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SILVAR Members Give Back to Their Communities through RSVP

Friday, May 8, 2009

Throughout this week, volunteers from all five districts of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® were busy helping seniors with household tasks. A sign the volunteers placed outside these homes and the t-shirts they donned displayed a blue and yellow logo identifying them as volunteers of the Realtor Service Volunteer Program (RSVP).

RSVP, which was started by SILVAR members in 2001, was officially adopted as an annual SILVAR community outreach project in 2002. The program has since expanded to include members of the San Mateo County Association of REALTORS®, the Fresno Association of REALTORS®, Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS®, Santa Cruz Association of REALTORS®, and this year, the West Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®.

Every year in May, REALTORS® and affiliates take time from their busy work schedules to help seniors and the homebound with household tasks they cannot do on their own. These tasks include washing windows, installing smoke detector batteries, flipping mattresses, light vacuuming, dusting, replacing light bulbs, changing furnace filter and trimming bushes.

In Palo Alto, 86-year-old Emmy Lou Miller was delighted with help she receive from Charlene Chang, Michelle Rogers and John St. Clair III. This is the third year she has availed of the REALTOR® free service. The REALTORS® installed new batteries in her smoke alarm, new light bulbs and did light cleaning in her home.

"I am just so impressed," she exclaimed. "I think this service is wonderful. I used to do a lot of these things, but can no longer get up on a ladder."

St. Claire III, who is chair of SILVAR's Palo Alto District and has been an RSVP volunteer for many years, replaced old drinking water in Miller's emergency water containers with fresh water.

"Emergency water should be replaced every six months," said St. Clair. "It's good to know that Mrs. Miller is prepared for an emergency."

Betty Schneider, another senior homeowner in Palo Alto, said she was at first skeptical of REALTORS® offering the free service, but she has availed of the service for the past five years and is extremely pleased.

"When my husband died, I got so overwhelmed with all the work, so I called," said Schneider. "Now I tell all my senior friends about it and they can't believe it. I am, so pleased. This program keeps a lot of us in our homes."

In Sunnyvale, Laurie Klatt Nelson brought her daughter Lisa along, so she too could help. "I wanted her to see that there are people in need," said Klatt. "I'm glad we can help them."

At the home of Phyllis Schwindemann, Klatt-Nelson's group, which included Cres McFall, Dagman Shahrivar and Soly Retter flipped Schwindemann's mattress, washed windows, trimmed bushes and pulled some weeds.

"This service couldn't be any better for someone like me," said Schwindermann. "I used to be able to do it all and would love working outside, but after five months in the hospital with complications and an operations, I can no longer tend to the weeds and the bushes.

RSVP volunteers perform these services free of charge to help seniors and not to promote their business. "Our seniors need our help," said one RSVP volunteer. "I have a mom, so I know the drill. They could use our help. It's a good thing for them."

Dorothy Friel of Saratoga has availed of the service for five years. "It's a good service and I have recommended it to my friends."

In Friel's home, Jeff Beltramo, Brad Dodge, Barbara Harriman and Sandie Remus and Connie Goddard changed light bulbs, replaced a filter, cleaned a light fixture, and trimmed bushes.

Marian Sonneman has availed of the service the past two years. "I love it to death," she exclaimed. "I am so grateful to the REALTORS® who do it. I am overwhelmed. I understand it, and accept it with a grateful heart."

Aileen La Bouff, another longtime RSVP volunteer, emphasized the importance of helping seniors in the community. "I do it every year because I know there are seniors out there that need our help. No other facility does this for them. It's our way of giving back to the community," she said.

Over 300 SILVAR members helped over 150 households during RSVP Week. This year, 92 volunteers from SILVAR's Palo Alto District were able to help 48 households; in Los Altos, 130 volunteers helped 47 households; in the Los Gatos/Saratoga District, 63 volunteers helped 31 senior households; and in the Cupertino/Sunnyvale District, 39 volunteers helped 31 senior households.

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The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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