December 2011 Newsletter

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December, 2011

Dear Volunteers and Friends,

As the temperatures drop, we are reminded that “Old Man Winter” has arrived. I wish you and your loved ones Happy and Healthy Holidays. This is the season for giving and I thank all of our volunteers for giving the most essential gift – themselves – to our partnering volunteer organizations throughout the county. Please remind your friends when they begin looking for a New Year’s resolution that the gift of their energy and effort is a gift that helps both the receiver and the giver and makes our communities better places to call home.

As a gift in 2012, Social Security will be giving seniors a 3.5 percent increase . That’s great! It’s the first budget item I have seen go up in this dismal economic landscape. We at RSVP Suffolk survived the 30% cut made to our funding this year. Thirty-five RSVP projects throughout the United States weren’t as lucky, and they closed down, never to open again! It was also unfortunate that one of our benefits to the volunteers, the very modest travel stipend, had to be curtailed mid-year as a result of our funding loses. Thanks for understanding this necessary move. Hopefully we’ll look to restore this benefit should our funding levels allow next year. We also had to say goodbye to some staff as a result of the cuts as well. What RSVP refused to sacrifice was our annual Tribute Day luncheon held this year on September 27th. You’ll see some great pictures in the centerfold that attest to a good time had by all the volunteers and exhibitors at this event.

If you would like to make a donation to RSVP, we would certainly welcome your gift. Just go to our website www.rsvpsuffolk.org and hit the donate button or mail a check. Thanks!

Enjoy the eggnog, decking the halls, and those quieter moments of the season.

Regards,

Pegi Orsino
Executive Director