Volunteer Program

Volunteer: Shawn Stevenson of Severn.Volunteer Work: Age worked against Shawn the first time she applied for North Arundel Hospital's Junior Volunteer program.She was only 13 and the minimum age for joining was 15.A year later, when the hospital lowered the age, she reapplied and was accepted.Shawn, a high school sophomore, says she is using her volunteer experience to pave the way for a career in nursing.Although as a junior volunteer she is restricted to clerical duties and support services such as reading or helping to feed patients, she is not limited to what she can learn by watching.

The Carroll County sheriff is divorcing his office from the volunteer fire departments' fire police, but says he will be wooing some of them for a new volunteer program he plans to begin next year. Dozens of the volunteer fire police officers, many of them older and retired, are attached to fire companies and direct traffic for them at accidents and fires. Twenty-nine of them have been deputized by the sheriff to help, for example, at countywide events at the farm museum. Now, Sheriff Kenneth L. Tregoning said, "I will not swear any in after Dec. 31, 2005.

More than 500 Retired Senior Volunteers of Anne Arundel County will be honored during a recognition luncheon at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at Michael's Eighth Avenue.The luncheon, sponsored by the RSVP Advisory Council and the Department of Aging, will pay tribute to the participants of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. These volunteers work at more than 64 sites throughout the county, and last year performed more than 90,000 hours of service -- a savings to the county of about $311,000.

25 years agoThe Carroll County Commission on Aging held its first meeting at the Senior Citizens Center. Col. Frank Swoger, the chairman named by the commissioners, stressed that this is to be a working commission and that there are many projects that need to be undertaken on behalf of senior citizens. The priorities are transportation, nutrition, the retired senior volunteer program (RSVP), financial and legal assistance, day care, group homes and public housing. -- the Carroll Record, Dec. 14, 1972.

Allen Conkin was unavailable for comment yesterday.That's not unusual; she's always busy. A hospice nurse, school volunteer and church leader, the Arnold resident can add another title to her collection. Conkin has been chosen Anne Arundel County's Most Beautiful Person.She will be honored for her contributions to the community at a reception Oct. 3 at Pascal Senior Center in Glen Burnie, along with 62 other nominees.The award is part of Gov. William Donald Schaefer's "Maryland You Are Beautiful" campaign, in which each county selects its outstanding volunteers.

The Volunteer: Sean Oakley,15, "is just really a fine junior member of the junior volunteer corps," said Anne Heil, the volunteer coordinator for Harbor Hospital Center.Sean, who will be a junior at Chesapeake High School, learned about the volunteer program at Harbor through his mother, who works in medical records there.Working about eight hours, two days a week, Sean splits his time at the hospital between two departments. On the fifth floor, in orthopedics, he assists the nursing staff, filling patients' water pitchers, making beds, answering phones and sometimes "it's just a matter of talking to the patients," Sean saidHe also spends time at the hospital's fitness center doing computer entry work for the director.

County volunteer firefighters say County Executive Robert R. Neall is slashing their budget to deliver a political payback for their lackof support during his campaign last fall.In Neall's proposed fiscal 1992 budget, volunteers would be given only 5.2 percent -- $2,184,110 -- of the county's $41,543,580 fire budget for the year that begins July 1. This year, the volunteer program got $2,354,510 of a $41,268,810 fire budget.But Neall said yesterday that volunteer firefighters have little reason to complain in a tight budget year.

About a year ago, 67-year-old Lena Clouser wanted to change her life.Instead of visiting friends and spending time at home, Clouser envisioned an alternative way of spending her time -- a way to sharpenher mind and broaden her abilities."

Japan in Fells PointNow that Japonaji has moved from its Falls Road location to Fells Point, owner Judy Taylor Orlinsky has room for even more Japanese decorative accessories, furniture, tableware, antique chests and books, as well as crafts in the Japanese style. The new store also has a section devoted to fountain gardens and garden supplies. Can't find what you want? Japonaji has in-store catalogs to order from. There's even a decorating service if you need help pulling together a Japanese-style look.

Howard County State's Attorney Marna McLendon last night asked permission from the County Council to create a volunteer program to make it easier to prosecute domestic violence cases -- even if the victims are reluctant.With a $28,149 grant already received from the state, McLendon said she could buy 100 Polaroid cameras and hire a temporary staff person for four months to establish the program.McLendon said that in the first quarter of 1996, 100 domestic violence cases made it to court in Howard County, but police received four times as many complaints.