Retired and Senior Volunteer Program 36th Annual Recognition and Awards

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program sponsored by Western Egyptian E.O. C. held its 36th Annual Recognition and Awards Day for Randolph County on October 5, 2010 at the American Legion Hall in Steeleville with approximately 275 people attending.

Volunteers attending were asked to donate a canned food item to be donated to the local food pantry as a service project in commemoration of September 11th. Over 250 items were collected. We would like to thank all the volunteers who participated

Paulette Hamlin, Executive Director of Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council, gave the welcome. State Representative Dan Reitz spoke to the seniors on the importance of volunteerism in meeting the needs of the community and the great impact volunteers have on the lives of the individuals they assist.

Congressman Jerry Costello expressed his congratulations and thanks to the volunteers. He spoke to the volunteers on the importance of their contributions to meeting community needs.

Ken Slavens of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners and a representative of the Western Egyptian EOC Board of Directors also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the RSVP volunteers and presented a contribution to the RSVP program on behalf of the county board.

Pastor Charles Campbell of Chester gave the prayer preceding the noon buffet prepared by the American Legion Auxiliary. Noah Carter and the No Name and provided the entertainment. Dr. Marc Kiehna, Regional Superintendent of Schools thanked and presented certificates to the volunteers for their contributions to the adult literacy program and the schools in Randolph County.

Sylvia Shockley, Marvin Juhl, Hilda Higgerson and Sheldon Gitelman were presented certificates from the Internal Revenue Service for volunteering with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.

This year the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program was given the opportunity to nominate volunteers to receive the Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. The award packet consists of a presidential volunteer service pin, a congratulatory letter and a certificate signed by President Barack Obama.

Volunteers contributing 4,000 hours or more over a lifetime are eligible to receive a Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award. Those receiving the lifetime awards were: Ruth Beare, Elmer Liefer and Mary Stallman.

Volunteers contributing 500 plus hours are eligible to receive a Presidential Gold level Volunteer Service Award. Those accumulating 500 hours of volunteer service and receiving the Gold level awards were: Allene Becker, Linda Butler, Ruth Ann Coffey, Carolyn Colvis, Mary Ehlers, Linda Florreich, Sheldon Gitelman, Elaine Goetting, Calmon Grannemann, Sue Hermes, Barbara Holley, Elroy Koester, Jean Lewis, Marsha Link, Virginia Loessing, Jane Lucht, JoAnn Nalley, Lucille Roth, Mildred Stipe, Barbara Tobin, Dorothy Torrens, and James Word.

Volunteers contributing 250-499 hours of volunteer service are eligible to receive a Presidential Silver level Volunteer Service Award. Those accumulating 250-499 hours of service and receiving the Silver level awards were: Rose Bartens, Carol Bievenue, Amelia Burt, Betty Clutts, Mary Alice Dockery, Irene Earl, Anne Ebers, Linda Egge, Norma Fuhrhop, Mary Galbraith, Jeannine Gale, Paul Guebert, Farida Hollaway, Barbara Johnson, Waymon Johnson, Joyce Kalmer, Barbara Kittell, Nola Koch, Wilma Lohman, Judy Petrowske, Rose Randall, Erna May Salger, Mae Sprengel, Wanda Steele, Edward Stellhorn, Jr., Lillian Sternberg, Donna Tinsman, Glenda Wiegard, Bernice Winkelman, Anna Mae Wittenborn. Donna Wolters, RSVP Director and Hilda Fey, RSVP Coordinator presented awards to the ten volunteers with the greatest number of hours for the year. Evelyn Hadler, Linda Snider, Carolyn Bert, Marion Wahlman, Bernadine Wegener, Ruth Beare, Collette Powley, Dorothy Linders, Mary Stallman, Thirma McIntire, and Alice Nelson. Awards were presented to the 5 Year Members: Carolyn Bert, Patricia Bohnert, Joan Brown, Darwin Dailey, Marilyn Dailey, Linda Egge, Linda Foote, Carolyn Fritsche, Ada Gill, Sheldon Gitelman, Wally Hadler, Imogene Hartenberger, Elizabeth Haury, David Henry, Jewell Henry, Dorothy Heuman, Farida Hollaway, Lorene Hornbostel, Jessie Irose, Barbara Johnson, Doris Kloepper, Virginia Loesing, Richard McDaniel, Thirma McIntire, Delphine Misselhorn, Edmund (Scotty) Misselhorn, Victor Pflueger, Florene Rurode, Erna May Salger, Mae Sprengel, Edward Stellhorn, Jr. Mildred Stipe, Mary Taylor, Mary Wegener, and Wilbern Welten. 10 Year Members: Marilyn Ehlers, Linda Forgas, Maxine Goetting, Marie Hecktor, Doris Howard, Adrell Kloth, Jean Lewis, Esther Lunnemann, Joyce McIntyre, Jeanette Rubach, Sylvia Shockley, Linda Snider, Alice Sternberg, Beulah Weaver and Gennine Westerman. 15 Year Members: Ruth Beare, Rosemary Bert, Betty Congleton, Irene Diercks, Ruby Fulford, Dorothy Grah, Alverna Heller, June James, Florence Knop, Mildred Layton, Ruby Liefer, Marie Lindenberg, Rudelle Rickenberg, Dorothy Marie Wilkering. 20 Year Members: Mildred Amschler, Irma Fey, Helen Gillison, Millie Luehr, Nadine Steele. 25 Year Members: Marjorie Elwyn, Manley Limbaugh, Francis Smith. During the past year the Retired Senior Volunteers contributed over 63,041 hours of service at non-profit organizations throughout Randolph County. The RSVP wishes to thank the area business that supported the program by placing an advertisement in the program booklet.