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October 2024

September 2024

August 2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

1619 Wide Ranging Interests
08/19/2024

First Anniversary
08/19/2024

Alexandra Leaving by Leonard Cohen
08/16/2024

Muse des Beaux Arts by W. H. Auden
08/16/2024

The God Abandons Antony by Constantinos P. Cavafy
08/16/2024

Ch – Ch – Ch –Changes
08/15/2024

Cultural Activities Team offers an ‘embarrassment of riches’
08/15/2024

Engaging in Pasadena Village
08/15/2024

Future Housing Options
08/15/2024

Message from the President
08/15/2024

There Are Authors Among Us
08/15/2024

Villagers Welcome New Members at the Tournament Park Picnic
08/15/2024

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas
08/14/2024

A narrow Fellow in the Grass by Emily Dickinson
08/13/2024

Haikus
08/13/2024

One Art by Elizabeth Bishop
08/13/2024

Poem 20 by Pablo Neruda
08/13/2024

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
08/13/2024

Trees by Joyce Kilmer
08/13/2024

July 2024

June 2024

May 2024

Emergency Preparedness: Are You Ready?
05/28/2024

Farewell from the 2023/24 Social Work Interns
05/28/2024

Gina on the Horizon
05/28/2024

Mark Your Calendars for the Healthy Aging Research California Virtual Summit
05/28/2024

Meet Our New Development Associate
05/28/2024

Putting the Strategic Plan into Practice
05/28/2024

Washington Park: Pasadena’s Rediscovered Gem
05/28/2024

Introducing Civil Rights Discussions
05/22/2024

Rumor of Humor #2416
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2417
05/14/2024

Rumor of Humor #2418
05/14/2024

Springtime Visitors
05/07/2024

Freezing for a Good Cause – Credit, That Is
05/02/2024

No Discussion Meeting on May 3rd
05/02/2024

An Apparently Normal Person Author Presentation and Book-signing
05/01/2024

Flintridge Center: Pasadena Village’s Neighbor That Changes Lives
05/01/2024

Pasadena Celebrates Older Americans Month 2024
05/01/2024

The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch
05/01/2024

Woman of the Year: Katy Townsend
05/01/2024

April 2024

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The 2024 Pasadena Village Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

By Edward A. Rinderle
Posted: 05/01/2024
Tags: ed rinderle

On a beautiful, sunshiny day in Altadena, Pasadena Village held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Some 70 members and staff gathered in the Davies Building at Farnsworth Park to join in the festivities. The Altadena Rotary Club sponsored the event, providing a sumptuous array of luncheon delights from Stone Fire Grill.

After a brief welcome from Mark Mariscal of the Rotary Club, the guests lined up at the buffet table, where Rotary volunteers served up salads, mashed potatoes, chicken, tri-tip beef, pesto pasta, and bread sticks. Returning to their tables, the guests joined in lively conversation while they enjoyed the delicious food.

As the eating wound down, Village Executive Director Katie Brandon took center stage and gave a brief talk emphasizing that the Village, as a member-driven organization, relies on its members for support. She added that the Village also welcomes the participation of volunteers from outside organizations such as the Rotary Club.

Dick Myers (Vice President of Communications and member of the Village Board) reiterated Katie's remarks, underlining the importance of the member-driven nature of the Village. He ended his remarks with a rousing proclamation: “Laissez les bons temps roulez”! (Let the good times roll!)

Staff member Priyanka Kumar then gave special thanks to several Villagers who have accumulated 100 or more volunteer hours since August 2023. We all join Priyanka in thanking Wayne April, Dick Myers, Jeff Gutstadt, Barbara Madden, Dan Guerrero, Bruce Christensen and LuCinda Haagenson.

Next, Rotarian Mark Mariscal acknowledged the members of the Rotary Club who were there not only to serve the food, but also to set up beforehand and clean up afterward. Mark also took time to introduce Dr. Dawn Smith, a Paul Harris Fellow and the club's president. It was Dr. Smith who presented the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the International Rotary Foundation to Bridget Brewster, acknowledging her community service and generosity.

Villagers Bridget Brewster, Betty Ann Jansson, and Jeff Gutstadt then presented certificates to LuCinda Haagenson, Jane Hufnagel and Dan Guerrero, recognizing them for their exceptional service. Two Village teams also received certificates for exemplary service: the Village Visitor Team and the Editorial Team.

Katie Brandon ended the day by acknowledging the outstanding work of the Village staff, namely, Priyanka Kumar, Hannah Rough-Schock, and newcomer Samantha Gallasch.

Concluding remarks originated with Esther Gillies, who supervised Lyle Tooks and Julie Coveney, the past year's two social work interns. Wayne April read a citation written by Esther thanking Lyle and Julie for their work with the Village. Through these internships, the Village acknowledges the value of the interaction between two young people and us “older folks,” for the mutual benefit of all involved.

So ended the festivities. But not really. The attendees continued to circulate and chat for quite a while. You could feel the love filling the room. This is what the Village is all about in a nutshell: lovingly caring for one another.

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