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Vol. 4 No. 1

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

(RSVP) has undergone many changes. The

changes focus on training volunteers to fill

engaging roles in programs that demon-

strate an impact on our community. Our

volunteers, 55 and older, are engaged in

four key programs: Reading Buddies, Pre-K

Pals, Homebound Shoppers, and Crosslines

Food Pantry Partnership. Through these

four programs, RSVP volunteers impact

childhood literacy, senior nutrition, and

hunger in our community, providing at-risk-

children with positive mentors and compan-

ionship to isolated seniors.

RSVP continues to adjust for improved effi-

ciency and impact. Our logo, newsletter,

staff, and volunteer appreciation events

have transformed. A crisp new logo can be

found throughout this newsletter. Volun-

teers and community partners can pick up

new brochures featuring the new logo to

share at their church, senior center, and/

or area organizations.

In September, we welcomed Christina

Cook to staff as the new RSVP Program

Coordinator. Additionally, Sarah Derr’s

role switched from Education Coordinator

to Volunteer Resource Coordinator. Both

are excited to implement their new roles

so RSVP can offer an improved volunteer

experience and expand services in the

future.

RSVP is increasing education and apprecia-

tion opportunities for its volunteers. This

fall marked the first year RSVP participat-

ed in Celebrate Compassion, a Council of

Churches event honoring volunteers. In

(Continued on page 4)

2017 marks the first year RSVP has partici-

pated in Council of Churches Celebrate

Compassion. The event, held September 29

at the Ramada Oasis, gave RSVP another

opportunity to show appreciation to our

volunteers. David Siewert, a Reading Buddy

at four schools, and Tom Ryan, a Home-

bound Shopper and Advisory Committee

member, were both nominated for RSVP

Volunteer of the Year award.

RSVP honored Tom Ryan with the Volunteer

of the Year award. Tom began volunteering

with RSVP as a Homebound Shopper in April

2016. He quickly demonstrated a dedica-

tion to the community by offering addition-

al support whenever and wherever it was

needed most. His kindness and care of our

clients and his enthusiasm to serve led to

his invitation to join the RSVP Advisory

Committee.

Kristy Frans, RSVP Director (Right), presents Tom Ryan (left) with RSVP Volunteer of the Year Award at Cele-brate Compassion.

Tom has been a great addition to the com-

mittee. His ability to understand systems

has been helpful in creating more effec-

tive and efficient strategies to strengthen

our organization and increase our poten-

tial to serve. Tom’s love for our communi-

ty and his willingness to be an active par-

ticipate is an inspiration to us all.

In 2016, RSVP volunteers spent 10,639.5 hours serv-ing children and seniors in our community.

During the 2016-2017 school year, 133 Reading Buddy volunteers assisted 405 K-3 students with reading skills.

Since January 2017, 27 Homebound Shopping volun-teers made 516 visits to homebound seniors.

Today, 159 volunteers cur-rently serve with RSVP.

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Volunteer Barbara Hagemeister says Sight Word Fly Swat is a great

way to add fun to sight word practice. This is a great way to allow

students movement during study sessions. Several variations of the

game exist, allowing tutors to adjust the game to their student’s

skill level.

Supplies Needed: Fly swatter, sight word list, index cards

Variation 1.

First, tutor lays sight words on table well-spaced out and word side

up. Adjust the number of sight words for the level of the reader.

Beginning readers may learn best from 2-3 cards, while advancing

readers may learn best from 5-10 cards. Second, tutor calls out a

sight word and reading buddy uses the fly swatter to swat the cor-

rect sight word.

Variation 2.

Tutor calls out two and, eventually, three or four words. The read-

ing buddy will be expected to swat the words in the order given.

This variation helps students develop recall, retention, and speed

recognition.

Variation 3.

Tutor uses fly swatter to swat a sight word and expects student to

respond by saying the word. As buddy improves, tutor can increase

speed of swat requiring buddy to recognize and read more quickly.

Tutor Tip: Make sure sight word cards are identical except the

sight word itself. If sight word cards vary in color or design student

can learn to recognize sight word by the characteristic of the card

rather than the word itself.

*The rules and variations can be found on www.sightword.com. If

you would like to add pizazz to your cards try the Fly Swat Sight

Words Card Template available at www.sightwords.com/sight-

words/games/fly-swat/#templates.

Throughout this summer, RSVP was fortunate to receive additional

media coverage, through KY3 and E.W. Scripps. Due to the in-

creased media attention and extra recruiting effort, the Reading

Buddy program has more than doubled its new volunteers this

school year. Area schools are excited and many will welcome more

volunteers as they become available. With the overwhelming vol-

unteering response, RSVP is still placing volunteers in the schools. If

any Reading Buddy hasn’t heard from their school, please contact

Sarah Derr immediately at 831-9696.

We are also working with Springfield Public Schools and United Way

to create better methods for tracking and recording the success of

the Reading Buddy program. One change volunteers will notice this

school year is RSVP now requires the first and last name of the stu-

dent to be noted on the timesheet. This information is needed in

order to receive data from the school. We appreciate our volun-

teers helping to collect this information.

Reading Buddy volunteers mark your calendar for the Book Fair Nov.

10, 10a-1p; Nov. 13, 2p-5:30p; and Nov. 14, 9:30a-1:00p. Reading

Buddies may come to Matthew Fellowship Hall at the Council of

Churches, 627 N. Glenstone to pick out two brand new books to give

to each of their assigned Reading Buddy students. Volunteers pay

nothing for the books selected. RSVP will host a Questions and Con-

versations the last day of the book fair from 11:15a-12:00p. This

will be an opportunity for volunteers to meet other Reading Bud-

dies, discuss issues, ask questions, and share success stories.

RSVP began partnering with Crosslines in 2017. Crossline volun-

teers can expect the pantry to be a buzz of activity in the coming

months as Crosslines prepares for the holiday season. Crosslines

will have holiday food baskets, a toy store, and adopt-a-family

programs in addition to their normal activities. Recently, RSVP

added a second Crossline’s location where volunteers can greet and

register guests and stock shelves. The second location can be

found in The Dream Center on 829 W Atlantic.

If current RSVP volunteers are interested in volunteering with

Crosslines, please contact the Volunteer Resource Coordinator,

Sarah Derr.

*Special Note: Springfield Public School (SPS) Reading Buddy Volun-

teers are no longer required to track volunteer hours with SPS.

Reading Buddy volunteers will track hours with only RSVP. RSVP

Volunteer Resource Coordinator will turn hours into SPS. RSVP is

working on a similar agreement with others schools.

Professional Learning Specialist Myki Williamson teaches reading buddies methods for engaging students in literacy activities.

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Pre-K Pals is a new program started in 2017 at Shining Stars Early

Childhood center. Volunteers conduct pre-planned activities with

preschool children that promote positive social interactions. This

fall the program expanded into a second preschool, Bright Stars.

The schools are excited to have this new program available. Jen-

nifer Jennings, a teacher at Shining Stars, recently stated, “I love

having the readers come to my classroom. The children all look

forward to their turn to go and have some one-on-one time with

the readers. The reader always comes with an excitement for

reading and for being with my children. She truly puts her heart

into the work that she is doing for my kids. She is flexible when

things in my class go a little off schedule and is always positive

about things. I am so thankful for the time and work of heart she is

investing in my students.”

The early success of this program is essential to its growth. RSVP is

working collaboratively with other organizations to create a strong

program that meets the current and future academic needs of

emerging school age children.

The Homebound Shoppers Service (HBS) continues to grow. Home-

bound seniors rely on volunteers to shop for groceries and house-

hold items. Shoppers do not transport clients. They do, however,

assist clients in putting away groceries and provide limited com-

panionship. Request for service is increasing and more volunteers

are needed to meet demand. Request for services have tripled

from September to October and HBS is in need of volunteers to

meet demand. Please contact Christina Cook at (417) 862-3586

extension 230, if interested in volunteering with Homebound Shop-

ping Service.

In an effort to prepare volunteers for what to do if they suspect

their client is being abused, neglected, or financially exploited

RSVP will host and Lunch and Learn on Wednesday, January 17, at

11:00 am at the Council of Churches. The Lunch and Learn will

welcome guest speaker Ryan Rikka from the State of Missouri De-

partment of Health and Senior Services Division of Senior and Disa-

bility Services. Mr. Rikka will share strategies for recognizing

abuse, walk volunteers through the reporting process, and explain

what clients experience once a report has been made. All RSVP

volunteers who register are welcome to attend this luncheon. Vol-

unteers can register for event by emailing ccook@ccozarks.org.

Pre-K Pal volunteer, Ruth Carney (right) and Nancy Fast

(left), listen intently during Pre-K pal training.

Christina Cook, RSVP Program

Coordinator, began her role in

September 2017. Previous to

RSVP she was a coordinator for

American Red Cross. Christina

can be contacted at

ccook@ccozarks.org or (417)

862-3586 extension 230.

Sarah Derr, RSVP Volunteer

Services Coordinator, began

with RSVP in May 2014. Previ-

ously, Sarah taught Spanish for

Springfield Catholic Schools.

Sarah can be contacted at

sderr@ccozarks.org or (417)

831-9696.

Jane Cox, RSVP Administrative

Assistant (volunteer), began her

role in January 2012. Formerly,

Jane worked for Springfield

Public Schools for 40 years.

Jane can be contacted at

jcox@ccozarks.org or (417)862-

3595 extension 228.

Kristy Frans, RSVP Director,

began her role with RSVP in

November 2016. Previous to

RSVP, Kristy was Program Coor-

dinator at Ozarks Literacy Coun-

cil. Kristy can be contacted at

kfrans@ccozarks.org or (417)

862-3595.

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order to participate in Celebrate Compas-

sion, RSVP has moved its annual apprecia-

tion event to April.

Coming Events

Reading Buddy Questions & Conversa-

tions, Nov. 14, 11:15a at Council of

Churches

Reading Buddy Q & C is an opportunity for

volunteers to share strategies, get to know

one another, and swap ideas for engaging

students with Reading Buddies.

Jingle and Mingle with Cookies and Co-

coa, Dec. 14, 1:00p - 3:00p at Council of

Churches

This new event is an opportunity for all

volunteers to get to know one another,

share volunteer stories, and learn about

new opportunities. Cookies, cocoa, coffee,

and tea will be provided; however, we wel-

come volunteers to bring their favorite

cookie creations to share with one another.

Volunteers can register for this event by

emailing Christina Cook at

ccook@ccozarks.org

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Volunteer today. Change tomorrow.

Recognizing and Reporting Elder Abuse

Lunch and Learn, Jan. 17, 11:00a -

12:30p at Council of Churches

This educational event will be open to all

RSVP volunteers who register. Lunch will

be provided while The Division of Senior &

Disability Services teaches volunteers what

to do if a volunteer suspects a senior is

experiencing abuse. To register for this

event, please email Christina at

ccook@ccozarks.org or call at 417-862-

3586 ext 230.

We hope you find that RSVP’s bold new

changes produce a more engaging volun-

teer experience, improve our ability to

recruit new volunteers, better communi-

cate our impact, and empower us to serve

more individuals in our community.

November 10: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

November 13: 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm

November 14: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm

RSVP’s mission is to engages adults 55 and

older in meaningful volunteer work that

strengthens our community, creates a sense

of belonging for each volunteer, and chang-

es with the needs of those we serve.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is

an outreach service of Council of Churches

of the Ozarks and has been serving the com-

munity since 1974.

627 N Glenstone

Springfield, MO 65802