2008 News
May 16, 2008
Bucks County Commissioners Salute Retired Senior Volunteers during 34th Annual RSVP Luncheon
During 2007, Bucks County’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) created an opportunity for 726 volunteers age 55 and over to provide 116,384 hours of community service to 125 non-profit agencies throughout the county. During the 34th Annual RSVP Luncheon, held May 15 at King’s Caterers in Bristol Twp., hundreds of those special individuals were honored.
The event, held in conjunction with the county Area Agency on Aging (AAA), is an important element of Older Americans Month. This year’s Older Americans Month theme, “Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities,” underscores the RSVP mission here in Bucks County.
Commissioners Charles H. Martin and Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia joined county AAA Director Brian Duke to welcome the RSVP volunteers, including 100-year-old Elva Kiernan of Morrisville. Since 1977, Mrs. Kiernan has generously donated her talents to the Morrisville Senior Center. She recently became RSVP’s only centenarian volunteer. Commissioner Marseglia presented the Morrisville resident with a letter of commendation on behalf of her colleagues, Commissioners Martin and Jim Cawley, lauding Mrs. Kiernan “for many years of exemplary service.”
Referring to “game theory” during her remarks, Commissioner Ellis-Marseglia noted: “A win-win experience is one in which all participants can profit from it in one way or another, and all sides end up with something better than expected. With RSVP it is ‘win win.’ After 34 years of your services, the children, agencies and seniors with whom you work are still feeling like they have won. You have far exceeded their expectations.”
Commissioner Martin welcomed Mary Strasser, state program director of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the nation’s largest grant-awarder supporting service and volunteering programs. Commissioner Martin also read a proclamation declaring May 11-17 “Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Week” throughout the County of Bucks.
Duke thanked more than 400 attendees for their efforts to “go out of your way to do something to make your community a better place.” During his remarks, he also requested a moment of silence in memory of late county Human Service Director Charlie Kane, who passed away on June 1, 2007.
The commissioners joined Duke to present two awards, the Loretta Osbourn Award (to Contact of Greater Philadelphia) and the Peggy O’Neill Senior Volunteer of the Year Award (Dave White). For more information about RSVP and ways that you can become involved, please go to the RSVP page.
