ROBERT B. ROAN

PHOTO 1: RSVP volunteers, from left, Iris Waguespack, Ruby Clement, Ruby Anders, Harriet Anundson, Clara Englade and Ozeite Spears, enjoy each other’s company at the annual recognition luncheon honoring local senior citizens who volunteer time for the community. The ladies have each volunteered thousands of hours at River Parishes Hospital. (Staff Photo by Robert B. Roan) LAPLACE – Posters of past matinee idols lined the walls of the Knights of Columbus hall Thursday but the day’s true stars were the scores of area senior citizens who selflessly volunteer thousands of hours of their Golden Years solely for the benefit of their neighbors and community. Approximately 200 of these stalwart St. John the Baptist Parish women and men, many of them over the age of 80, were honored with a festive recognition luncheon hosted by the River Parishes branch of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program. A similar gathering was recently held to highlight senior volunteers in St. Charles Parish and a special luncheon for the volunteers of St. James Parish is scheduled for Aug. 3. Presently there are 818 active senior volunteers who serve 63 different agencies in the River Parishes. PHOTO 2: Ten-year-old Luling resident Allie Petit, center, serves cake to LaPlace residents Victoria Jones, left, and Ernestine Wiggins at the RSVP recognition luncheon. (Staff Photo by Robert B. Roan) The theme of the annual RSVP party in LaPlace was “Hollywood, Movies and Stars of Yesterday” and the glow in the banquet room was not limited to the mounds of candied glitter atop a pair of white-frosted layer cakes and the gold foil stars attached to red and gold helium balloons which floated above each table. “We are so happy to be able to honor these wonderful people,” RSVP Director Fay Caire said. “We can learn so much from them and they have so much to give to us all. “In 2000 this group of volunteers gave more than 123,865 hours of service to area nursing homes, schools, libraries, churches, museums, the hospital and various organizations. There is no way we could ever repay them for all they have done but each year we hold this event to show them how much their efforts are truly appreciated.” As part of the three-hour event, Academy Awards in the gold-toned form of an “Oscar” statuette were presented to the top 10 seniors with the most volunteer hours for the year. One of the honorees, 91-year-old Reserve resident Clara Englade, has accumulated more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service during a 19-year period at River Parishes Hospital. Fellow “Oscar” winner Iris Waguespack marveled, along with four of Englade’s volunteer compatriots, at the steadfast way the nonagenarian graciously gives of her time and energy. “Clara works’ seven days a week,” Waguespack, who aids visitors in the RPH surgery waiting room, said. “In addition to the hospital, she volunteers for AARP, the Council on Aging and several other organizations. “I don’t think she gets home before 5 o’clock in the evening.” In addition to Englade and Waguespack, “Oscars” were handed out to Diana Duhe, Theresa Cambre, Vincent Landry, Doris Berget, Angelica Ascencio, Beatrice Boe, Don Haywood and Dot Millet. When asked why they devoted so much of their free time, approximately 28,000 hours, to helping others, the six seniors, all widows, quickly answered. Ruby Clement, a veteran helper in the hospital’s gift shop, smiled and said volunteering builds morale and makes the giver feel younger – physically and mentally. She also commented on the long-lasting bonds formed between the women through their years of service. “They are some of my closest friends,” Clement said. Waguespack added, “I, we like to help people. It makes you feel good to help others and we get paid in our hearts. Plus, you never know, you just might need their help some day.” Ninety-year-old LaPlace resident Ozeite “Gran” Spears concluded the subject by comparing her years of classroom service as a schoolteacher to the thousands of hours of aid she has given to, often, total strangers. “People respond positively to our service,” Spears said. “You have to be passionate about your work, whether you are a teacher or a volunteer, and you have to be a good listener.” Sitting at the table, fellow RPH volunteers Harriet Anundson and Ruby Anders, agreed with their friends and seconded the notion about listening to the concerns of neighbors as well as complete strangers who visit the hospital in often stressful situations. They each, along with the others in the group, said the luncheon was a positive event which made them feel appreciated by their peers and the RSVP officials. Parish President Nickie Monica greeted the honorees prior to the announcement of door prize winners. “It is a pleasure to be here today to honor those who volunteer so many hours to the community,” Monica said. In addition to the parish councils of St. John the Baptist and St. Charles, the federally legislated grant program receives funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs and the United Way of St. Charles. During the luncheon, each volunteer was presented with a miniature first aid kit and a certificate. Special certificates of appreciation and pins were given to those in the program for 15, 10 and five years. The 15-year members were Pearl Badeaux and 92-year-old Ernestine Englade, while the 10-year associates were Al Arabie, Evelyn Clarke, Delphine Flynn, Edith Hilarie, Denise Lambert, Maurice Lambert, Vincent Landry, Myrna Legaux, Marjorie Lumar, Juliette Maquar, Shirley Montz, Margaret Roccaforte and Alfred Toussel. There were 52 senior citizens recognized for five years of RSVP service.