By Maureen Cameron
Sharon Wesolowski, Ann Miller, Carol Rode Eggert, Cecile Eddy, Linda Mahoney, Shirley Armstrong, Gida King, Irene Noetzl, Irene Moman, Lynette Collins, Barry and Judy Freeman, Vera Halifax, Marge Kennedy, Shirley Armstrong, Terry Nowak, Bea Reichert, Barbara Brummond, Irene Noetzl, Bev Phaneuf, Syd Chihonik, Joanne Delmage, Nicky, Laila, Claire, Steve Schaan, Colleen Kennard, Donna Carlyle, Doris Corbeil, Terry Jo Henry, Roseann Watt.
These are our TAPS program volunteers and we associate their names with qualities such as: kindness, caring, reliability, dedication, humour, creativity, sensitivity, focus and vulnerability; add in generosity of spirit, flexibility, spontanaeity, open to learning, taking initiative and often surprising us with their unique skills and interests.
They come to TAPS regularly or on call where they might be helping with programming activities, greeting and socializing, serving tea and coffee, or in the kitchen peeling, chopping, washing dishes, or assisting the cook. They are also the eyes and ears for the staff developing connections with our TAPS participants, caregivers, family and each other. If they’re not careful they might end up in a performance or production or two complete with costumes or helping create a party atmosphere for our many special occasions! Thanks to you all.
New staff: we are pleased to welcome a new staff member Cathy Chlopecki who is filling a part time position at TAPS, coming from a close call with ‘retirement’ from her employment with Valley Community Services. She will be assisting with the program one day a week, bringing her personality, experience and skills of working with people, her kind nature and her interest in teamwork and collaboration to the team and our seniors.
If you had dropped in at TAPS on a Wednesday over the past 3 weeks, you might have entered a zone of very focussed people around tables crowded with scissors, glue and piles of cut up pictures, ribbons, and bits and bobs of all kinds of decorations and boxes of all sizes. Amidst quiet contemplation, laughter and the hum and buzz of ideas being exchanged and helping one another. We were exploring making ‘Shadow Boxes’ as part of our Road Show’ program with the assistance and inspiration of staff and volunteers from Cresteramics. A special thanks to Colleen Kennard for her guidance and supplies for this project. We are participating with A FULL PLATE Canada 150 at the Creston Valley Fall Fair with a display of some of our projects.
Appreciation: We continue to be amazed by the generosity of gardeners and Harvest Share as well as volunteers at Food Forest at the College of the Rockies for the bounty and diversity of food donations at this time of year. Thanks also to Eric Johnson and Brenda who brought delight to us one day in August with their guitar and flute performance.
Events: “The TAPS Gang including members of the ‘Happy Voices’ are at it again rehearsing with voice and instruments to perform at Crestview and Swan Valley Lodge, this time with a Hawaian theme. Did I mention ukeleles? Rumor has it that there is a growing interest in ukelele playing going on at TAPS and Valley Community Services.
If you’re going to the Friday night opening of the Creston Valley Fall Fair…join the ‘Gang’ for a Canadian and Creston Valley Songs Singalong at 4:30pm. Song sheets provided.
Health and Safety: Thanks to the Creston Fire Department for the Fire Safety Training they provided for our staff and volunteers including getting first hand experience with Fire Extinguishers. They made it a relaxed and informative session and the mugs of fresh lemon water on a hot day were a refreshing surprise.
TAPS operates under the auspices of Valley Community Services. If you are considering a donation or would like to contribute to our Legacy Endowment Fund please visit www.valley.services or contact the VCS office at 250-428-5547 for more information. For volunteer opportunities or program enquiries contact 250-428-5585 or taps@valley.services.
We operate on a Monday to Friday program schedule at the RotaCrest Hall lower level and out in the community.
