Ron Meyer

Ron Meyer, 88, has been an Arrowhead RSVP volunteer for 23 years volunteering in Duluth with the AARP Tax Aide Program.

The AARP Tax Aide program is one of the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance services. Volunteers receive free training and help others receive their maximum tax refund. In addition to the service they provide to individuals, Tax Aide volunteers throughout the country also contribute to regional economic growth by bringing millions of dollars back to local economies. On average, the Duluth AARP Tax Aide volunteers electronically file over 1,300 Federal returns and over 2,000 State returns with Federal tax refunds on average totaling over one million dollars each year! In addition to his work locally, Ron has held several leadership positions regionally and state-wide with the Tax Aide Program.

Besides the reward of knowing they provide a much-needed service, the Tax Aide volunteers also enjoy the social benefits of being part of a fun team. The team Ron leads meets weekly for breakfast to plan, share information and just visit.

For his many years of service to the organization and the community, Ron was recognized as the 2008 Outstanding Senior Volunteer Male for St. Louis County. Ron says he feels good about helping those who cannot prepare their own taxes receive much needed maximum tax refunds. “That’s what it’s all about, helping others.”

Eleanor Waha

Eleanor Waha, 97, of Grand Marais, Minnesota has been an Arrowhead RSVP volunteer for 27 years!

Eleanor has volunteered in a variety of organizations throughout her long volunteer career with RSVP. She has served with America Reads Cook County, America Reads Lake County, Friends of RSVP/Special Projects, the Cook County Historical Museum (over 50 years), Johnson Historical Post, North Shore Care Center, Soil and Water Conservation and the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Quilters. Eleanor embodies the true spirit of volunteerism, always thinking of others. She remembers special dates like no one else and continues to send out birthday, anniversary, and sympathy cards to many Cook County residents and beyond.

In addition to these RSVP stations, Eleanor has been active in 4-H, organizing the Cook County Fair for 45 years every August, and is especially proud of her work with the Cancer Detection Clinic. Started in 1962, the clinic was held every Friday in April where they would conduct outreach to area women, one year serving 590. She is especially proud of this work because of the lives saved as a result. In addition, Eleanor was the treasurer for the Maple Hill Fire Department for over 40 years; counted ballots for Arrowhead Electric; and helped with pre-school vision testing for many years.

At 97, Eleanor continues to volunteer with The Quilters, a group of women who gather every Thursday at Bethlehem Lutheran Church to make quilts for church members, community members in need, Red Cross, Damiano Center in Duluth, and Lutheran World Relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic when safety protocol required the group not gather, Eleanor continued making quilts at home as the church office manager or other quilters would drop off supplies for her to work on and pick up the finished product. A go-getter, Eleanor is not someone to let a pandemic or age get in the way of her volunteering!

Asked what she misses most during this pandemic, Eleanor said she really misses her visits at the Care Center (local nursing home). She served birthday cake monthly at the Care Center for 40-plus years. She delivered newspapers and church bulletins along with little visits to the folks living at the Care Center every week. She is looking forward to a day when she can return to these things.

For her many years of services, Eleanor received the RSVP Lifetime Achievement Award. When reflecting on her long life and all the many ways she has contributed to her community through volunteerism, Eleanor said, “Life has never been boring!”

Mary Lou Roskoski

Mary Lou Roskoski is a 93-year-old who has been an RSVP volunteer for many years.

There are records of Mary Lou’s RSVP volunteering “career” dating back to 1989 – that is 32 years of giving to others. With well over 8,717 lifetime volunteer hours (that we know of) she is a very dedicated volunteer who believes in the value of community and understands the important role volunteering plays in having a strong resilient community. In 2009 the Northland Volunteer Center presented her with a Hall of Fame award. She was described by the nominating organization as “an angel who is somehow hiding her halo and wings”. Mary Lou has volunteered at all of the sites listed below over her 32 years of service:

6th Judicial District Court
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency
Arrowhead RSVP
Beyond School Walls
Coordinator on Aging-AEOA
Franklin elementary
Friends of RSVP/Special Projects
Giant’s Ridge
Growth Chamber
Head Start- Arrowhead
Intergenerational Pen Pal Project
Lutheran Social Services Family Resource Center
Mesabi Trail
Minnesota Discovery Center
Northern Lights Association
RAP
Virginia Senior Center
Aurora Senior Dining
St Louis County Court Administrator
Waterview Pines
Waterview Woods