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CITY OF SAN DIEGO RETIRED EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION Meeting of August 11, 2009 San Diego Police Pistol Range The Speaker was Vickie Watkins a San Diego Police Officer. She talked about her career with the Police Department. Every station in San Diego has a Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol (RSVP), and she recommended that seniors get involved in this meaningful work. There are about 450 to 500 volunteers in this program; it was established 17 years ago. There are more divisions of RSVP than of Police Department divisions. The average age of the volunteer is 73 to 74, although 4 volunteers are 93 to 94. One of the things that RSVP can do is to watch homes for people who have called in to say they will be on vacation. RSVP makes sure the house is secured. The resident gets a report, and RSVP often gets a thank-you from the resident when they get the report. RSVP also has the “you are not alone,” or the YANA program whereby RSVP volunteers check on shut-ins, seniors or disabled people living alone, or seniors who are alone during the day. RSVP also patrols local schools, especially elementary schools. Specially trained RSVP’s can divert traffic where there has been an accident. Specific needs of the community can also be met: a street fair or to check on the security of businesses when they are closed. They also help in searches for lost seniors or children. The RSVP academy is for one week for 90 hours at National University. Respectfully submitted, Ruth Ann Hageman, Secretary |