Communities throughout North Central Iowa are stronger thanks to the time and talent shared by RSVP volunteers. RSVP of North Central Iowa is honored to recognize its members and highlight the wonderful work they do to fulfill needs and address problems in their communities during this year’s National Volunteer Week, April 23-29. The week is a celebration of volunteerism.

RSVP volunteers provide most of their service to students in elementary and middle schools by tutoring and mentoring students in reading, befriending them through the Pen Pal Program and serving as Breakfast Buddies. Volunteers also serve as leaders for the Walking School Bus Program in Mason City, as readers for the Iowa Radio Reading Information Service for the Blind and Print Handicapped program at KCMR radio station in Mason City, as support staff with Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management, as advocates for long-term care facility residents, and with the International Friends program at North Iowa Area Community College.

“National Volunteer Week provides me with the opportunity to shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve,” says North Iowa Area Community College President Steven Schulz. “Volunteerism empowers individuals to find their purpose, to take their passion and turn it into meaningful change to create stronger, more vibrant communities in North Iowa.”

Currently, RSVP has 367 volunteers serving in Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago and Worth counties. In area schools, Reading Buddy volunteers are tutoring 404 elementary students and Reading Coaches are mentoring 68 middle school students. In addition, Pen Pal volunteers are exchanging letters with 302 fourth-and-fifth grade students. RSVP volunteers are also serving in new roles as non-emergency Phone Bank operators and Volunteer Reception Center workers with Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management.

“Volunteers are the backbone of the Emergency Management program. I wouldn’t be able to support the programs I have without the help of individuals and groups like RSVP,” states Steven O’Neil, Cerro Gordo County Emergency Management Coordinator.

In addition to volunteers serving in their local communities, RSVP also honors its 16 Advisory Council members. The Council helps shape and strengthen RSVP programs throughout North Central Iowa. RSVP salutes council members and volunteers who have served this year:

Advisory Council – Britt: Elaine Weiland; Buffalo Center: Joe Angstman, Dean Swenson; Forest City: Tony Coloff; Garner: Sue Bruxvoort, Marilyn Kral, Shirley Rasche; Manly: Marilyn Pinta; Mason City: Karen Dole, Carol Johnson, Colleen Last, Sharon Steckman; Northwood: Bob Perry, Verla Perry, Stephen Wolfe; Thompson: Larry Hill

Volunteers –

Britt: Linda Arndorfer, Neva Beech, John Bowman, Myra Bowman, Judy Brumm, Imogene Burgardt, Jan Charbonneaux, Lois DeLeon, Dorothy Denny, Laurie Eden, Judy Fox, Kathy Gabrielson, Marlene Gray, Brenda Hanson, JoAnn Harle, Delores Kahler, Don Kopacek, Kay Kopacek, Mary Kopacek, Beverly Nelson, Joan Nielsen, Carolyn Ostercamp, Carole Penning, Marlys Perkins, Darrell Schaper, Judy Schaper, Jean Sheets, Gayle Smidt, Kathryn Smith, Barb Trulson, Elaine Weiland, and Nancy Wilson

Buffalo Center: Joe Angstman, Pam Angstman, Sandy Bashans, Judy Boeckholt, Connie Brooks, Lynn Greimann Hassebroek, Sharon Hippen, Frances Meyer, and Roz Swanson

Charles City: Linda Wolff

Clear Lake: Barbara Amosson, Pat Amosson, Nancy Baker, Barbara Beard, Jo Best, Martha Boyes, Jane Broghammer, Bobbi Bruns, David Burgart, Jeanne Burgart, Glen Christensen, Janet Christensen, David Curtis,
Nadine Drennan, Toni Ebeling, Sally Elliott, Joan Eness, Karen Fick, Sandi Flickinger, Jan Fynskov, Judy Gross, Diane Harrison, Linda Henningsen, Nancy Huber, Ellen Jandebeur, Sandy Klaudt, Sharon Knoup, Fran Lorenzen, Carol Meindl, Debbie Mikesell, Mary Moeller, Marsha Mott, Mary Lou Nicholas, Sandy Nyhus, William Osmundson, Craig Rule, Sharron Rule, Sharon Ryg, Karen Schultz, Marilee Skinner, Nancy Smith, Polly Suntken, Linda Tjaden, and Alyce Wilson

Dougherty: Mary Schissel

Forest City: Judy Anderson, JoAnn Bartleson, Barb Braun, Ardyth Bredeson, Annette Bruns, Marsha Brunsvold, Janice Buffington, Cheryl Burke, Sue Coloff, Marlys Ebaugh, Mike Ebaugh, Paul Fitzgerald, Joan Hansen, Ken Hansen, Anna Harringa, Sue Hoeft, Barbara Johnson, Carol Johnson, Aidan Kelly, Marie Kelly, Carol Kleveland, Cynthia Korth, Roberta Kraft-Abrahamson, Ronald Kvale, Joan Langerud, Barb Lovick, Karen Monson, Karolyn Overlie, Larry Rieffer, Harlan Rodberg, Mary Schaefer, Tiny Shelton, Betty Soderling, Marge Solberg, John Sporri, Doug Turner, Shelley Turner, and Starla Vega

Garner: Val Anderson, Janice Bachman, Carrol Boehnke, Dolores Boehnke, Roseann Boehnke, Sue Bruxvoort, Nora Claude, Jane Davison, Diane Deibler, Kathy Fell, Joe Gibbs, Kathy Gibbs, Bobbie Gifford, Diane Gilbert, Janan Griggs, Cheryl Hanna, Patty Hestad, Dee Hollatz, Linda Hoppel, Susan Hovda, Kay Karsjens, Eunice Kinsella, Lynell Kohlmeyer, Marilyn Kral, Evon Larson, Marlys Luedtke, Ruth Meyering, Jo Neal, Sue Nedved, Nancy Nelson, Diane Neuberger, Elaine Olson, Cynthia O’Shea, Marlene Parrott, Louise Piper, Shirley Rasche, Karen Saeugling, Juanita Stromer, Connie Tesene, Mary Lou Tusha, Pam VanGerpen, and Sheri Weaver-Isvik

Kanawha: Jan Cooper, Paul Delger, Kathryn Johnson, and Pat Sampson

Kensett: Virginia Mallan

Klemme: Sue Kaduce, Debbie Stromer

Lake Mills: Leanna Anderson, Jean Bechtel, Darlene Behr, Nancy Fjelstad, LaVonne Hartman, Helen Kelso, Betty Langpap, and Ruth Levorson

Leland: John Bryan, Mariann Holst, and Sue Langerud

Manly: JoAnn Andera, Marlene Brown, Val Brunsvold, Caryl Lawyer, Leda Mlack, Russell Mlack, Joyce Nuehring, Marilyn Pinta, and Gwen Shackleton

Mason City: Elaine Alitz, Linda Anderegg, Robbie Anderson, Hal Avery, Jane Balkenende, Linda Beek, Betty Benjegerdes, Marie Borchardt, Clarice Borrill, Linda Bottorff, Dorothy Brady, Donna Braughton, Jerry Braughton, Janet Brockmeyer, Carol Brown, Debbie Cahalan, Ralph Cassady, Mary Church, John Combs, Phyllis Combs, Kent Craun, Jean Davidson, Sharon Deets, Len Diercks, Karen Dole, Terri Engels, Kay Erland, Jan Evans, Betty Farghum, Penny Finneman, Sandy Flugge, Marlene Freudenberg, Bonnie Fritz, Anne Gannett, Jack Gannett, Midge Gaylor, Ruth Geilenfeld, Jane Ginapp, Luella Graupmann, Carlynn Grupp, Shielah Handt, Joyce Hanes, Irma Harris, Janae Haygood, Sr. Mary Corita Heid, Raymond Heimbuch, Sharon Heimbuch, Lois Heinzerling, Alice Heitland, Cheryl Hermanson, Helen Holtz, Diane Holzerland, Cathy Homan, Maria Hubbard, Suzanne Humphrey, Carol Iverson, Bonnie Jacobs, Dean Jacobs, Carol Johnson, Joann Johnson, Mary Johnson, Calvin Kessler, Robbi Kleckner, Donna Koci, Diana Kral, Barbara Krieger, Jean Laudner, Charlotte Locher, Myrna Long, Sandy McCauley, Linda McCollum, Gayle McCourt, Bev McGowan, Vel Mondahl, Joyce Nielsen, Jan Nierling, John Nolan, Vicky Nolan, Marcia Nord, Steph O’Donnell, Barbara Opheim, Shirley Otten, Bernita Pals, Marlene Peterson, Cindy Pope, Judy Rose, Bob Rush, Phyllis Rush, Debra Ryan, Carol Rye, Susan Saltou, Margaret Sasse, Charlie Schroeder, Kathy Schroeder, Norma Schroeder, Gaye Scott, Debbie Sedars, Jerry Sedars, Cathy Shannon, Diana Shifley, Betty Siemers, Eldon Siemers, Ralph Simons, Peggy Solberg, Margaret Stangl, Vicki Stangler, Mary Stanton, Letha Steinauer, Jeanette Studt, Chuck Sweetman, Nancy Sweetman, Julie Thoreen-Birkedal, Luci Tisor, Velma Tschetter, Glady Udelhofen, Steven Urbatsch, Susan Urbatsch, Teresa VanZante, Bob VerBrugge, Judy VerBrugge, Stuart Vold, Vera Walk, Joyce Walker, Karol Wallskog, Paula Warren, Scott Warren, Audrey Webb, Beverly Wells, Jan Willeke, and Eve Zimmerman

Northwood: Nancy Amundson, Judy Balkenende, Judy Converse, Stephen Converse, Genie Foss, Edith Haenel, Diane Hanson, Stephanie Harmon, Renee Hartman, Karen Hove, Marcia Kraft, Judy Levorson, Jeanne Loberg, Susan Mega, Chris Moore, Jo Moretz, Bob Perry, John Scherb, Shari Sietsema, Joan Watts, Raye Wolfe, and Stephen Wolfe

Osage: Shirley Witham, Stan Witham

Plymouth: Pam Bergman

Rockford: Beth Forbes

Rockwell: Patty Auringer, Mary Ellen Haugen, Bette Hejlik, Sue McLaughlin, Lana Schaefer, Marsha Wedmore, and Carol Wessels

Rudd: Joe Davis III

Sheffield: Nickie Baker

Thompson: Charissa Olson, Angie Wamsley

Thornton: Vikki Fischer

Ventura: Kathy Hinrichs, Twyla Quinn, Janelle Renner, and Connie Rosendahl

Woden: Pat Ostermann

If you are 55 or older and would like to volunteer, please contact the RSVP office. For more information about RSVP of North Central Iowa, visit www.niacc.edu/rsvp or contact 1-888-466-4222 ext. 4256, (641) 422-4256 or rsvp@niacc.edu. RSVP of North Central Iowa serves the counties of Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, and Worth responding to priority community needs by providing meaningful, purposeful volunteer opportunities for people ages 55 and older.

RSVP is sponsored by North Iowa Area Community College and is partly funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, State of Iowa, United Way of North Central Iowa and local county governments.

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