Trude Wiley, who's dedicated 34 years to RSVP, is presented with citations from the Legislature by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier at Friday's RSVP luncheon.
Eleanor Persip is recognized for her 29 years with RSVP.
Volunteer Lee Watroba, Director Lisa Torrey, and volunteer Patricia Arseneau at the luncheon.
The annual recognition event was held at Proprietor's Lodge on Friday.
Mayor Peter Marchetti says the city is making a commitment to keep the RSVP going. With him are state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Director Lisa Torrey.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three hundred and five retired seniors gave a total of 40,699 volunteer hours to the community in 2024 through RSVP.
On Friday, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program held its annual recognition luncheon at the Proprietor's Lodge. This year's theme was bees, "Because like bees, who are champion pollinators, our volunteers are champions," Director Lisa Torrey explained.
"They are hard working and they never give up. They keep going and going until the job is done and like the bees who do the important work of pollinating, which in turn supports a healthy and thriving ecosystem, our volunteers do their own sort of pollinating here in our community, bringing their lifelong experience and value to each organization they help support and the many lives that they touch along the way," she said.
"In turn, this creates a healthy and thriving community here in the Berkshires. The world without bees would face severe consequences. This is also the case with our volunteers. Without volunteers, there would be severe repercussions to our way of life here in Berkshire County."
RSVP provides individuals 55 and older who live in Berkshire County the opportunity to use their time and skills to make a difference in the community while meeting new people. Last year, local seniors dedicated between 41 and 1,156 hours individually.
Fifteen participants accrued more than 500 volunteer hours, four of them exceeding 1,000 hours: Gisele Yetz with 1,156 hours, Mary Wheat with 1,040 hours, William Longstreeth with 1,039 hours, and Susan Filippi with 1,037 hours.
"In these unprecedented times that we are being faced with, there is nothing more noble and humble to do than to be involved in your community," Torrey said.
"It is the little bits of kindness that you sprinkle all over that make the world a better place, starting right here in our own populous. Continue to be a champion, be the difference, and be the change that you want to see."
Nearly 20 RSVP members have donated their time for more than 15 years. Trude Wiley was recognized for 34 years of service. She is happy to still be here and volunteering.
"You're just the essence of this community, this kind of level of dedication in hours and years to this community," state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier said to Wiley before delivering citations from Senate President Karen E. Spilka and Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano.
Similarly, Eleanor Persip has dedicated 29 years to RSVP, and Rick Ryer 21 years.
"I've had some days that feel really hard and frustrating and I came here today and I wasn't just 2 feet in the door and my spirits lifted right up because I knew that I was with people that I really love being with, because right here, right here in this room, is what community looks like," Farley-Bouvier said.
"And in a world where it seems at every turn, forces are trying to divide us, being in community and doing it with great joy is in itself an act of resistance."
Earlier in the day, Mayor Peter Marchetti was at the Gladys Allen Brigham Center helping young community members graduate from a water safety program. A curious child asked him what it was like to be the mayor.
"And so I said days like these are great because I'm leaving here and I'm going to another event to celebrate dozens of volunteers, and we know that the volunteers are the backbone of our community to get things done," he explained.
"The folks that serve on boards and commissions for the city, all of the stations that you guys serve on, really do make a difference to the quality of life that we provide in Pittsfield."
He said the last six weeks have been "a little rocky" with executive order after executive order from the federal government.
"The one thing that I do know is that the city of Pittsfield is making a commitment to the RSVP program, and we will continue to do the program no matter what," Marchetti vowed.
"Something Washington can't do."
Advisory Board President Beth Wallace would not describe RSVP members as "retired."
"That's not quite the way I will describe each of you. True retirement is of the heart, and you certainly haven't retired in that regard," she said.
"You have given not only your heart to volunteer activities, but your minds and your hands as well. You are the heart and soul of this organization."
RSVP was nominated and selected as iBerkshires' Community Hero for April. The Community Hero of the Month is a 12-month series that honors individuals and organizations that have significantly impacted their community.
"It is clear, based off of the comments made here today, that you guys not only meet that criteria, but far exceed," iBerkshires staff writer Sabrina Damms said to the volunteers.
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