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RED FILE
MEETING AGENDA
DATE (//X0 ITEM #IT-
City Council Member s
Marie Brinkmeyer, Executive Directo r
Senior Volunteer Services/Retired &
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP )
Subject :Continued Support of $2500 through Human Relations Commission (HRC )
Grants-in-Aid (GIA) 2010-2011 - Which is Contrary to the Recommendation of the HR C
This is a difficult year for everyone, nonprofits included, and lack of financial resources has touched Senio r
Volunteer Services and the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) too . RSVP has existed in San Lui s
Obispo for more than 38 years, and enjoys a fine reputation for providing dedicated, highly skilled and reliabl e
volunteers to hundreds of nonprofit and public agencies in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties .
Just within the City of San Luis Obispo zip codes, we have 254 seniors actively engaged in volunteering at 11 9
sites . During 2009 these volunteers served over 34,000 hours at a value of $778,415 . RSVP gives a return o f
over 30 to 1, when cost is compared to contribution . This is definitely a win-win situation . A few examples of the
consistent involvement of RSVP volunteers follow:
In addition to providing senior volunteers to more than 200 sites within SLO County, Senior Volunteer Service s
works in cooperation with SLOC Lions Clubs and the SLOC Sheriffs Department to provide Proiect Lifesaver,a
radio wrist transmitter bracelet system worn by those with cognitive disabilities who tend to wander . We hav e
almost 70 clients in this program where those with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, Down syndrome, and significan t
head trauma are served . We also share responsibility for Friendly Rides 4 Seniors in Paso Robles, a progra m
providing door-to-door transportation for frail seniors to medical and dental appointments . Last but certainly no t
least, both the Airport and the AMTRAK Information Desks have been fully staffed by RSVP volunteers since 1993 ,
when the County and the City realized the need but could not afford to dedicate paid staff to these positions .
Currently we are working with a group of stakeholders, with Community Partners in Caring as the lead agency, i n
developing a Good Neighbor Program to assist those who may now be receiving In-Home Support Services tha t
are in danger of being eliminated due to the State's budget woes . The Good Neighbor Program would provid e
help with simple daily tasks such as meal preparation, laundry, respite care, friendly visits, shopping, transportatio n
to medical appointments, light yard maintenance, etc . This developing program has received the endorsement o f
the Adult Services Policy Council, SLOC Health Agency Health Commission, and SLO Commission on Aging, a s
well as a recommended grants funding from SLO County . We continue uniting efforts to fill the service gaps tha t
are growing at an alarming rate .
We provide Seniors Against Investment Fraud (SAIF) community workshops throughout both counties to aler t
seniors and others to the potential dangers of investment scams . Even though all contracts were cancelled by th e
State last summer due to their budget constraints, and we suffered the loss of contract monies that were part of
our "match" for Federal grant dollars, we continue to provide the workshops . We feel an ethical and mora l
responsibility to do so .
I could go on and on about the value of our volunteers to the City of San Luis Obispo . As important as they are,I
believe the request for assistance underwriting a recognition event for them and the payment of mileage reim-
bursement to them at a very minimal $.14/mile with a maximum cap of $15 .00/month, is more than reasonable . I n
addition, a requirement of our Federal grant is that we provide RSVP volunteers an annual recognition event . This
is never a lavish event ; sometimes a brunch, luncheon or just this year we hosted a dessert reception . The key is
to have the volunteers gather in a pleasant setting, be given an opportunity to appreciate one another and the n
applaud those being recognized for the many hours given in service to others .
It is very difficult for us to understand why our organization would not be awarded HRC-GIA funding to help u s
underwrite mileage reimbursement and annual recognition events for these incredible senior volunteers who giv e
so much to our community . Just as the nonprofits and public agencies rely on RSVP volunteers to augment pai d
staff, so do we rely on the support of County and city government, as well as private donations, to augment th e
generous $115,972 in Federal Funding that comes to our area as the result of the Corporation for National &
Community Service (CNCS) grant . To comply with the Federal grant we must provide a 30% match for thos e
dollars, and that equates to almost $35,000 . The $2500 we've requested from HRC-GIA is a part of the 30%.
Inability to meet that match could require the proportionate return of Federal monies and that would be damagin g
to the entire program . The nonprofits and public agencies we serve would be impacted, in one-way or another .
If you have any questions or need clarification please let me know . Thank you for considering my request and I'l l
hope for a positive response .
MEMORANDU M
Date :
To :
From :
6/8/10
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