Plymouth County Volunteers Honored with President's Volunteer Service Award

Mayflower RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for Plymouth County, recently presented the prestigious President’s Volunteer Service Award to 16 Plymouth county volunteers at a special ceremonial dinner and fundraising auction held at Waverly Oaks Golf Club in Plymouth.

Mayflower RSVP is a designated national Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award Program, which is the premier volunteer awards program in this country. It honors Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. Each volunteer must meet the criteria of sharing at least 4,000 hours of their time and talents with the community.

“The presentation of the President’s Volunteer Service Award is an important community event that recognizes outstanding volunteer leaders for their tremendous service to others,” said Darcy H. Lee, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Mayflower RSVP.

The following volunteers received an official President’s Volunteer Service Award pin, a certificate of achievement and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States:

Bridgewater resident Roberta “Sylvia” Dodge was honored for volunteering 4,500 hours over 16 years in the Money Management Program at Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional agency serving older adults and individuals with disabilities.

Brockton residents honored include: Theodora “Teddi” Bourassa with 7,620 hours volunteering to produce the public cable TV show “Senior Options”, as well as volunteering for OCES’ Money Management Program and serving on Brockton Council on Aging (COA) Board of Directors; Sandra Bowers for volunteering over 12,000 hours at Roosevelt Towers in Brockton to make a better life for all the residents through athletic programs, lunch and health programs, boys or girls oriented activities and excursions, as well as serving as Tenants Association President and teaching CCD classes at church; and Eleanor Claff for volunteering 19,856 hours over 19 years for OCES’ Nutrition Program by delivering Meals on Wheels to elders and those with disabilities.

Duxbury residents honored include: Maureen Connolly, who has volunteered 5,422 hours for the Duxbury COA, serving as Chair of the Friends of the Duxbury COA, and also serving as a member of the Duxbury School Committee where she was instrumental in the building of a state of the art facility; Joanne McNally has given 9,864 hours to help make the world a better place by volunteering for Girl Scouts in New Jersey, New York and Duxbury, serving as her church’s Youth Group Leader and Mission and Outreach Chair, as well as serving on the Nicaragua Covenant Board from 2008-2014 and hosting foreign exchange students; Kevin McNally for volunteering 16,650 hours as President of the Duxbury Interfaith Council, Treasurer of the High Street United Methodist Church, Treasurer of Harbor United Methodist Church and as part of their Mission Committee. He also served on the board of Nicaragua Covenant and as President of Friends of NITCA in Nicaragua; David Robinson has given 15,000 hours volunteering for the Kiwanis Club of Bangor, Maine and as a Barber Shop Quartet member, entertaining Armed Service Veterans in V.A. Hospitals and Senior Citizen Groups from 1977 through 2002. For nearly 30 years, he was active in the Kiwanis Club of Duxbury and Kingston/Duxbury, helping with countless events, projects and fundraising and served two terms as Club President.

Kingston residents honored include: Ann Fiore for 12,000 hours of service as a delegate for OCES in addition to serving Kingston as past President of the Friends of the COA where she raised thousands of dollars for the Kingston COA Senior Center, and for supplying necessary items to the town’s homeless shelter; and Rochelle “Rockie” Smith for volunteering 11,180 hours on the Board of South Shore Community Action Council for 30 years, as well as serving the Girl and Boy Scouts of America since 1968, where she worked on the National Staff of the Merit Badge, as Camp Visitor/Inspector and Camp Squanto National Camp School Staff.

Pembroke residents honored include: Iris Capobianco for volunteering 4,000 hours starting in 1938 at West End Community House in Boston to teaching kindergarten Sunday School to serving as President of the American Legion Auxiliary Post in 1959, to rejoining Auxiliary Post 143 in Pembroke in 1985, and to volunteering at Pembroke COA; Loretta Cook for volunteering 8,160 hours at the Pembroke COA for 12 years organizing and distributing the Pembroke Pioneer Newsletter and helping at weekly Bingo for 8 years at the Pembroke Recreation Center and the Knights of Columbus; and Doris Cronin for volunteering 4,400 hours to several Pembroke groups including the Friends of the Pembroke COA where she helps at the Senior Center’s Welcome Station and with monthly parties for seniors, as well as at the Pembroke Social Club from 2004-2011.

Plymouth residents honored include: David Hosford for volunteering 4,594 hours to the Boy Scouts of America as Camp Director-Camp Child 1980-1984, as Cranberry Harbors District Training Chairman 2003-2010 and District Commissioner 2013 to present, as a Scoutmaster in Franklin, MA 1975-1980, as a Cubmaster in 5 different councils, Transatlantic Council (overseas), Unit Commissioner, Roundtable Commissioner and Wood Badge Staff in addition to volunteering for the Plymouth COA for 10 years; Robert Woodward for well over 22,000 hours serving the Boy Scouts of America for 39 years. A Silver Beaver Award recipient, he personally mentored 27 Boy Scouts as they progressed to Eagle Scout, as well as serving as Assistant District Commissioner for the Plymouth Area Cranberry Harbors District of the Old Colony Council.

Bourne (Sagamore Beach) resident Katharine Hurd (a former Boston Ballet ballerina) for volunteering 6,760 hours to the Commonwealth Ballet Company, a 501c3 non-profit, which she founded and served as Artistic Director and President, as well as to Jonathon Bourne Public Library, the White Cliffs Cares Committee and the National Marine Life Center in Buzzards Bay where she serves on the Board of Trustees.

“These volunteers deserve the President’s highest honor for their hard work, years of dedication and overall commitment to helping others and making the world a better place. Their contributions are priceless,” said Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES, a sponsor of Mayflower RSVP’s ceremonial dinner, along with Waverly Oaks Golf Club.

About Mayflower RSVP

Mayflower RSVP’s mission is to provide meaningful opportunities to volunteers aged 55 and older that provide personal fulfillment by utilizing their life skills and experiences to contribute to various organizations, and improve the quality of life for Plymouth County citizens in need. Mayflower RSVP is one of 750 volunteer programs in a national network with funding from the Corporation for National & Community Service, enabling older Americans to make a difference in their local communities. It is also funded by the United Way of Greater Plymouth County and with generous donations from businesses and individuals. Mayflower RSVP is located at 385 Court Street, Suite 104 in Plymouth. Its service area covers all of the communities in Plymouth County. To volunteer or for more information about the group, go to www.mayflowerrsvp.org or call 508-746-7787.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 communities in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency has 185 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Photo credit: Ed Nute of Nute Photography