The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program honored RSVP volunteers at the annual recognition banquet held April 14 at Barton Community College, sponsor of RSVP.

Selma Webb of Hoisington was recognized as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year, and Central Kansas Medical Center in Great Bend was named the 2010 Station of the Year.

RSVP Director Donna Baugh said the program’s volunteers provided 58,531 hours of service last year in the Barton County communities where they live and work.

"This service was performed at educational, nutritional, health-related, or other community sites all over Barton County. RSVP volunteers worked with Barton County residents of all ages, from all the new-born babies that received hand-knitted or crocheted baby caps, to elementary school children that read to a volunteer, to seniors living in assisted living facilities or nursing facilities that enjoyed a visit from a volunteer, and everyone in between that visited the Historical (Society Museum) or the "Santas around the World" exhibit at Christmas or gave blood at a American Red Cross Bloodmobile site or received a free ride to a medical appointment in Wichita. Life in Barton County is richer for the skills and talents given so generously by 401 RSVP volunteers in 2010."

College President Dr. Carl Heilman welcomed those attending and thanked them for their service. After a dinner prepared by food service staff at Barton, Baugh presented the first annual awards for RSVP Station of the Year and RSVP Volunteer of the Year.

Central Kansas Medical Center became RSVP’s first volunteer station more than 30 years ago, Baugh said. Over the years, it has consistently utilized more RSVP volunteers than any other station registered with RSVP.

In 2010, RSVP volunteers served over 7,000 hours at CKMC in a variety of volunteer positions. Mark Mingenback accepted the award on behalf of CKMC and thanked all volunteers present for the excellent example they set for young people today. Julie Shield, volunteer coordinator at CKMC, was also recognized for her work with RSVP volunteers.

"CKMC has been a good partner with RSVP for more than 30 years and we look forward to continuing the relationship with St. Rose Ambulatory Surgery Center," Baugh said. CKMC becomes St. Rose on May 1.

Selma Webb of Hoisington was recognized as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year. Selma has been a volunteer with RSVP for 17 years and serves at Clara Barton Hospital, the American Red Cross Bloodmobile as well as her church. However, her main volunteer position is manager of the RSVP Thrift Shop located in Hoisington.

Webb served 798 hours at the thrift shop in 2010, managing the store and coordinating all the volunteers that work there. "(She) also owns the building where the thrift shop is located and leases it to RSVP at a very reasonable price for this important fund-raising project," Baugh said. "Selma’s contributions to her community and especially to the RSVP program are admirable; she is a great asset to Hoisington, Barton County and especially to RSVP.

"If you haven’t been to the RSVP Thrift Shop yet, you are missing something special," Baugh said. "The shop sells gently used items at very reasonable prices and has a regular turnover of merchandise. The shop also accepts donations of gently used items including clothing, furniture or other household items. All of the proceeds from the sales at the shop go to RSVP and are used locally."

Baugh said the shop currently has recycled memorial flower arrangements. The flowers will also be on sale in Great Bend on May 14 and 21 in the My Town complex.

For more information about volunteering with RSVP or how RSVP volunteers can help you, contact Donna Baugh at 620-792-1614.