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	THE 2004 RSVP AWARDS (Text by Pete Porter), (Photos by Pete Porter and Donna Duperron)

This year's Annual RSVP Volunteer Awards Luncheon was, as usual, a grand affair. Held at the Torrance Marriot Hotel, the room was only just big enough to hold all those who attended. As our Director, Hope Witkowsky, said in her opening address, we now have over 700 volunteers donating their time at the multitude of stations that the South Bay chapter supports.

The numerous attendees signed in and gathered
outside the spacious banquet room soon after
11:30am, and were soon seated at one of the tables
to await the start of the proceedings.

Following Hope's opening remarks, RSVP Vice President, Aurelia Freeman, led the attendees in the Salute to the Flag and Senior Pastor Dean Mayeda gave the inspirational message.
Pastor Mayeda Pastor Mayeda used the story of how he had unsucessfully tried to help a butterfly break out of its chrysallis when he had become impatient with the progress of a butterfly farm that he had given his son. He felt that it illustrated how nothing worthwhile comes to fruition without it being preceeded by the struggle to get there. His son's butterfly farm was filled with glorious color from those insects that had forced their own way into the world while the one he had tried to help lay crippled in the bottom of the cage. He likened this to the wonderful things that can result from the lifetime of struggle and experience that our older volunteers are able to bring to RSVP. Amy Dailey, from the Corporation of National and Community Service, then thanked RSVP for all that they brought to their organisation.

Lunch was then served with a melodic background accompaniment provided by the keyboard and cello of Brian Asher and Johnny Gail.

Next came the presentation of this year's four honorees; Robert Allison, Marie Martin, Norma Nelson and Arlene Zingery.

Bob Allison Robert Allison
Volunteers in Policing
VIP-17
"This volunteering I do has probably been as much of a benefit to me as I have been to it. It has kept me healthy and active and given me an education in the functions of the police department."
Bob was born in Des Moines, Iowa. A graduate of U.S.C. and a retired Navy Aviator with fifty some missions has made him a great fit for his volunteering in the Redondo Beach Police Department.
He has been married fifty seven years to Margie and has two children and three grandchildren.
An interesting fact about Bob is that he donates a pint of blood to the American Red Cross every two months. To date he has donated in excess of fifteen gallons. The one thing Bob is very proud of is that he and his partner found a lost child some thirty seconds after the police broadcast.

Marie Martin Marie Martin
Human Needs Services
Volunteer
“Volunteering is my whole life. It gives me a wonderful feeling then I know that I am helping people."
Marie was born in Massachusetts and moved to California in 1949. After working for 20 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District Administration office she retired and decided to look for something to do to keep her busy.
Marie says that volunteering has helped her to make new and lasting friendship in her different volunteer positions. Marie also volunteers as a computer data entries assistant for the YMCA's senior lunch program. Thousands of seniors from the South Bay take advantage of this and Marie can be credited with organizing the data to help it continue to provide nourishment to seniors via this outstanding program.

Norma Nelson Norma Nelson
Health & Nutrition
Volunteer
"I never feel better than when I am volunteering. My motto is that wherever I am needed then that is where I will be. Volunteering makes me feel alive."
Norma has been a volunteer with RSVP since 1995. She seems to want to choose a variety of services in her volunteer work. She volunteers at Redondo Beach City Hall, runs Senior Errands for those who cannot get out of their homes and works with the Redondo Beach senior health fair.
She is being honored for the wonderful work she does to help the most needy people by preparing food for the homeless. You can also count on her to help prepare the evening meals and washing and drying the dishes. Norma is making a difference in the lives of those she serves.

Arlene Zingery Arlene Zingery
America Reads
Volunteer Tutor
"My volunteer job is so rewarding and inspiring. I can see the reading progress in the children from the beginning of the school semester to the end. I love giving them my assistance and I am rewarded by the appreciation I see in their eyes."
Arlene is a native Californian. She worked as a secretary for an oil company. She and her husband planned to move to a different area and even bought a townhome. Their plans were ended when her husband died suddenly.
Arlene turned to volunteerism and became an RSVP volunteer in 1996. She loves working with the children at Hickory Elementary school. Because of Arlene, children who are slow readers gain tutorial help.
Thank you, Arlene, for making a difference in the life of a child.

Commemorative plaques were given to each nominee from representatives of Senator Debra Bowen and Supervisor Don Knabe (who gave their apologies for not being in attendance); as well as Assemblyman George Nakano and Mayor Dan Walker.

Our four nominees sitting in front of David Hunt (RSVP Treasurer), Robert Luman (Redondo Beach Police Chief), Torrance Mayor Dan Walker, Assemblyman George Nakano, Hope, Alan Rubenstein (representing Debra Bowen) and Tom Martain (representing Don Knabe).

Redondo Police Chief, Robert Luman, then made a statement thanking the group of volunteer policemen who donate their time to his department through RSVP and, in particular, the work accomplished by honoree Bob Allison. Robert Luman said that he was honored to present Bob with a certificate of recognition from his department for all that he had done for them.

Assemblyman George Nakano then said, however, that this wouldn't have come about without the presence of RSVP and the inordinate effort of our own Hope Witkowsky. George Nakano then presented Hope with a beautiful plaque of recognition for the 30 years of service that our organisation had achieved and Hope told everyone that this certificate would be proudly displayed in the entrance to the office for all to share.

The festivities concluded with a very generous raffle of items donated by various community sponsors. Ticket purchases of over $1,000 were collected from those in attendance and this money will go towards helping the office maintain its pretigious presence within the community.

Eileen Tabares, Bonie Stuhlmacher, Virginia Burgos. Charles Johnson, Mela Wilson, Chris Mosher, Phil Evans, Bernadette Boock, Christa Poole, Peggy Garvey, Robert Allison, and Genieve Stimson were all lucky winners.
In truth, everyone who attended came away a winner, as they each received a beautiful wrought iron picture frame at their table.


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	Robert Allison Volunteers in Policing VIP-17 "This volunteering I do has probably been as much of a benefit to me as I have been to it. It has kept me healthy and active and given me an education in the functions of the police department." Bob was born in Des Moines, Iowa. A graduate of U.S.C. and a retired Navy Aviator with fifty some missions has made him a great fit for his volunteering in the Redondo Beach Police Department. He has been married fifty seven years to Margie and has two children and three grandchildren. An interesting fact about Bob is that he donates a pint of blood to the American Red Cross every two months. To date he has donated in excess of fifteen gallons. The one thing Bob is very proud of is that he and his partner found a lost child some thirty seconds after the police broadcast.
	Marie Martin Human Needs Services Volunteer “Volunteering is my whole life. It gives me a wonderful feeling then I know that I am helping people." Marie was born in Massachusetts and moved to California in 1949. After working for 20 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District Administration office she retired and decided to look for something to do to keep her busy. Marie says that volunteering has helped her to make new and lasting friendship in her different volunteer positions. Marie also volunteers as a computer data entries assistant for the YMCA's senior lunch program. Thousands of seniors from the South Bay take advantage of this and Marie can be credited with organizing the data to help it continue to provide nourishment to seniors via this outstanding program.
	Norma Nelson Health & Nutrition Volunteer "I never feel better than when I am volunteering. My motto is that wherever I am needed then that is where I will be. Volunteering makes me feel alive." Norma has been a volunteer with RSVP since 1995. She seems to want to choose a variety of services in her volunteer work. She volunteers at Redondo Beach City Hall, runs Senior Errands for those who cannot get out of their homes and works with the Redondo Beach senior health fair. She is being honored for the wonderful work she does to help the most needy people by preparing food for the homeless. You can also count on her to help prepare the evening meals and washing and drying the dishes. Norma is making a difference in the lives of those she serves.
	Arlene Zingery America Reads Volunteer Tutor "My volunteer job is so rewarding and inspiring. I can see the reading progress in the children from the beginning of the school semester to the end. I love giving them my assistance and I am rewarded by the appreciation I see in their eyes." Arlene is a native Californian. She worked as a secretary for an oil company. She and her husband planned to move to a different area and even bought a townhome. Their plans were ended when her husband died suddenly. Arlene turned to volunteerism and became an RSVP volunteer in 1996. She loves working with the children at Hickory Elementary school. Because of Arlene, children who are slow readers gain tutorial help. Thank you, Arlene, for making a difference in the life of a child.

Redondo Police Chief, Robert Luman, then made a statement thanking the group of volunteer policemen who donate their time to his department through RSVP and, in particular, the work accomplished by honoree Bob Allison. Robert Luman said that he was honored to present Bob with a certificate of recognition from his department for all that he had done for them.
	Assemblyman George Nakano then said, however, that this wouldn't have come about without the presence of RSVP and the inordinate effort of our own Hope Witkowsky. George Nakano then presented Hope with a beautiful plaque of recognition for the 30 years of service that our organisation had achieved and Hope told everyone that this certificate would be proudly displayed in the entrance to the office for all to share.