RSVP Summer 2018 Newsletter

The Volunteer Voice
A Newsletter for Members & Friends of RSVP of North Central Iowa
Volume 7  Issue 3  Summer 2018

RSVP Celebrates Service with a Fiesta

RSVP of North Central Iowa honored volunteers at its annual celebration on Thursday, June 7.
Outstanding Volunteer Awards were presented to 30 volunteers.

Gold Award (500+ hours) Silver Award (250-499 hours)

Marcia Kraft (left) of Northwood started volunteering with (pictured left to right): Sandy Nyhus, Nancy Sweetman,
RSVP in 2004. She has served as a Reading Buddy, Reading Ellen Jandebeur, Chuck Sweetman, and Annette Bruns
Coach and Pen Pal. Marcia prefers to blend in but she has (not pictured): Glen Christensen, Judy Fox, Aiden Kelly,
always been a great “Face of RSVP” in Northwood. and Carolyn Ostercamp
Tiny Shelton (right) of Forest City has been with RSVP since
2007 serving as a Breakfast Buddy, Reading Buddy, and
Pen Pal. Tiny cares for the children she works with and is
a positive influence on their lives.
Steven Urbatsch (not pictured) of Mason City started

volunteering with RSVP in 2013. He has served as an

International Friend at NIACC, Reading Buddy, and Pen Pal.

He is always willing to write to a new student and bring his

enthusiasm to his volunteering.

Bronze Award (100-249 hours)
(front row, left to right): Mariann Holst, Pat Amosson, Jean Davidson, Glady Udelhofen
(back row, left to right): Lana Schaefer, Juanita Stromer, Jane Ginapp, Jack Gannett, Stephen Converse
(not pictured): Jane Broghammer, Nora Claude, Marlys Ebaugh, Dee Hollatz, Joann Johnson, Robbi Kleckner,

Frances Meyer, Peggy Solberg, and Roz Swanson

(more on page 2)

Page 2 The Volunteer Voice

Also recognized at the

Volunteer Celebration were

retired RSVP staff members,

Administrative Assistant,
Connie Ciccetti (left),
Volunteer Coordinator,
Linda Willeke (right)
as well as retiring

Advisory Council members
Tony Coloff (left) of Forest City

and Verla Perry (right)
of Northwood.

Entertainment for the Volunteer Celebration was provided by La Danza Folklorica from La Luz Hispana of Hampton.

It’s
Time!

Page 3

RSVP of North Central Iowa has been partnering with Cerro Gordo County

Emergency Management to prepare for natural disasters, and this summer our
phone bank operators were utilized to answer the Flood Response Hotline after
multiple days of heavy rainfall and flooding in Mason City. Over four days, 12
RSVP Volunteers took calls from affected residents reporting damage and clean-
up needs. We greatly appreciate their quick response, flexibility, and empathy.

In the event of emergencies in Cerro
Gordo County, volunteers report to
the Emergency Operation Center at
the Mason City Police Department to
answer calls made to the phone bank.

This alleviates 911 from
being flooded with non-
emergency calls. Opera-
tors answer caller’s ques-
tions, record information,
and disseminate details. In addition, volunteers could serve at a
Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) processing spontaneous volun-
teers who are coming forward to help with activities like sandbag-
ging. All volunteers are trained prior to serving.

RSVP will sponsor more trainings for phone bank operators and VRC volunteers. If you are interested or
know someone who would like to help during a disaster or community emergency, please contact
Theresa Price, Volunteer Coordinator, at (614) 422-4254 or [email protected].

Do you know Welcome to RSVP
someone who Mary Ellen Smith!
would be a good
Reading Buddy Mary Ellen Smith joined the
or Pen Pal? RSVP team in July and has
hit the ground running as the
How about someone who enjoys working with Administrative Assistant &
adolescents? Or maybe someone whose interest Pen Pal Coordinator!
is not necessarily working with children, but has
the skills to serve their community during a Mary Ellen recently retired from Principal in
disaster or blood drive. Mason City but knew she was too young to
officially retire. She is excited to have this
Please send them our way! We are looking for opportunity to connect with volunteers and the
new volunteers to serve in all RSVP volunteer community.
opportunities in Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Hancock,
Mitchell, Winnebago, and Worth counties. If you haven’t already, you will hear from
Mary Ellen from time to time regarding your
volunteering with RSVP, especially if you are a
Pen Pal. Welcome, Mary Ellen, we are happy to
have you as part of the RSVP Team!

500 College Drive | Mason City, IA 50401
(641) 422-4256 | (888) 466-4222 ext. 4256
[email protected] | www.niacc.edu/rsvp
Director: Molly Anderegg
Volunteer Coordinator: Theresa Price
Administrative Assistant: Mary Ellen Smith

RSVP is sponsored by:
North Iowa Area Community College,

and partially funded by:

Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Mitchell,
Winnebago, and Worth counties

We had so much fun at this year’s Pen Pal
reveal parties! Students and volunteers had
a great time meeting after building a special
relationship through exchanging letters for
six months. Whether it was playing card
games, singing songs, sharing pictures and
inspirational quotes, or introducing each
other and sharing fun facts about their
pen pal, rooms were filled with pure joy!
We can always use more Pen Pal Volunteers, and this coming school year, we have
needs in Britt, Hampton, Mason City, and Osage. Please encourage your friends and
relatives to come and join the fun! It’s way more fun to receive letters than bills. ☺