The Catskill Chronicle

CALLICOON, NY (May 19, 2011) – The 38th Annual Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Recognition Day Luncheon was held on Monday, May 9 at the Villa Roma Resort & Conference Center in Callicoon.

A total of 266 RSVP volunteers performed over 57,000 hours during 2010. Nine  volunteers who served over 1,000 volunteer hours during 2010 received special award certificates as members of the 1,000-Hour Club. The awards were presented by Elaine Finkle, RSVP Specialist.

Members of the “1,000 Hour Club” are: Ruth Auerbach – 3,450 hours; Barbara Burns – 1,771; William Burns – 1,073; Helen Hey – 1,207; Margaret Ippolito – 1,212; Marie Quetel – 1,043; Theresa Roach – 1,053; Marcelle Wagner – 2,428; Elisabeth Zink – 1,300.

Marie Zalesky received a “Flower Arrangement” for being the oldest RSVP Volunteer. Marie is 103 years young, with 145 hours of volunteer time served at the Grover Hermann Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center. She continues to be an inspiration to everyone.

Special awards were presented by Caryn Mathews RSVP Program Director with honor to the Noah’s Arch Thrift Shop: Ann M Nagoda, Bob Owens, Ruth Owens, Ron Royster, Betty Kelly and Ruth Burton. A certificate was presented to, Director; Nellie Culligan of Noah’s Arch Thrift Shop for her willingness to serve and the difference she makes in the lives of others.

A Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Michelle Semerano of WDNB Thunder 102.1/Bold Gold Media Group for announcing the RSVP volunteers birthdays each morning on the radio and their on-air support of the RSVP program. During 2010 there were 308 RSVP volunteers’ birthdays announced.

Each township chose a “RSVP Senior of the Year.” From these 15 nominations, one senior was chosen as the Sullivan County RSVP Senior of the Year. Town seniors are: Bethel -Robert Rosengard; Callicoon – Pilar McLaughlin; Cochecton – Ethel Hulse, Delaware – Anna Theodore; Fallsburg – Ruth Ann Mickelson; Forestburgh – Donald Elliott; Fremont – Joanna “Joan” Papa; Highland – George Nieke; Liberty – Arthur & Barbara Viele; Lumberland – Nancy Murray; Mamakating – Ruth Auerbach; Neversink – Marion & Robert Ehrhardt; Rockland – Sally Buck; Thompson – Marjorie “Jean” Cocot; Tusten – Betty Crandall.

Sullivan County Legislature, Ron Hiatt, presented Joanna “Joan” Papa from the Town of Fremont, with a plaque as the Sullivan County “RSVP” Senior of the Year for 2010.

To find out more information about RSVP call Project Director Caryn Mathews at 807-0251 or RSVP Specialist Elaine Finkle at 807-0255.

Sullivan County RSVP is sponsored by the Sullivan County Office for the Aging. Funded by the County of Sullivan, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the Corporation for National & Community Service.