Category Archives for Voluntarism

The Best Of…Volunteer Baby Boomers Work to Uplift Their Communities

Published September 17, 2008, All Pawetucket All the Time

           Throughout his life, Arthur Plitt has never seen a time when he has not expended lots of time and energy to support a good cause.  Over his fifty eight years, he has volunteered as a non-paid volunteer with dozens of nonprofit organizations throughout the Ocean State. The Oak Hill resident juggles a part-time job as a private mediator while allocating countless hours to his volunteer activities. 

             Two sons in Cub Scouts would propel the young man to take the volunteer position of Advancement Committee, chairman of the Boy Scouts of Rhode Island’s BlackstoneValley division.  A love of animals would also lead him to Roger Williams Zoo where he became a docent.  Plitt would also join the Rhode Island Jaycees and serve in its Senate and later work as an ombudsman for the Alliance for Better Long-Term Care.

 Kudos the Plitt

            Plitt now sits on the Governor’s Commission on Disabilities, heads the Pawtucket Neighborhood Alliance, and Oak Hill Neighborhood Association, serves on the Blackstone Watershed Council’s Board of Directors, and sits on the Pawtucket Arts Festival Executive Committee.  Still, the aging baby boomer still has time to work with the terminally ill as a Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island volunteer.  With 1,220 hours logged in this year supporting dying patients and their families it is no surprise that he was one of 12 statewide award winners of the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island’s 2008 outstanding volunteers.

             Plitt’s philosophical views on volunteerism can be simply summed up by his favorite phrase. That is, “The butterfly counts not months but moments and has time enough.”  “Butterflies, like many species, accomplish much in their short life spans.  With longer life spans, human beings are given an opportunity to accomplish a lot more and they have the time to share”, says Plitt.    

             While Plitt works with a diverse group of nonprofit organizations, fifty-four year old Patricia Zacks focuses her time and efforts on supporting the arts in Pawtucket.  Over the years, this proprietor of the Providence-based camera shop, The Camera Werks has annually organized the City’s photo contest, brought photo workshops into several public schools and senior centers.  In addition, she serves on the Board of the Friends of Excellence in Art Education, chairs the Pawtucket Arts Festival’s Program Committee and sits on its Executive Committee, and assists and networks local artists to sell their one-of-a-kind art work at Open Studio events.

             In 2007, in recognition of her efforts to support Pawtucket artists Zacks was named President Emeritus of the Pawtucket Arts Collaborative when she stepped down after serving six years. That Year the Pawtucket Foundation the Oak Hill resident was the co-recipient of the group’s prestigious “Person of the Year” award. 

 Baby Boomers Volunteer at Higher Rates 

             Aging Baby Boomers, Plitt and Zacks, are not unique in their desire to give back to their local community.  According to a 2006 Issue Brief published by the Corporation for National & Community Service (NCS), today’s Baby Boomers volunteer at a higher rate than past generations did at roughly the same age.  Findings from the 2007 Keeping Baby Boomers Volunteering (KBBV) report were cited throughout this NCS Issue Brief.

             The 2007 (KBBV) report noted that the volunteer rate for those ages 46 to 57 today, is significantly higher than both the 25.3 percent recorded by the 46 to 57 age cohort in 1974 (Greatest Generation, born 1910-1930) and the 23.2 percent recorded in 1989 (Silent Generation, born 1931-1945.)

             Additionally, the 2007 (KBBV) report also found that remaining in the workforce increased the likelihood that a Baby Boomer will continue to volunteer. 60.5 percent Baby Boomer volunteers who leave the workforce will continue to volunteer the following year compared to 69.3 percent who continue to work.

             The 2007 (KBBV) report also mentions two predictors of the relatively high volunteer rates of Baby Boomers: high education level and having children later in life. 

             Middle age adults are nearly three times likely to have a four-year college degree today.  When their children leave home the Boomers would maintain their high volunteer rates because of their high education levels and expectations that they will work longer, the report notes.

            The 2007 (KBBV) report notes that today’s Boomers, ages 41 to 59, are more likely to volunteer with religious organizations. The second most popular place to volunteer is educational or youth service organizations.

          Finally, the (KBBV) 2007 report findings indicate that the more hours a Baby Boomer devotes to volunteering, the more like he or she will volunteer throughout their lives.  Nearly 9 of 10 Baby Boomer volunteers who serve 100 to 499 hours a year volunteer again the following year, compared to just over 5 in 10 who serve 1 to 14 hours.

             Aging Baby Boomers Plitt and Zacks have brought their life experiences, time and energy to making their community a better place to live, just like millions of their Baby Boomer cohorts throughout the nation. 

             For more information about volunteering contact Volunteer Center of Rhode Island.  Go to www.vcri.org.

             Herb Weiss is a Pawtucket-based free lance writer who covers aging, health care and medical issues.   This article was published in the September 17, 2008 issue of All Pawtucket All the Time. He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.

Holiday event brings volunteer opportunities, cheer to seniors

Published in The Pawtucket Times on December 3, 2001

Jane Edwards plays the lead role of the set designer and seamstress.  Pawtucket residents Velma Jacks, Rita Kenney Anne Curry and Loraine Farley work as painters.  Bill Curry cuts out wooden signs and figures of Santa Claus, elves and reindeer.  Over the last couple of months, these six retirees have worked vey closely with 14 members of Winter Wonderland committee and others to gear up for the upcoming weekend’s kick-off of Pawtucket’s third annual Winter Wonderland Festival.

The holiday festival runs for three consecutive December weekends, on Saturdays and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m., at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket.  The wildly successful Pawtucket festival that has attracted thousands to the Pawtucket’s largest park was first held in December 1999.  The year before, a visit in December 1998 to a California’s city’s annual holiday display was all it took to lifelong Pawtucket resident Janice McHale thinking about creating a similar event in Pawtucket.

The 61 year old, who had worked the past 38 years at Blackstone Valley Electric, then the past five years at its parent EUA Service Corp in West Bridgewater, remembered holiday displays at Slater Park in the early 1960s.  After a while, these displays just disappeared, she said.

Coming back to Pawtucket, McHale had made up her mind to bring back holiday displays to Slater Park.  “It could easily be done here in Pawtucket, and it would look good, too.” she quipped.

In spring 1999, a quick visit where she pitched her idea to Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle and Jack Carney, the city’s Public Works Director, resulted in the approval of her pet project.  City Council President John Barry III, along with City Councilors Don Grebien and Raymond “Chip” Hoyas, jumped on board too, strongly supporting McHale’s vision, a Winter Wonderland festival in Pawtucket.

While not committing coty funds, Doyle pledged in-kind support.  This assistance would come in the form of providing manpower and technical expertise.  The city’s project engineer, the late Frank Rendine, was sought out to design 18 two-story Victorian houses.  Staff in the Mayor’s Office and Department of Planning and Redevelopment would be charged with publicity, bookkeeping and raising funds.  Finally, Public Works and Parks and Recreation would set up the small Victorian Village and 100 Christmas trees and bring electricitiy to the site.

Scores of volunteer carpenters and painters from the community would ultimately build the huge three-dimensional plywood structures.  Most importantly, local businesses brought funding to the project, providing the seed money to begin the new endeavor.

Now in its third year, the Winter Wonderland Committee has evolved into a nonprofit corporation, headed by McHale, who is now retired.  The City of Pawtucket continues to be a major supporter of the holiday festival .  And Winter Wonderland continues to get bigger and better, McHale tell All About Seniors.

“This year you can see 200 brightly lighted Christmas trees, and enjoy more performers and vendors too”, said the festival organizer.

Like previous years, McHale notes that those coming to Winter Wonderland can still leisurely stroll through the Victorian Village, surrounded by hundreds of Christmas trees, and be entertained by carolers, bell ringers, clowns, puppeteers and musicians.  A large heated tend will again be the site for the festival’s entertainment.  Youngers can visit Santa Claus, and even take a ride on a large hay wagon, the popular R&D express train, or the carousel.  Of course, hot chocolate, hot cider and delicious food will be available in a food court.

Pawtucket resident Rita Kenney, who is in her 70s, has toiled tirelessly for months to prepare for the upcoming holiday festival’s opening.  The retired teacher and school administrator believes that the City’s Winter Wonderland festival has brought back some of the Christmas spirit to Slater Park.

Being a senior volunteer has its perks, Kenney says.  “You get to work with all ages and the experiences really reconnect you back to the community.”

To  become a volunteer or sponsor of the Winter Wonderland or to obtain a schedule of events call 726-3185.

Seniors Making Big Contribution to City’s Winter Wonderland Festival

Published in Pawtucket Times on November 26, 2001

Pawtucket residents Velma Jacks, Rita Kenny, Anne Curry and Loraine Farley work as painters. Bill Curry cuts out wooden signs and figures of Santa Claus, elves and reindeer. Over the last couple of months these five retirees have worked with 14 members of the Winter Wonderland Committee and others to gear up for the upcoming weekend’s kick off of the Pawtucket’s 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland Festival.

The holiday festival runs three consecutive December weekends on Saturdays and Sundays, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket.

The wildly successful Pawtucket festival that has attracted thousands into the Pawtucket’s largest park was first held in December 1999.

The year before, a visit in December 1998 to a California city’s annual holiday display was all it took to get life-long Pawtucket resident Janice McHale thinking about creating a similar event in Pawtucket. The 61-year-old, who had worked the past 38 years at Blackstone Valley Electric then the past five years at its parent, EUA Service Corp. in West Bridgewater, remembered holiday displays at Slater Park in the early 1960s. After a while, these displays just disappeared, she said.

Coming back to Pawtucket, McHale had made up her mind to bring back holiday displays to Slater Park. “It could easily be done in Pawtucket and it  would look good, too,” she quipped.

In Spring 1999, a quick visit to pitch her idea to Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle and Jack Carney, the City’s Public Works Director, resulted in the approval for her pet project. City Council President John Barry, III, along with City Councilors Don Grebien and Raymond “Chip” Hoyas jumped on board, too, strongly supporting McHale’s vision, a Winter Wonderland festival in Pawtucket.

While not committee city funds, Mayor Doyle pledged in-kind support. This assistance would come in the form of providing manpower and technical expertise. The City’s project engineer, the late Frank Rendine, was sought out to design eighteen two-story Victorian houses. Staff in the Mayors Office and Department of Planning and Redevelopment would be charged with publicity, bookkeeping and raising funds.

Finally, the Pawtucket Works and Recreation would setup the small Victorian Village and 100 Christmas trees and bring electricity to the site. Scores of volunteer carpenters and painters from the community would ultimately build the huge three dimensional plywood structures.

Most important, local businesses brought funding to the project, providing the seed money to begin the new endeavor.

Now in its third year, the Winter Wonderland Committee has evolved into a nonprofit corporation, headed by McHale, who is now retired.

The City of Pawtucket continues to be supportive of the holiday festival. And Winter Wonderland continues to get bigger and better. McHale tells All About Seniors: “This year you can see 200 brightly lighted Christmas trees, enjoy more performers and vendors, too,” adds the festival organizer.

Like previous years, McHale notes that those coming to Winter Wonderland can still leisurely stroll through the Victorian Village, surrounded by hundreds of Christmas trees, and entertained by bell ringers, clowns, puppeteers and musicians.

A large heated tent will again be set up to house the festival’s entertainment. Youngsters can visit Santa Claus, and even take a ride on a large hay wagon, the popular R&D express train, or the carousel.

Of course, hot chocolate, hot cider and delicious food will be available at the food court.

Pawtucket resident Rita Kenny, who is in her seventies, has toiled tirelessly for months to prepare for the upcoming holiday festival’s Dec. 1 opening. The retired teacher and school administrator believes that the City’s Winter Wonderland festival has brought back some of the Christmas spirit to Slater Park.

Being a senior volunteer has its perks, says Kenney. “You get to work with all ages and the experiences really reconnects you back to the community,” she notes.