what do you know about RSVP? (seniors volunteer)

[ellenrr]

I wonder if this is a program like teach for america, which sounds good, until you look below the surface.
I got a brochure about RSVP - Senior Corps, and I am looking for places to volunteer, but I wonder what is behind the glossy brochure and public relations paragraphs.

appreciate feed-back from anyone who has experience or deep knowledge of this.
thanks.

[madfloridian]

1. Here's a page about it. Apparently a national service group.

http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/senior-corps/rsvp

It's a gov't agency apparently.

From Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senior_Corps

[femmocrat]

2. My mom used to be a local RSVP director. :)

She always used to say that Nancy Reagan supported it! LOL (My mom was an Eisenhower republican, bless her heart.)

I remember the volunteers used to help in schools, etc. There were also "Foster Grandparents" who helped with disabled children.

What are some of their activities now? I don't imagine they go into schools anymore.

[ellenrr]

3. I don't know what their activities are now because

at the website when I searched for my interest (education/literacy) there was nothing within 25 miles of my home.
Then I found something in a town nearby, no information except that these people needed help and did I want to volunteer. No, I don't want to volunteer for something I know nothing about.
So I called the # on the website, and spoke to someone who didn't have a clue, and finally got to another number which put me on hold.
At which point I decided I do not have the patience for bulls**t.
(Good thing I have Medicare bec. I would never have made thru the Obamacare debacle).

so that was my experience, and yes the phrase "gov't agency" probably tells me all I need to know.

[femmocrat]

4. LOL --- Oh well!

It sounds like the federal and state agencies don't know what the local ones are doing. When my mom directed it, she worked at the local Senior Citizens center. I don't know how it was funded or who paid her salary. I think they also helped with Meals on Wheels, but that might have been a separate division. You might also check with your local Agency on Aging -- I remember her mentioning them, too.

I remember that she used to have a big luncheon for her dozens of volunteers every spring. She loved working there.... she retired at age 75!

I did check out the website. I'm also looking for something "worthwhile" to do since I retired. In our community, the YWCA does literacy-- I think it is called the Literacy Council. (They used to have a huge book sale every year at the mall.)

Good luck to you! Hope you find what you are looking for.

[ellenrr]

5. I used to work for Literacy Volunteers in NJ

I guess it's an OK organization, well-intentioned. But my thot is (I am also a teacher) that volunteers should not be teaching people how to read.
Teaching reading is very difficult, and I think people should be trained to do it.
(more than a few hours).
My job was giving the training.

[ellenrr]

6. btw, femmocrat,

I realize now that I've gotten so busy that I no longer have so much time on my hands!
I've tried a Spanish class on Monday. Tuesday I take a class which is part of a collaborative program between the university and the elder community.
the class is called "Society and the Commons", and while I'm not nuts about the teacher (big ego), he knows his stuff and it's very informative. We talk about the Yangtsee Dam, water, energy, and the like.
Thursday I swim, (free program for Seniors with mobility issue).
Friday yoga.

I am going to check with the university which has an excellent reading program to see if I can volunteer.
~~~

[femmocrat]

7. Those sound like very rewarding activities, ellen!

I just need to get off my butt and see what is out there, now that gardening season is coming to a close. Being in a rural area kind of limits my options though.

My first choice was a class at community college, but the one I wanted wasn't offered online.

I know I will find plenty to do once I start looking around.