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Washburne, RSVP highlight 2021 Sustainability Award winners
Led -- as always -- by Francis Washburne, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has been named the Organization of the Year with Washburne herself saluted as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year as the 2021 Sustainability Awards were announced at City Hall.
In addition, Putnam County Hospital was honored for Best Sustainability Practices and Diane Borse was named Young Leader of the Year as Sustainability Committee Chairman John Garner announced the winners prior to the November City Council session.
“A common Chinese expression says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” Garner said. “Also a semitrailer containing 10 thousand pounds of aluminum cans can begin with one pound of clean and crushed cans.”
For well beyond 30 years now, Frances Washburne has made it possible for the residents of Greencastle and Putnam County communities to have a site where aluminum cans begin their recycling journey.
With the support from fellow RSVP volunteers the community and countless patrons, it is no exaggeration to say that close to one million pounds of cans have entered the recycling stream during Washburne’s tenure. From her beginning on Tennessee Street to the present site on Keightly Road, Washburne has maintained regular hours at the site for two days a week -- through all kinds of weather, through numerous metal market cycles and on several occasions, without any assistance from fellow volunteers.
In addition to being open to receive cans, her nomination notes, she has created a site where “all are welcome and where friendship and good cheer are the order of the day,” Frances still continues to be active by taking phone calls, writing checks and still has the title of site supervisor.
Meanwhile, as Organization of the Year, the local RSVP effort has supported the aluminum can recycling program for more than 30 years.
RSVP has been active nationally for 51 years, matching seniors 55 and over, with volunteer opportunities in their community. Western Indiana Community Action Agency Inc. (WICAA) has been the local sponsor for RSVP since 2002.
“We have had programs, volunteers and stations in Vigo, Clay and Putnam counties,” Donna Fullhart, senior programs director for WICAA, said. “Before COVID our volunteers served in food pantries, recycling centers, community foundations, comprehensive services, homeless shelters, senior centers, community theater, hospitals, Head Start centers, veterans’ services and nursing homes.
“Volunteers are welcome to serve as much or as little as they wish, and we try to make sure they are matched with a station that best meets their interest and skills,” Fullhart said. “Since COVID we have seen a reduction in the availability of places to volunteer but we are working on increasing the stations and the opportunities.”
RSVP has recognition events to show its gratitude for the time its volunteers give each year.
“While the adjustments we have had to make due to COVID have changed our program significantly,” Fullhart added, “we remain hopeful that it will grow and return to the strong, community-minded group that it once was.”
Best Practices of the Year honors for 2021 go to the sustainability efforts at Putnam County Hospital.
In the recent years Putnam County Hospital, through the efforts of CEO Dennis Weatherford and the Board of Trustees, has approved several energy-efficiency projects.
Projects have involved lighting, switching lighting over to more efficient LED lighting and installation of more than 200 motion sensor light switches to closets and rooms that are not occupied as often.
Investing in a multi-thousand-dollar energy efficient audit and upgrade on the hospital’s air handlers, PCH efforts also include installation of variable speed drives on the air handlers and reprogramming them for energy efficiency. The hospital subsequently has saved more than $100,000 per year on its electric bill.
PCH also just approved an upgrade on the building automated system which will help increase the efficiency of the buildings air handlers which will lead into more savings.
“The hospital is always looking into projects that will increase the efficiency and to save money, which will always reduce its carbon foot print,” the nomination form adds.
Meanwhile, Young Leader of the Year Diane Borse has led guided nature park hikes for the community, worked on developing a tree ID trail in the park, and has participated in the Harvest Festival, educating students on different plants that grow in Indiana through hands-on activities.
Borse was involved in the Sustainability Leadership Program at DePauw University for multiple years, serving in different leadership roles. She was the student farm director her senior year, the highest position one can hold at the farm as a student.
Beyond her scientific abilities, however, Borse is characterized as thoughtful and artistic in a way that allows her to connect with people of all ages. “She values sustainability through research and through building community,” the nomination notes.