New RSVP Director Hopes to Grow Volunteers, Connect With Local Agencies
 Cheryl Whalen, the new director of RSVP, was enthusiastic in discussing her role and that of RSVP in the area. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After a hectic day of meeting plenty of new faces, Cheryl Whalen, the new director of RSVP still seemed chipper and bubbly as she sat down to discuss her new role.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is national program dedicated to finding volunteers aged 55 and older and recruiting and training them to work as volunteers in multiple organizations across the city (and county).
Whalen spent a few hours Friday meeting with the community at an open house, giving the opportunity for people to get acquainted with her and the program.
According to Whalen and Volunteer Coordinator Claire Cesar, approximately 70 people attended the event. Many of the visitors included heads and staff from other outreach programs and agencies who stopped by to meet Whalen and introduce themselves.
"That's our vision, is to be hooked into more and to grow our base of volunteers," Whalen said in describing the program's mission. "Which is one of our big things and grow our relationship with our stations."
Whalen came on board as the director two months ago and has quickly been settling into the role.
"Cheryl is a strong addition to the city and her prior work experience will benefit RSVP," Mayor Daniel Bianchi said in a statement. "The senior volunteer program already provides amazing services to Pittsfield and Berkshire County.
"However, it has the potential to expand and have an even greater impact on our community. I am thankful to all of our RSVP volunteers."
RSVP was without a director for several months after the last director was removed in October over issues apparently related to loss of a major grant.
Originally from Spokane, Wash., she and her husband moved out to Kansas for several years before relocating to the Berkshires as they advanced their respective careers. Whalen has been a social worker since 1990 and while in Kansas, worked for the McPherson County Council on Aging and felt she had truly found her niche.
She and her husband came to the Berkshires after her husband, Thomas Whalen, accepted a position at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams as an assistant professor. Whalen began searching for her new role.
"I saw the job posting and thought it would be a perfect fit for me," she said, adding she had spent the winter catching up on books and movies with her free time.
With an enthusiastic tone, Whalen explained all of the different services and programs that RSVP works with in Pittsfield, including but not limited to Habitat for Humanity, Shakespeare & Company, Hillcrest Cancer Center, Red Cross and Goodwill Works. The RSVP program also helps with preparing taxes and helping seniors and retirees train to do new and exciting things and keeping people active.
"Any volunteer that works 50-plus hours in a year receives a ticket for our annual recognition dinner at the country club to reward everyone for their hard work," she said.
There's also an annual trip to the Big E for volunteers, generally on Massachusetts Day.
Volunteers ushering for organizations such as Shakespeare & Company and Berkshire Theatre Group, can receive perks like tickets to the shows that they help work.
RSVP volunteers are also heavily involved in providing rides for cancer patients and seniors to the doctor and for other necessities. The Froio Senior Center also is staffed by many of the volunteers recruited by RSVP.
An upcoming project that Whalen definitely wanted to promote to the public is the planting of thousands of chestnut trees at the Springside Park Arboretum. The event is being organized by Bob Presutti and is taking place over the weekend of May 16 and 17.
With a very palpable sense of energy, Whalen continued to explain all sorts of different volunteers who work with the program, and is geared up to be involved with seemingly everything in the next few months.
Tags: RSVP, senior citizens, volunteers,
