Picture it. It’s the first week of Osher classes at the 7400 York Road building. The hallways are buzzing with people while laughter and conversations can be heard at every turn. Who, you may wonder, assists staff in keeping things running smoothly throughout each semester and beyond? The answer is quite simple: volunteers. Osher at Towson University is lucky enough to work with over eighty dedicated volunteers each semester. Volunteers assist with everything from swiping OneCards throughout the semester, welcoming members the first week of classes, facilitating special interest groups and clubs, assisting instructors in the classroom, and making sure coffee and refreshments are out each morning. As I’m sure you can imagine, the list doesn’t end there and there are countless ways for Osher members to get involved with our program.
Meet The Annes
April is National Volunteer Month so we decided to spotlight three of our devoted volunteers: Anne Graham, Annie Jamison, and Anne Reid. These three ladies all became members after they retired.
ANNE GRAHAM has been a member since 2004 and began volunteering for us about ten years ago. She was nominated as an at-large member of the coordinating council, has lead discussions for the popular fiction and non-fiction book groups, and is most well-known for her role as the lead day trip coordinator. She also assists at our fall and spring Preview Events and is always willing to help.
What does volunteerism mean to you?
Volunteerism is a contribution to society, a way to stay active, and a way to share positivity with others.
ANNIE JAMISON has been a member since 2010 and began volunteering at Osher about five years ago. She initially served on the membership and outreach committee and eventually gravitated towards other roles. Annie now serves as an at-large member of our advisory board, assists with OneCard printing during the first week of classes, answers questions about online registration, and anything in between.
What does volunteerism mean to you?
Volunteerism is a way to help others, a way to obtain a greater understanding of human nature, and a way to be introduced to life outside of your own.
ANNE REID has been a member since 2014 and is one of our newer volunteers. She began volunteering for us last fall. Anne Reid has worked with our Day Trips committee to assist on trip days, and has most recently joined our Classroom Facilitation Committee to help instructors in the classroom. It’s also important to note that each of these women also volunteers in different ways outside of our Osher program. As you can see, it’s never too early or too late to start volunteering!
What does volunteerism mean to you?
Volunteerism is a way to connect with others, even when we are not in a time of crisis. We’re all in this together.
While this is a small way to celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of a few volunteers while we are all practicing social distancing, we want to offer our warmest thanks to all who help make Osher at Towson University the program we all know and love. Volunteerism is an anchor of our organization and our volunteers continuously display their dedication to the success of our program.
Don’t worry, there are many ways you can volunteer at Osher—even if your name isn’t Anne! If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering at Osher at Towson University, please contact Shelby Jones at sjones@towson.edu.
