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Volunteering

BrooklineCAN seeks meaningful volunteer activities for its members. We are also contributing to town-wide efforts to strengthen volunteer opportunities.

Volunteering – BrooklineCAN

Steering Committee

Co-chairs:
, Director, Brookline Senior Center, 617-730-2756
, 617-734-7820

The Steering Committee will establish policies and procedures for BrooklineCAN. The Steering Committee shall be composed of the officers of the organization; one representative each of the Council on Aging, the Board of the Senior Center, and founding partner organizations; and committee chairs who will be selected through a collaborative process between committee members and the Co-Chairs. The Steering Committee may also appoint up to five at-large members drawn from the BrooklineCAN membership. Members of the Steering Committee will serve for two years. The Co-Chairs will establish staggered renewal dates. Members of the Steering Committee must be BrooklineCAN members.

Steering Committee Members

Name & emailPhoneCommentEnd date
Ruthann Dobek 617-730-2756 COA Director,
Co-Chair
Ruth Kertzer Seidman 617-734-7820 Co-Chair 6/30/2024
Janet Gelbart At Large 6/30/2025
Susan Granoff 617-731-0822 Livable Community
Advocacy Committee
Bea Mikulecky At Large 6/30/2025
Elenore M. Parker 617-383-5520 Vice-chair 6/30/2024
Yolanda M. Rodriguez 617-232-1943 Council on Aging
John Seay 617-734-9349 Treasurer 6/30/2024
Carol Seibert 617-694-6687 At Large 6/30/2025
David Trevvett 617-860-6289 At large 6/30/2025
Matt Weiss 617-739-2940 Clerk 6/30/2024
Sonia Wong 617-730-2774 At Large 6/30/2025

Communications Committee

Chair: , 617-680-0583
Media Relations: Bea Mikulecky
Webmaster:
Social Media:

This Committee keeps the community informed of BrooklineCAN programs and services and other area events. It creates newsletters, promotional materials and a website – BrooklineCAN.org. The committee seeks individuals to draft newsletter articles, write and distribute news releases, help create promotional materials, and make suggestions to help bring BrooklineCAN to the attention of all Brookline residents. If you have skills in journalism, public relations, graphic design, or photography, please join us. We are also looking for individuals with experience with websites and content management software.

Education Committee

Chair: , 617-730-2756

The Education Committee responds to members' interests and needs by providing a variety of informational programs and forums. Topics range from alternative health and embracing your sexuality to housing, transportation, and legal issues. Events and forums have also included movie screenings, panel discussion and a health expo. New members are welcome to join us in brainstorming and developing programs to meet the needs of our diverse membership. All members are encouraged to suggest potential speakers and topics.

Livable Community Advocacy Committee

Chair: , 617-731-0822

While Brookline offers a great deal to its older residents, we want our town to be an even better place to live. This committee calls attention to what Brookline offers and advocates for improvements, including expanded housing for seniors, expanded property tax exemptions for seniors, improvements in specialized transportation for those with disabilities, safer sidewalks, and improved amenities for pedestrians. The committee has created three internet guides about Brookline features of interest to seniors and others: rental and condominium buildings with elevators, restrooms available to the public, and businesses with automatic door openers. The committee also deploys a team that monitors sidewalk conditions in commercial areas after snow storms. The committee provides additional opportunities through Brookline’s Age-Friendly City program, collaboration between BrooklineCAN, the Council on Aging, and the Town to make Brookline more age-friendly. Housing, transportation, libraries, and health are among the main concerns of the Age-Friendly Cities effort.

Membership Committee

Because BrooklineCAN has greater impact in the community with more members, this committee plans and conducts outreach at events, over the telephone, and through email and other media. Members of this committee work together and with others to make Brookline an even better place to live for people of all ages by inviting others to join us. The committee sponsors an event in May each year focused on a topic important to members as we age. Our work underlies and supports the work of all other committees and the organization.

Volunteering around Brookline

Brookline Senior Center

Brookline Senior Center - Photo by John Seay

Click for larger image

The Brookline Council on Aging and the Brookline Senior Center are happy to enlist new volunteers who can share their talents and program ideas.

November Spotlighted Volunteer Opportunities: This month�s spotlighted opportunities include: Food Commodity program on 3rd Wednesday of each month � Russian & Chinese interpreters morning and afternoon shifts and people able to help with phone calls and/or lifting 30-35 lbs. in the morning; 1-on-1 assistance for seniors with their Smartphones and other technology; as well as volunteers for morning (able to lift 30 lbs) and afternoon set-up, shopping assistance and Russian interpreters for Tuesday afternoons (1-4) in the Food Pantry,

For additional information click here.

If you would like to apply for these or other volunteer opportunities at the Brookline Senior Center, please call Patricia, the Volunteer Coordinator at 617-730-2743 or to make an appointment to talk about things you like to do, your skills and potential volunteer opportunities.

BrooklineVolunteers.org

BrooklineVolunteers.org is a website for people of all ages who are searching for meaningful volunteer opportunities in the Brookline and Metro Boston area.

It is jointly sponsored by the Brookline Community Aging Network, the Brookline Senior Center, and the Brookline Commission for Women. BrooklineVolunteers.org has been developed by volunteers for volunteers and is designed to offer prospective volunteers a place to start as they research various volunteer opportunities which they can then follow up on their own.

If you would like to meet one-on-one with a Volunteer Coach who can assist you as you look through the website, please email to set up a meeting at the Senior Center.

Steps to Success

At Steps to Success, Inc., we promote equity for Brookline�s students from low-income families by expanding their horizons, building upon their skills, and supporting their educational journey in order to maximize their life choices.

Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Committees:
    • Development/Gala Committee
    • Finance/Audit Committee
    • Nominating/Governance Committee
    • Program Evaluation/Outcomes Committee
  • Board Member
  • Direct Service
    • Enrichment Classes
    • Workshops
    • Mentoring
    • Office Support
  • One-time Volunteer Opportunities
    • Stepping Back to School (August)
    • KIDS Camp Fair (January)
    • Recognition Ceremony (June)

Full descriptions here.

Brookline Medical Reserve Corps

The Brookline Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), with more than 200 members, is looking for new volunteers, both medical and nonmedical. The Brookline Medical Reserve Corps MRC is part of the National MRC program that was founded by the federal government shortly after 9/11. The Brookline MRC members are trained and prepared to respond to emergencies and provide education, outreach and various health services throughout the year. The purpose of the MRC is to provide emergency disaster preparedness as well as assist with public health programs such as vaccination clinics. Throughout the year, members choose from a variety of short, interesting trainings. To date, members have assisted with evacuees at Camp Edwards following Hurricane Katrina; help stations in bad weather at the Boston Marathon; ice storm shelters; a water emergency; townwide CPR training; and preparation for Hurricane Irene.

Two years ago the Brookline MRC ran an area-wide flu clinic, which doubled as a disaster drill, at Brookline High School, where more than 2400 people were immunized in three hours. The event was carried out smoothly because of the large number of volunteers helping to register and guide people as well as those actually giving the immunizations.

To register interest, please leave your name and number any time for Dawn Sibor, Brookline's Public Health Emergency coordinator, on 617-730- 2656 . Also, visit www.brooklinemrc.org.

Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site

Frederick Law Olmsted is recognized as the founder of American landscape architecture and the nation's foremost parkmaker. His home and office are located in Brookline.

There are currently part-time volunteer opportunities within the Education Division ranging from eight to twenty hours per week. These positions support the launch of Good Neighbors: Landscape Design & Community Building ' an active, place-based education program that fosters appreciation of the physical, social, and psychological value of public parks in young children when they are first forming the foundational values that will influence their thinking and decision-making for years to come.

Good Neighbors takes place at Fairsted ' the historic Brookline home and office of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted ' and uses the restored landscape, historic design office, archival collection, and rehabilitated model shop to explore the history, art, science, and civics of landscape design and park stewardship. Participating 3rd graders learn why parks are important for people, and begin to imagine their own role in the care and stewardship of these special landscapes. Each candidate selected will work with the volunteer coordinator to design a position that suits his/her needs and interests and assists the Education Division with one or more of the following:

  • Program Facilitation: work with diverse urban third-graders in assisting leading program elements on site and in classroom.
  • Curriculum Development: help research, design, and implement the final components to the Good Neighbor's curriculum.
  • Historical Research: conduct primary source research for use in both curriculum development and program marketing.
  • Communications/Marketing: develop and expand Good Neighbor's partnerships with local and nation schools, parks, and landscape architecture firms.
  • Administration: keep Good Neighbor's running smoothly by organizing and restoring program materials and managing documentation.

Contact: Adrienne Sharigian, 617-566-1689, x207

www.nps.gov/frla/index.htm

Help Preschoolers Build Skills

Community Corps, a Jumpstart program, engages adults over the age of 55 in community service at preschools located in Roxbury, Jamaica Plain, South Boston and Mattapan. In this position volunteers have the opportunity to help young children build skills that are crucial to school success. Community Corps members volunteer eight hours a week (six hours in a local preschool center and two hours preparing outside of the classroom). A travel reimbursement of $50 every two weeks is provided. Community Corps is currently recruiting for the 2011-2012 school year. Volunteers are trained in October and start working in the preschools in November. , or call her at 857-413-4610.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site

Description

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site is looking for individual and group volunteers to help the park in areas that include visitor services, special event operations, and historical research. Position titles include Volunteer Park Ranger, Special Event Volunteer, Library Assistant, Computer Assistant, and Administrative Aide. We welcome proposals to create brand new positions or tailor current volunteer positions to meet the particular needs of the individuals. Businesses are also encouraged to allow its workers to assist the park with special projects that often generate dramatic results and favorable local attention. Non-profit community organizations and youth groups can also help the park considerably on beautification and conservation projects.

Activities

Computers
Research Library
Historical Preservation
Office/Clerical
Tour Guide/Interpretation
Visitor Information
General Assistance

Contact

Jim Roberts
83 Beals Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-566-7937 ext.10

http://www.nps.gov/jofi/supportyourpark/index.htm

Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Docents Wanted!

The Larz Anderson Auto Museum has been an integral part of the Brookline and greater Boston communities through a variety of cultural and educational programs, exhibits, and lectures. We are now excited to invite the community to be a part of Larz Anderson and our future endeavors through our �Racemaker� Docent Program.

By becoming a docent you will have the opportunity to engage with patrons and the community at large through interpretation of the museum, be part of one of our many one of kind events and aid the museum in our ongoing goal of education and outreach.

Program begins mid May, training begins the end of April.

Please Send Your Resume and Letter of Interest to the Museum:

Education Department
Larz Anderson Auto Museum
15 Newton St.
Brookline, MA 02445
Phone: 617-522-6547
Fax: 617-524-0170

 

Apply now! Interviewing for SOAR 55 Nonprofit Management Consultant Spring Training. Training begins in March.

SOAR 55 is currently accepting applications from former and current (part-time) executives/professionals with consulting expertise (marketing/development experience a plus) whose purpose is to provide management and capacity building assistance to nonprofits through the award winning SOAR 55 Nonprofit Management Consulting Group program, generously funded through the Tufts Health Plan Foundation. The group works in teams of 3 on assignments lasting 6-9 months and requires approximately 25 hours a month when on assignment. Qualified candidates will be interviewed and those selected will participate in a comprehensive 55-hour training program over a 10-week period beginning in March. Ongoing support is provided while on assignment.

This is an opportunity to join a group of executive leaders who enjoy working as part of a team and are excited by bringing ideas to solving organizational problems. Use your skills, connect with others in purposeful endeavor and make a difference in your community

or call her at 617-969-5906, ext. 356. Please visit us at www.ncscweb.org/programs/soar55.

SOAR 55 is a volunteer organization for people aged 55 and over who would like to share their professional and experience-based skills with local public and nonprofit organizations who need help. We offer a unique personalized and thoughtful approach to matching each individual with a rewarding and satisfying volunteer opportunity. SOAR 55 has over 300 volunteers serving at 80 sites in assignments that range from tutoring children to leadership roles in organizations to management consulting.

Mission

SOAR 55 is a program of Newton Community Service Center and part of a national network of volunteer agencies that mobilizes adults 55 and over to contribute their skills and experience in meaningful service activities to help strengthen and expand the capacity of local community service organizations in Newton and MetroWest.

 

Support Disclaimer: Inclusion of services on this website does not represent a recommendation from the Brookline Council on Aging, the Brookline Senior Center, or the Brookline Community Aging Network.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of services through this program does not represent a recommendation or guarantee of work performance from the Brookline Council on Aging, the Brookline Senior Center, or the Brookline Community Aging Network. The user of this program therefore agrees to release the above named from any and all liability. The user should make whatever investigation or other resources that they deem necessary or appropriate before hiring or engaging Service Providers.