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Learning in Retirement thrives due to volunteers

By Barb Maxwell

For any organization to be successful, lots of work has to happen behind the scenes, and that’s exactly what keeps Learning in Retirement vibrant.

Perhaps you have never heard of LIR’s membership and marketing committee or the hospitality committee. These two committees work hand-inhand behind the scenes to find venues, to coordinate details of the LIR summer and winter membership meetings, and to plan the holiday social and special events such as the 30th anniversary celebration this past summer.

The main purpose of the membership and marketing committee is to promote membership, inform the community of Learning in Retirement membership opportunities and recruit new members. The purpose of the hospitality committee is to provide social amenities to make membership meetings and special events successful and enjoyable.

The hospitality chair is a member of the membership and marketing committee, and the membership and marketing chair is an ex-officio member of the hospitality committee.

The membership and marketing committee meets monthly or as needed to discuss and share ideas, according to Chair Kay Martellaro.

“We are busier several months prior to events,” she said.

In addition, committee members call new members twice a year after the membership meetings, welcoming them to Learning in Retirement, sharing information about the organization, and answering questions.

“M&M members assist the hospitality committee as needed, and vice versa,” Martellaro said.

Kay Freidinger is the chair of hospitality, and she said the committee plans refreshments, obtains food and supplies, sets up the venue, serves refreshments and cleans up after serving. Her responsibilities are numerous.

“I call committee meetings as necessary to give committee members an opportunity to select a function to do at the gatherings and to get to know one another as fellow LIR’ers,” she said.

But her responsibilities don’t end there. She recruits, appoints and orients new committee members; plans decorations, obtains supplies, and decorates. She also assists the event chairperson in selecting a caterer, obtaining menus and costs, and assessing venues for their capacity to serve the caterer’s needs. She then coordinates the caterer’s activities when providing the meal or refreshments.

The hospitality committee membership varies between 10-15 Learning in Retirement members.

“Hospitality can use additional volunteers,” Freidinger said, “because often one or more members are unavailable to assist on the day of the event.”

New members are also important to the committee because they bring new ideas, she says.

As chair of the membership and marketing committee, Martellaro said she and Freidinger work together to research venue options for membership meetings.

“This joint research ensures that both committee’s requirements are met,” Martellaro said.

After a venue is chosen, Martellaro presents the venue options to the Learning in Retirement Board for approval, reviews contracts, seeks advice from board members as needed, and presents the contract for the president’s signature. However, her work isn’t finished.

“I work with the venue to schedule meeting dates and times, confirm that LIR requirements are met, and confirm that venue requirements are met as well,” Martellaro said.

She then checks with club, curriculum and travel chairs to determine the number of tables and space they need.

The membership and marketing committee also needs volunteers, Martellaro said.

“There are 11 members, including myself, on the M&M committee,” she said. “We would welcome new members. New members mean new, fresh ideas for the social functions and additional volunteers to assist with the meetings.”

Learning in Retirement is a volunteer organization.

“Its life and breath are generated by its members volunteering for various duties/functions,” Freidinger said. “In addition, taking on a responsibility adds to one’s continued mental and social awareness. One only gets out of an organization what one puts into it.”

Martellaro added: “Without our volunteers, this wonderful organization could disappear. We all like to participate in LIR activities, but these opportunities would not exist if not for those willing to volunteer.”

Both Martellaro and Freidinger participate in other activities of LIR. Martellaro is a member of the LIR board of directors and serves on the travel committee. Freidinger has been a member of the board for six years, is a member of the auditing and nominating committees, and has been a member of the travel committee for seven-plus years. She also plays Mahjongg and is in the LIR Book Club.

“Volunteerism is such a fulfilling role,” Freidinger said, “I get more out of my ‘jobs’ than I could have ever imagined. Hugs from travelers after an educational travel event telling me how much they enjoyed the trip, compliments on the refreshments served at gatherings, and friends I have made over the last 10-plus years are true treasures.”

Volunteerism is what keeps Learning in Retirement alive. The organization’s mission is to provide learning opportunities and to promote idea sharing, knowledge and experience for retirees and seniors. None of these things could happen without the numerous volunteers that keep it going.

LIR has two part-time secretaries. Other than that, all board members and officers, chairs and members of all committees (such as travel, courses, clubs, membership and marketing, hospitality, auditing, nominating, scholarship, sunshine, website, newsletter and various ad hoc committees), and all facilitators of the 16 Learning in Retirement free clubs are volunteers.

For some, many volunteer hours are required; for others, possibly once a month or once a year is all that is needed. New volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated.

Volunteer by calling the LIR Office at 573-681-6152 or use email [email protected]. Additional information about Learning in Retirement can be found on the organization’s website: www.lirjc.org

ACTIVE LIFE

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2022-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-12-05T08:00:00.0000000Z

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