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November/December 2013 www.incacaa.org Page 1

Healthy Living Expo

COMMUNITY SUPPORT On November 12th we were interviewed by three stations at Southern Oklahoma Radio Group. We were given the chance to explain our program and the value of having the United Way as a sponsor. The DJ’s were very positive and talked highly of our program. We appreciate the op-portunity to not only highlight the RSVP but to encourage support for the United Way. UNITED WAY We attended several of the United Way report meetings Each representative is asked to tell the group the amount of do-nations that have been made since the last meeting. These are fun times and an opportunity to learn what other organiza-tions are accomplishing for the United Way.

The last of the United Way Report meet-

ings that held in the Noble Foundation

Pavilion on November 12, 2013. We are

pleased to announce that the United

Way met their goal of $850,000. They

had not heard from several entities, so

they expect to exceed their goal. We

thoroughly enjoyed these get-togethers in

helping support their goal. Thank you to

everyone that helped support their ef-

forts, so all of their local agencies can

continue their missions of improving our

community.

OG&E

Mary Ann Rutledge invited us to the

OG&E luncheons on October 24 at Dor-

nick Hills Country Club in Ardmore and

November 7th at Murray State College in

Tishomingo. There were several agencies

present that we partner with and a

chance to meet other interesting people.

The speaker for OG&E told the group

about the new energy saving programs

that the company now has in place.

OG&E is interested in helping people

save on their electric usage and ultimate-

ly on their bill.

DISASTER RELIEF

We are continuing to work with our volun-

teers in our Disaster Relief program. We

made it through the summer without any

major wild fires, but now must concentrate

on the winter months, and potential ice

and snow. We are planning upcoming

group meetings in the different areas of

the three counties with our volunteers and

hopefully be ready in the event that we

continue to have winter conditions.

On November 2, 2013 we attended the Girl

Scouts of Western Oklahoma Healthy Living

Expo. The event was held in the Ardmore Con-

vention Center. There were quite a few ven-

dors present and INCA RSVP was among

those offering healthy snacks and program

information. Edamame’s in Ardmore and

Rhonda’ Catering served healthy food items

for the participants. Edamame’s served su-

shi rolls with vegetables instead of fish, and

Rhonda’s features a huge variety of finger foods that

were colorful, tasty, and healthy.

MERCY ARDMORE

Katherine Fox, volunteer coordinator

for Mercy Hospital Ardmore, gra-

ciously invited RSVP to their volun-

teer luncheon October 30, 2013.

The new CEO for the hospital, Daryl

Voss, was the guest speaker for the

event, and Chaplain Lim Stern, gave

the blessing before the meal. We

made contact with several volunteers

that have been on the inactive list

and are now able to resume their

volunteer services, and we also add-

ed several new volunteers. The ser-

vice that the hospital volunteers per-

form is essential to the operation of

the hospital and the people who

come there. This event also marked

the retirement of Honora Brown and

Phyllis McArthur. These ladies have

been volunteering there for 43

years and were recognized for their

contribution to

the hospital and

the services

they have per-

formed.

RED CROSS

On Tues. November 4, we met with

Daniel Farrell representing the

Ardmore Chapter of the Red Cross.

We discussed possible opportunities

between the RSVP disaster relief

program and the Red Cross. This

partnership could be helpful in rele-

vant training and providing a varie-

ty of roles for volunteers. We will be

in close contact with them to gather

more information schedule available

training meetings that will be pass

along to anyone interested. An invi-

tation will be sent to all Disaster Re-

lief volunteers, inviting them to join

us if they desire.

LITERACY COUNCIL

The Carter County Coordinator met

with the Ardmore Barbara Bush Lit-

eracy Council on Nov. 6 at the HFV

Wilson Community Center. She met

with Jennifer Doby, Literacy Advo-

cate, and the Director, John Meece

to talk about their volunteer needs

and building their newly established

program. This is one of two literacy

councils in the area established to fill

the educational needs of children

and adults. The RSVP has plans to

partner with both agencies to ex-

pand our education category.

DISASTER RELIEF MEETING

A meeting with the Davis Disaster

Relief team was set for November

25, but was canceled due to the

weather. However, there was a

meeting on November 26 with the

Sulphur group. Five of the volunteers

met after lunch and discussed the

meaning of Disaster Relief, and how

it encompasses other things besides

wild fires and natural disasters. We

discussed what each family in the

group needed to do to prepare

their home for an electrical failure

or if they were without the essentials

for a few days. The discussion was

good and the group voiced other

ideas to help back up the first re-

sponders. There will be regular

meetings in the future, which anyone

who is interested in attending is wel-

come to join.

THANKSGIVING

House Representative Charles

McCall provided Mill Creek and

Ravia Senior Centers with turkeys

for their Thanksgiving Dinners. In Ra-

via everyone participated by bring-

ing a covered dish or dessert to

round out the celebration. In Mill

Creek Betty Clark provided the tra-

ditional Thanksgiving meal with

homemade dessert from some of the

patrons.

County Commissioner Dwayne

Hodges provided Davis Senior cen-

ter with turkeys for their Thanksgiv-

ing Dinner. Over 200 eat-in and

take-out meals were served that

day.

County News November/December 2013 www.incacaa.org Page 2

We have several new RSVP members and we welcome their talents and willingness to be active in the organization!

Thank you for making the commitment of helping to improve our community:

Kenneth Denison, Connie Lockard, James Parnell, Tom

Marlatt, Pat and Buddy Mulkey, Sue Daughtery, Ziral

Bumpass, Colene Loving, Hank Haines, Tony Roberts,

Clarice Stevenson, Ruby Dollar, Martha Rhodes

Reinstated

Gussie Hall, Teate Dolezal

Honora Brown

pictured above

Phyllis McArthur

pictured above

November/December 2013 www.incacaa.org Page 3

Since December is not only the last month of the year, it is the last month of the this quarter for

mileage reimbursement. Be sure to get in your mileage time sheets in ASAP at the conclusion of the month. Once all of them have been collected, reimbursement checks will be issued.

Beginning January 1st, 2014 both the Project Director and Carter County Coordinator will have

new email addresses. If you need to contact either of them by email, please disregard the old Yahoo accounts and use the updated ones listed below.

Mary Jo Massey—Project Director m.massey@incacaa.org

Amber Freeman—Carter County Coordinator

a.freeman@incacaa.org

Special Celebration On November 9th, RSVP Project Director Mary Jo Massey and Carter County Coordinator Amber Freeman had the privilege of helping Miss Ruby celebrate her 103rd birthday. Nearly 100 friends and family gathered at Dickson Senior Center to visit with and honor her with this celebration. The RSVP staff enjoys hearing her stories

and the wealth of knowledge she has to share and were happy share this special day with her.

She is such an inspiration because she continues to be very active and social in the community. Her can do spirit and independence motivate all those who meet her. While she does require a little assis-tance from time to time she still likes to take care of business and was even mowing her own yard up till

a few years ago.

RSVP is hosting a Disaster Relief Drive. Items that can be donated are things that help

in times of emergency including non-perishable food items. Other items include batteries, can-

dles, radios, bottled water, flashlights, blankets, first aide kits, whistles, sticks, etc. Donations will be accepted the week of January 13-17, 2014 at your volunteer site. Please contact us with any questions.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Project 2014

INCA-RSVP Serving Carter, Johnston, & Murray Counties

Project Director Mary Jo Massey

m.massey@incacaa.org 580-371-2352

Carter County Coordinator Amber Freeman

a.freeman@incacaa.org 580-226-8478

Mill Creek volunteer Faye Rail has broken her hip and is undergo-ing rehab. We hope she has a speedy recovery and ask that she is kept in your prayers. If you would like to get in touch with her , please let us know.

Prayer Request We wish

everyone a

happy and

healthy

2014!

January Birthdays

JoAnn Cullen, Dorothy Trent, Lula Pierce, Betty Stone, Anna Crump-ton, Patricia Stewart, Shirley Har-rison, Jim Schultz, Roberta Zabran-sky, Ruth Essary, Grace Fare, Mil-dred Morrison, Martha Rhodes, Maudine Herrell, Doris Edgmon,

Hank Haines, Ziral Bumpass

February Birthdays

Theresea Rives, Susie Jolly, Helen Hardy, Justin, Rogella, Wilma Petz, Frances Allen, Ruth Walker, Marie Dewbre, Ellen Innes, Pete

Byrd

We sincerely hope we have not left anyone out: Just remember,

“As God adds life to your years, may He add years to your life”

November/December 2013 www.incacaa.org Page 4