Elderberry Wine
Selected Radio Commentaries
by Peter Wotton
Volunteers / RSVP
Throughout his life, Peter Wotton volunteered for many organizations. He encouraged others to also volunteer and frequently included information about volunteer opportunities in his "Elderberry Wine" commentaries, which were themselves a volunteer contribution to KLCC, the public radio station on the campus of Lane Community College.
Wotton served on a variety of community and state organizations: Eugene Human Rights Commission, Public Health Advisory Board, Eugene Commission for the Rights of the Aging, Emerald Empire Council on Aging, Advisory Council for Senior and Disabled Services, Eugene Clinic Elder Health Advisory Committee, and the Red Cross Health and Safety Committee.
Volunteers
# 349 -- April 10, 1989
What do you know? It's national volunteer week! We're celebrating the value of volunteers, and the fun and rewards that come with volunteering, from April 9 until April 15. Considering that this radio program, "Elderberry Wine," is done entirely on a volunteer basis, it makes sense that I should salute volunteer week.
For so many people, retirement is a real drag. The wife complains that her retired husband is suddenly under foot all day long; or a wife retires, and finds herself bored with staying home. The same for single people -- when they leave work, it's dull city. Nothing to do. Feeling useless.
Of course, some people just love it. They get in their trailer or motor home, or they just get on the road, and it's footloose and fancy free from then on. Give them credit -- they've earned it, and they're taking it, and they seem to enjoy themselves. As for me, I don't want that life style. I want to stay involved. I want to be where it's happening. Since I quit full time work a couple of years ago, I've called myself a "plate-spinner," because I have so many things going at the same time that it's hard to keep them straight. I've had part-time jobs during that time, but none lasted more than a year or so. Until now.
Now I'm co-resident night manager at Ya-Po-Ah terrace. As a part-time job, it's wonderful, because my hours are from midnight to 8:00 a.m., and I get to sleep except when the phone rings. And now I have a brand-new part-time job. Starting April 1 I became community services representative for centennial bank. In that job, I'll be using my present contacts and activities to promote bank business and will be serving as a sort of ambassador-at-large for the bank.
And I'll still have time and energy to chair the long-term care ombudsman committee, and to be on the Eugene Commission for the Rights of the Aging, and the Emerald Empire Council on Aging, and the Advisory Council for Senior and Disabled Services, and the Eugene Clinic Elder Health Advisory Committee, and the Red Cross Health and Safety Committee, and a few more, not to mention "Elderberry Wine" and my writing for the Senior News.
So what I'm telling you is, if you're bored or lonely or want a purpose in life, call or visit the voluntary action center in the Eugene Y.M.C.A., or call R.S.V.P. -- that stands for Retired Seniors Volunteer Program -- or look into the Senior Companion organization. All of those do marvelous things, helping other older people who aren't so fortunate. And there are lots more. You can volunteer for a hospital, or for the library, or at one of the senior centers. All you need is the motivation to start making inquiries, and there are plenty of people who can help you find volunteer work to do!
This is Peter Wotton, with "Elderberry Wine", KLCC's weekly salute to the older people in our community. And the message for the week is: IN VOLUNTARY WORK, PROMOTION COMES FAST!
R.S.V.P.
# 8 -- July 21, 1982
R.S.V.P. stands for Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Ten years ago, Lane County was selected as one of eleven areas in the United States to test this concept. In those ten years, R.S.V.P. has grown from the original eleven demonstration projects to over 1,000 programs with 300,000 senior volunteers in active participation.
R.S.V.P. is part of Action, the national agency coordinating volunteer oriented programs such as Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents, and University Year in Action. Lane Community College is the local sponsor, and the community determines the focus of the project and shares in the costs of operation. The director of the program is Marty Stauffer, whose office is in the Kaufman Annex, at 673 West 10th Avenue.
The purpose of the R.S.V.P. program, Marty told me, is to act as a linkage organization between people 60 and older who have time and skills they are willing to contribute, and organizations needing those skills. Volunteers give an average of four hours a week without pay or stipend, although they may receive reimbursement for transportation or meal costs. Volunteers across Lane County -- more than 700 of them -- served more than 115 hours in 1980. That is a contribution worth $385,000 if calculated at the minimum wage.
The impact of the interest and commitment of R.S.V.P. volunteers goes far beyond the dollar value of their services. Senior volunteers find that they enjoy the activities they are involved in -- the motto in Lane County is: "exchange a little leisure for a lot of satisfaction."
The many types of volunteer programs in the 80 participating agencies in Lane County demonstrate the way in which community needs can be met by volunteers. Some work with children in schools, some help homebound people with taxes and insurance forms, while others teach English as a second language or help handicapped persons in swim programs.
Because senior volunteers have cared, the quality of life for a significant number of people has been improved. Senior volunteers have clearly demonstrated that they are a valuable resource. In these troubled times, the efforts of volunteers will become more and more important. If you want to find out how you can help, call Marty Stauffer at 342-1881. I can guarantee you that you'll never regret it.
2004 UPDATE
Lane County RSVP
3171 Gateway Loop, Springfield, OR 97477, (541) 741-6000 Ext:105
Director: Sara Siegler, siegler@unitedwaylane.org
Senior Companion Program
1445 Willamette St., Suite 12, Eugene, OR 97401, (541) 683-8043
Director: Jean Jordan, JordanJE@lanecc.edu
Copyright
"Elderberry Wine" is copyrighted by KLCC-FM. Permission to rebroadcast or publish the commentaries must be obtained from KLCC-FM.