at Laurel Woods helped stop 9350 lbs of CO2

from entering our environment. Great job, team!

We are looking for more groups in Henderson and Transylvania

Counties to help us produce Drafty and reduce the cost of energy in

our homes. Get involved with this fun project– no crafting skills nec-essary! If your group or residents would like to take part in this pro-

ject give Patti a call in the RSVP office or drop her a line at RSVP@landofsky.org.

The Victims Assistance Program (VAP) is pleased to an-

nounce that 20 volunteers have signed up for the March

31ts training session. If you haven’t signed up yet and are

still interested contact Christina Giles in our office. She can

be reached at 251-6622 ext 108 or by email

christina@landofsky.org. In sum, the Victims Assistance Program utilizes the

skills and availability of trained volunteers to assist the spe-

cial detectives in the State Attorney General's Office to

provide follow-up with community older adults who have

been victims of crime to assess their level of functioning, ex-

plore a safety plan, identify community and social supports and make referrals. The programs

ultimate goal is to reduce the incidence of repeat scams.

RSVP Signature Program Updates ContinuedRSVP Signature Program Updates ContinuedRSVP Signature Program Updates Continued

Join the Victim’s Assistance Program and help take a bite out of crime for seniors.

Simple Acts of Green

Team battling energy costs one draft at a time

Meet “Drafty, the Draft Constrictor,” team mascot for Simple Acts of Green!

Station SpotlightsStation Spotlights

Welcome New RSVP WorkstationsWelcome New RSVP Workstations

Aging at Home in Henderson County Does this sound familiar? “I am a long distance care-

giver and I don’t know where to turn to for services in my

loved one’s community.” Being a caregiver near or far has never been an easy task. There is now a website that prom-

ises to make the process easier called “Aging at Home” cre-

ated by the Aging at Home Consortium of Henderson

County. Aging at Home’s lists in-home services in Henderson

County. Currently there are roughly 50 providers listed on

the site, but there is room for plenty more.

To help grow the listing of services, volunteers are needed to work from home to re-

search area providers, contacting them to explain the free service and assisting them with

answering any questions. Volunteers receive all the training and support they need to be

successful. Having access to a computer for email and research would be helpful but not necessary. Volunteers with precious customer service experience would be a good fit. A

couple hours a week of your time will bring caregivers peace of mind and help their love-

ones maintain a better quality and safety of life at home. Interested? Call Vicki at 251-6622

or Vicki@landofsky.org . To learn more, go to www.HendersonCoNCAgingAtHome.org.

ECO—Environmental and Conservation Organization ECO’s mission is to preserve the natural heritage of Henderson County and the moun-

tain region as an effective voice for the environment. They fulfill this mission through focusing

on four key areas: green infrastructure, water quality, energy conservation/renewable en-

ergy and recycling. Founded 20 years ago as a hiking group, ECO became increasingly

alarmed by the degradation of the environment. Since then, ECO has risen to become a

preeminent and influential leader in promoting environmental issues affecting the region.

They work with citizens, business leaders, like-minded environmental groups and gov-

ernment officials to create a balance between growth and environmental preservation.

They also undertake water quality monitoring of six watersheds, adopt-a-stream cleanup of

dozens of waterways, public policy development towards natural heritage protections, en-

ergy expos, workshops and forums to encourage greater stewardship of our environment

and recycling programs and activities that en-

courage sustainable practices.

Currently, they need volunteers in all ar-

eas of operations: Office help ranging from da-

tabase research to fielding phone calls from the public; Administrative help in the areas of adver-

tising, marketing, grant writing and fundraising,

and help in the field, where volunteers can

really “get their feet wet” helping to monitor

and test water quality or be involved in the

Adopt-A-Stream program.

If you are interested in helping ECO pro-tect our environment, please contact Vicki at

(828) 251-6622 or by email at

Vicki@landofsky.org.

MLK Day of ServiceMLK Day of Service

Everyday Essentials Toiletries Drive a Everyday Essentials Toiletries Drive a

success for region’s relief agenciessuccess for region’s relief agencies

Congratulations and thank you to everyone who do-

nated toiletry items to help the relief agencies in our region

provide toiletries to those in need in our communities. Over

400 pounds of toiletries were collected through our Everyday

Essentials Toiletries Drive. All those toothbrushes, soaps and

laundry detergents were delivered

to ABCCM, Swannanoa Valley Chris-

tian Ministry, Hot Springs Salvation

Army, Transylvania County Christian

Ministry (Sharing House) and Interfaith Assistance mid Febru-

ary.

We also want to say a big “thank you” to all of our drop-off

locations in Henderson and Transylvania counties. We ap-

preciate your partnering with us in this effort!

AARP Driver Safety Program at the AARP Driver Safety Program at the

LandLand--ofof--Sky Regional CouncilSky Regional Council

Cars have changed and so have the traffic rules, driving conditions, and the roads

you travel every day. Some drivers age 50-plus have never looked back since they got their first driver's license, but even the most experienced benefit from brushing

up on their driving skills. What Will I Learn by Taking the Course?

You can expect to learn current rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and how to operate your vehicle more safely in today's in-

creasingly challenging driving environment. You'll learn ad-justments to accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. After com-

pleting the course, you will have a greater appreciation of driving challenges and of how you can avoid potential

collisions and injuries to yourself and others.

What else?

Participants may be eligible for discounts on their auto

insurance and are encouraged to check with their agent. Also, membership in AARP is not required to participate.

Call Patti at Land-of-Sky to reserve your space!

Date: Monday April 19th Time: 12:30-4:30pm Location: Land-of-Sky Regional Council Costs: AARP Members $12, others $14 Registration: Patti Cameron: RSVP Coordinator at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council 251-6622 ext 126 patti@landofsky.org We can accept up to 24 people.

Volunteer OpportunitiesVolunteer Opportunities

Our Kids...Our Future Town Hall Meeting

Friday, April 16th The Children and Family Resource Center in Hendersonville is sponsoring this special

event designed to focus attention and action on the early childhood development needs in

Henderson County. Volunteers are needed to help with registration and other administrative

tasks prior to the Town Hall meeting and to help on the day of with other tasks as well.

Sewing Instructors—Henderson County 4-H Program 4-H will soon hold spring sewing classes and has an immediate need for volunteers to

help teach sewing to youth ages 9 - 18. The greatest need is for teachers in the 3 Beginner

classes. Teachers are not responsible for teaching the whole class on their own, but will work

with 1 - 2 students to help them complete their garments. The Beginner classes are Thursday

and Friday afternoons.

School Crossing Guards—Brevard Police Department The department is down to only three volunteers as Crossing Guards and is in need of

more to help in different areas. Morning and/or afternoon work is needed.

BINGO! Spring Arbor Residential Assisted Living is in need of a Bingo caller on Saturdays. Volun-

teers can work one or more Saturdays per month.

Front Desk help needed—Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy What better way to get to know CMLC than to serve as its first point of contact when visi-

tors call or come in the office? You’ll have the chance to get to know everyone from staff to volunteers. Duties include routing phone calls, greeting visitors and basic computer functions.

Must be comfortable working with the public. Fun perks include laughs with AmeriCorps, the

best desk in the office, and close proximity to the candy dish!

Hours are flexible, but they are primarily looking for afternoons during the week. One day

a week or several is great!

SAFE’s Attic and Attic Interiors SAFE needs volunteer help receiving, sorting and displaying donated goods. Training

is provided.

Transylvania Regional Hospital Volunteers are needed in several areas: clerical assistance on Tuesdays and Thursdays up to 8 hrs. per week;

Information desk—answer guestions and help guide visitors through the hospital Human Resources—filing, reception and some special projects Inpatient care—evening position from 4 p.m. to 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.—serving meals, col-lecting trays and help settling patients in for the evening

Station Events Station Events

Earth Day 2010—Celebrating 40 years of Environmental Stewardship 10 a.m.—6 p.m. Saturday, April 24th—Blue Ridge Community College

Sponsored by ECO, this festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of Earth Day

and environmental awareness. Included will be green vendors, live music with lo-

cal performers, water activities for children, community gardening workshops, and

a Greenway Hike, just to name a few of the activities. The day culminates with an

evening musical celebration . Events during the day are free of charge—the eve-

ning performance is a ticketed event. For more information, contact ECO at (828)

692-0385.

Run for the Hills 5K Fun Run 2 p.m., Sunday, May 2—Fletcher Community Park

Sponsored by Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, this fun run will help

raise money for CMLC. Cost is $30 if registered prior to April 15th; after the 15th

cost is $35. All participants receive a free t-shirt, and several prizes will be

awarded. In addition to the run, there will be family-oriented activities before

and after the race. For more information, call CMLC at (828) 697-5777 or go to

the Run for the Hills website at http://www.carolinamountain.org/funrun.

“Is it dementia? Is it Alzheimer’s?” by Peggy McGuire 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25th—Silvermont Senior Center

You have concerns about someone’s behavior but don’t really know who

to approach with your questions. This informational meeting is for the general

public, caregivers, spouses and loved ones who have questions about the two

diseases—the warning signs and available treatments. Peggy McGuire, with

nearly 40 years of medical research, will try to answer your questions and give

you local resources for additional information.

“March of the Leprechauns” St. Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade 10 a.m.—9 p.m.—Saturday, March 13th—Downtown Hendersonville

Parade begins at 10 a.m., with festivities throughout the day. Contact

Karen Shirlin (828) 697-2022 for more information.

Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La Viva La

Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers Dust off your sombrero, get out your Dust off your sombrero, get out your Dust off your sombrero, get out your Dust off your sombrero, get out your

maracas and get ready for a maracas and get ready for a maracas and get ready for a maracas and get ready for a fiesta!fiesta!fiesta!fiesta!

It is time to celebrate the tremendous It is time to celebrate the tremendous It is time to celebrate the tremendous It is time to celebrate the tremendous contributions of the contributions of the contributions of the contributions of the

LandLandLandLand----ofofofof----Sky Regional Council’s VolunteersSky Regional Council’s VolunteersSky Regional Council’s VolunteersSky Regional Council’s Volunteers

Come join us for brunch, live music and awards. Come join us for brunch, live music and awards. Come join us for brunch, live music and awards. Come join us for brunch, live music and awards.

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Reservations Required: Reservations Required: Reservations Required: Reservations Required: Call Brenda DeLaCruz Call Brenda DeLaCruz Call Brenda DeLaCruz Call Brenda DeLaCruz

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PRSRT-STD US Postage

PAID Asheville, NC Permit no. 367

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Land-of-sky Regional Council. 339 New Leicester Hwy, Suite 140, Asheville, NC 28806 Tel: (828)-251-6622 or 1-800-727-0557 www.landofsky.org

Return Service Requested

News You Can UseNews You Can Use

RSVP Coordinators

Patti Cameron ext 126 Buncombe & Madison Patti@landofsky.org,

Vicki Jennings, Ext. 130 Henderson & Transylvania

Vicki@landofsky.org

Program Assistant Brenda DeLaCruz ext. 132 Brenda@landofsky.org (Call for Theatre Tickets)

Early Memory Loss & Family Caregiver Support & Resources The Family Caregiver Support Program at the Land-of-Sky Regional Council has recently

received funding to provide free respite services for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer or De-

mentia and to develop programming for people with early memory loss and their caregivers.

The Family Caregiver Support Program is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association, Pro-

ject CARE and the Senior Companion Program to provide these services. Families can choose

the type of respite and the provider they desire.

To qualify for services all families must be referred for respite by their physician and be

told by a professional that their loved one has dementia or memory loss. For more information

about these programs contact Family Caregiver Specialist, Carol McLimans at the Land-of-Sky

Regional Council 828-251-6622.

A recent poll by AARP asked individuals over the age of 50 what

motivates them to volunteer and give back to the community.

• 49% The satisfaction from

accomplishment

• 21% Being an agent for change

• 13% getting to know the

community

• 10% Religious convictions

• 7% A desire to stand up and be

counted

So what is YOUR motivation?