| RSVP History |
RSVP is an outgrowth of efforts by private groups, gerontologists, and
government agencies over the last three decades to address the needs
of retired persons in America. The White House Conference on Aging in
1961 called attention to the continuing need of older people for useful
activity. One of the outcomes of the conference was the passage of the
Older Americans Act of 1965. In the same year the Community Service
Society of New York launched a pilot project on Staten Island which
involved a small group of older adults in volunteer service to their
communities. It was named SERVE ( Serve and Enrich Retirement by
Volunteer Experience ). The success of this program, which
demonstrated beyond a doubt the value of the services of older
volunteers, led to an amendment to the Older American Act, creating
the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in 1969.
RSVP was launched in the spring of 1971 with an appropriation of
$500,000 under the auspices of the Administration on Aging ( AOA ). In
July of the same year, RSVP was transferred from AOA to ACTION.
Eleven projects were started in the summer of 1971.
The period of greatest growth for RSVP occurred in the years 1972
through 1974. By June 30, 1974, there were 666 projects nationwide,
and in 1988 the RSVP total was 750 projects supported by Federal
funding of almost $30,000,000. Approximately 400,000 senior
volunteers served in 1988.
In 1993, the National and Community Service Trust Act, transferred the
responsibility for administering national volunteer service efforts to the
newly created Corporation for National and Community Service and
three Corporation administered programs, Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and Learn and Serve America, with the responsibility of mobilizing
Americans into service.
In 2002, the USA Freedom Corps was formed by President George
Bush. USA Freedom Corps is a coordinating council that works to
strengthen our culture of service and help find opportunities for every
American to serve.
RSVP TODAY
Today nearly 470,000 volunteers serve through 759 projects giving
more than 78 million hours annually at over 63,000 agencies in
communities across the nation.
RSVP IN ONEIDA COUNTY
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal
sponsor for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs. They provide
federal funding and administrative oversight, providing programs with
guidelines and standards of operation. Local sponsors and program
staff are required to be in compliance with these federal standards.
RSVP’s local sponsor is the Parkway Senior Center.
RSVP also receives funding from the United Way of Greater Utica, the
New York State Office for the Aging and the Oneida County Office for
the Aging and Continuing Care.
RSVP’S LOCAL HISTORY
RSVP celebrated its 30th anniversary in Oneida County in 2004. RSVP
of Oneida County was formed in 1974. RSVP spent13 years with the
United Way of Greater Utica and 7 years with Oneida County Office for
the Aging. In 1995 RSVP’s local sponsor was the Voluntary Action
Center, later The Volunteer Center of the Mohawk Valley. In 1999 the
sponsorship was changed to ElderLife, Inc., now the Parkway Senior
Center.
government agencies over the last three decades to address the needs
of retired persons in America. The White House Conference on Aging in
1961 called attention to the continuing need of older people for useful
activity. One of the outcomes of the conference was the passage of the
Older Americans Act of 1965. In the same year the Community Service
Society of New York launched a pilot project on Staten Island which
involved a small group of older adults in volunteer service to their
communities. It was named SERVE ( Serve and Enrich Retirement by
Volunteer Experience ). The success of this program, which
demonstrated beyond a doubt the value of the services of older
volunteers, led to an amendment to the Older American Act, creating
the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in 1969.
RSVP was launched in the spring of 1971 with an appropriation of
$500,000 under the auspices of the Administration on Aging ( AOA ). In
July of the same year, RSVP was transferred from AOA to ACTION.
Eleven projects were started in the summer of 1971.
The period of greatest growth for RSVP occurred in the years 1972
through 1974. By June 30, 1974, there were 666 projects nationwide,
and in 1988 the RSVP total was 750 projects supported by Federal
funding of almost $30,000,000. Approximately 400,000 senior
volunteers served in 1988.
In 1993, the National and Community Service Trust Act, transferred the
responsibility for administering national volunteer service efforts to the
newly created Corporation for National and Community Service and
three Corporation administered programs, Senior Corps, AmeriCorps,
and Learn and Serve America, with the responsibility of mobilizing
Americans into service.
In 2002, the USA Freedom Corps was formed by President George
Bush. USA Freedom Corps is a coordinating council that works to
strengthen our culture of service and help find opportunities for every
American to serve.
RSVP TODAY
Today nearly 470,000 volunteers serve through 759 projects giving
more than 78 million hours annually at over 63,000 agencies in
communities across the nation.
RSVP IN ONEIDA COUNTY
The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal
sponsor for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Programs. They provide
federal funding and administrative oversight, providing programs with
guidelines and standards of operation. Local sponsors and program
staff are required to be in compliance with these federal standards.
RSVP’s local sponsor is the Parkway Senior Center.
RSVP also receives funding from the United Way of Greater Utica, the
New York State Office for the Aging and the Oneida County Office for
the Aging and Continuing Care.
RSVP’S LOCAL HISTORY
RSVP celebrated its 30th anniversary in Oneida County in 2004. RSVP
of Oneida County was formed in 1974. RSVP spent13 years with the
United Way of Greater Utica and 7 years with Oneida County Office for
the Aging. In 1995 RSVP’s local sponsor was the Voluntary Action
Center, later The Volunteer Center of the Mohawk Valley. In 1999 the
sponsorship was changed to ElderLife, Inc., now the Parkway Senior
Center.
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| RSVP 220 Memorial Parkway Utica, NY 13501 315-223-3973 Questions or Comments about this web site can be directed to info@oneidacountyrsvp.org |
