The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond Distinguished Service Award is presented to “the individual member or members who are deemed to have played important roles in the founding and successful operation of the Center.”
Ralph H. Graner and Hal Costley (pictured below) were each recipients of the Distinguished Service Award at the Center’s 40th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration this March.
Both Ralph and Hal have gone above and beyond many, many times in their volunteer service. They have stepped up to the plate, hit the ball out of the park, and literally steered the ship on more than one occasion.
And not only are they distinguished gentlemen, they are stalwart guides, and excellent volunteers. Thank you, Ralph and Hal!
Ralph H. Graner, left, and Hal Costley, right, holding their Distinguished Service Awards at the 40th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration.
The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond recently held our40th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration. Aside from having lots of fun and enjoying a great celebration, we came together to honor our volunteers.
One of the awards given that day was the Shepherd’s Centers of America Donald Owen and Katherine Horridge Smith National Volunteer of Excellence Award. It was awarded to Susie Wiltshire, our long-time, uber-dedicated, all-around, been-on-every-committee volunteer, who has served as a Board member, an Open University instructor, the general editor….you name it, Susie’s done it or helped get it done. No one is more deserving of an award on any given day, but she especially deserves one that highlights her volunteer work for The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond. Thank you, Susie! Well done!
Susie Wiltshire pictured at the 40th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration, March 14, 2024. She holds her volunteer service award from The Shepherd’s Centers of America.
Below is an excerpt from the Shepherd’s Centers of America Network.
SHEPHERD’S CENTERS OF AMERICA NATIONAL GALLERY OF VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE 2024 DONALD OWEN AND KATHERINE HORRIDGE SMITH NATIONAL VOLUNTEER OF EXCELLENCE AWARD
Before retiring in 2005, Susie Wiltshire was an educator for 44 years, serving as an elementary school principal, director of studies, and teacher of French, German, and English. She spent 38 of those years at St. Catherine’s School, but also taught in the Richmond Public Schools, Hampton High School, the Collegiate Schools, and the University of Richmond. After all this, you would think that she would put her feet up… but not Susie. “Teaching has always brought me great joy and I love to learn. Plus, I have a long history of doing volunteer work.” It all came together for her in one organization. At the spry age of 87 (or as Susie likes to say – she is four-score and seven years old), Susie has spent the last 15 years volunteering in a variety of roles at The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond. It started when a friend of Susie’s, who served on The Shepherd’s Center’s board, recruited her to teach French, and Susie immediately accepted. The next day she was also asked to be a member of the board of directors, to serve on the education committee, and chair the public relations committee. Again, she agreed. “My late husband, Charley, and I had been attending classes offered at the Open University and we were pleased with the organization’s efforts in providing stimulation for older citizens.” Volunteering for the Shepherd’s Center, teaching, devising courses, and recruiting lunch speakers for 60 presentations a year, made her feel as if she were back at St. Catherine’s again. On top of her volunteer work for the Center’s lifelong learning programs, Susie is the Center’s unofficial longtime senior editor. Anything that goes “to press” is reviewed by Susie—and anyone who has had work reviewed by her is a better writer from having had the experience! She also continues to be a strong advocate for the Center’s PR committee and is passionate about getting the word out to the community. In 2012, her French students established a scholarship in her name so that older adults in need can now participate in Open University. In 2019, on the occasion of the Center’s 35th anniversary, Susie received its Distinguished Service Award, presented to those who are deemed to have played important roles in the founding and/or successful operation of the Center. The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond is successful because of Susie Wiltshire’s amazing talents and her willingness to support the good work accomplished for the betterment of Richmond’s older adult community. If we could honor her every day with an award, we would
There are lots of national celebrations. Some are rather silly (National Bobblehead Day), some are quite significant (Martin Luther King Day), and some are, well, meh (National Laundry Day? Really?). But our most very favorite celebration is National Volunteer Week (April 21 – 27). That’s right – it’s so special it gets a whole week.
Actually it’s YOU – the volunteer – who is so special. The time you give to The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond, the gifts you share, the enthusiasm, care, guidance, love, and support…all of it is an invaluable contribution. Our volunteers are truly priceless and we deeply appreciate you!
The Shepherd’s Center would not exist without its volunteers anymore than a human body could exist without its heart. So please take a moment to appreciate all that you give to the Center. Take lots of moments – the whole week is about you – and know that we are endlessly grateful for you – the volunteer.
Now if this has all gotten a bit serious, (because speaking from the heart will do that), then proceed to the nearest store and acquire a bobblehead. It’s way better than doing the laundry.
The latest newsletter from The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond is here! Read all about the 40th Anniversary Volunteer Celebration – complete with lots of pictures – learn a about our *New* Events program, and catch up on what we’re doing and where we’re going! Read the April, 2024, Gray Matters newsletter here.
Please note that the Monday, February 12, lunch speaker has changed from The Canals of Mars and the Gastrointestinal Tract with Peter Goodman, to A Teenager Goes to Congress with Bernie Henderson, president emeritus, Woody and Nelson Funeral Homes.
Monday lunch speakers are held in person at St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway from 12:30 – 1:30. They are also available online via Zoom. Attendance to lunch speakers is free with a $25 Shepherd’s Center membership, or included with Open University tuition.
Don’t forget to bring a sandwich! Packaged snacks and bottled water are available for purchase.
This Monday, January 15, is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is also the first day of the Open University winter session. Plan to join us at our south side location - St. Luke Lutheran Church, 7757 Chippenham Parkway – for a full day of courses, and also to welcome a very special lunch speaker, Danita Rountree Green, co-founder and executive director of Coming Together Virginia. Ms. Rountree Green’s lunch presentation, A King’s Lament: Apology, Forgiveness, and the Road to Healing, (from 12:30 – 1:30), is inspired by these two quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. regarding forgiveness:
“Forgiveness is a catalyst creating the atmosphere necessary for a fresh start and a new beginning, and we are free from the mental block that impedes new relationships. Forgiveness means reconciliation, a coming together again. Without this, no man can love his enemies” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Because 2024 marks the 40th Anniversary of The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond, we set a goal to raise $40,000 this fiscal year so that we can continue to better serve you, the members of the Center, and the greater Richmond community. And we are getting closer to that goal!
If you are planning on doing some end-of-year giving, won’t you consider donating $40 – or better yet, some multiple of $40?
The winter 2024 Open University schedule is out now! See the schedule here. Register online here. Schedules arrive in mailboxes later this week. Classes start Monday, January 15th. See you at the OU!
A few announcements for the winter session:
Ooh-la-la: Intermediate Frenchis now on Tuesdays at the new office of The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond, located at 5101 Monument Ave., suite 105. The office features a large, sunlit room for classes and activities!
Registering by mail? Be sure to send your registration to our NEW office address: 5101 Monument Ave., Suite 105, Richmond, VA, 23230.
Volunteer at Open University! Front desk greeters, hospitality table attendees, and technology aides (TA’s) are very much in demand. All positions are flexible and easy to learn. Make a difference and have a great time doing it. Call the office at 804-355-7282 to get started.
It’s our 40th anniversary year! Be a part of our celebration by becoming a member and inviting friends to join you at the OU.
Today is Giving Tuesday – a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.
Because 2024 marks the 40th Anniversary of The Shepherd’s Center of Richmond, we set a goal to raise $40,000 this fiscal year so that we can continue to better serve you, the members of the Center, and the greater Richmond community.
We have already raised $22,313. We need to raise an additional $17,687 by June 30, 2024, to meet our goal.
Won’t you consider donating $40 – or better yet, some multiple of $40 – on this Giving Tuesday?
The Shepherd's Center Of Richmond 