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DARIEN -- Bill Haas and Warren Rossell like helping travelers
get back on track.
Haas, a Norwalk resident, and Rossell, who is from Westport,
are in their 80s and together have more than 30 years of
helping motorists at the Connecticut Welcome Center on the
northbound rest area of Interstate 95 in Darien.
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On May 2, the Connecticut Commission
on Culture and Tourism will honor them
at the Shubert Theater in New Haven.
Earning nothing more than a lunch
voucher and travel reimbursement,
Haas and Rossell are among 27 senior
citizen volunteers who donate several
hours a week to help people find their
destinations, often the Mohegan Sun
and Foxwoods casinos or the Mystic Aquarium and Seaport.
"We're really proud of those two gentlemen," said Rosemary
Bove, program manager for the tourism commission.
Rossell, 84, said he enjoys meeting and helping people.
"You meet fascinating people. I particularly like foreign
tourists," he said. "They're fun to talk with because you get a
totally different perspective of the world."
Haas, a former travel agent, also enjoys the work.
"We get a lot of people who want information on the state,"
said Haas, 81. "That's what we are there for, to promote the
state and try to get people who are driving through to stop in
Mystic or at some point of interest along the way."
To stay fresh, the volunteers take four or five trips a year to
Connecticut attractions, he said.
Haas estimated that 75 percent of the motorists he talks with
are passing through Connecticut, but that doesn't stop him
from guiding them to other New England destinations.
"We have a set of directions for Maine, New Hampshire,
Cape Cod," said Haas, who has traveled to every state and
67 countries.
Rossell, who used to work in advertising in New York City,
said volunteers hand out maps, direction cards and
pamphlets on dozens of state attractions. They also rely on
their knowledge of Connecticut.
"It's such a beautiful state with so many wonderful tourist
attractions," Rossell said.
Caroline Washburn yesterday was nearing the final leg of her
trek to Foxwoods from Naples, Fla.
The small blue-tiled kiosk nestled between a convenience
store and snack shop is beneficial for tourists, said
Washburn, who lives in Sandwich, Mass.
"They saved me half an hour of driving," she said. "It's nice to
have people with experience."
Dominic Carew of New Haven is the manager of the welcome
center and its only paid employee.
"Volunteers are a great resource and wonderful, wonderful
people to work with," Carew said. "They are a wealth of
knowledge. I have learned so much from them."
Of the 418,000 people who stop in Connecticut's six welcome
centers, about a quarter stop in Darien, Carew said.
Help wanted
The Darien center needs about 13 more volunteers from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
To volunteer at a Connecticut Welcome Center, contact the
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program at 899-2442
get back on track.
Haas, a Norwalk resident, and Rossell, who is from Westport,
are in their 80s and together have more than 30 years of
helping motorists at the Connecticut Welcome Center on the
northbound rest area of Interstate 95 in Darien.
Advertisement
On May 2, the Connecticut Commission
on Culture and Tourism will honor them
at the Shubert Theater in New Haven.
Earning nothing more than a lunch
voucher and travel reimbursement,
Haas and Rossell are among 27 senior
citizen volunteers who donate several
hours a week to help people find their
destinations, often the Mohegan Sun
and Foxwoods casinos or the Mystic Aquarium and Seaport.
"We're really proud of those two gentlemen," said Rosemary
Bove, program manager for the tourism commission.
Rossell, 84, said he enjoys meeting and helping people.
"You meet fascinating people. I particularly like foreign
tourists," he said. "They're fun to talk with because you get a
totally different perspective of the world."
Haas, a former travel agent, also enjoys the work.
"We get a lot of people who want information on the state,"
said Haas, 81. "That's what we are there for, to promote the
state and try to get people who are driving through to stop in
Mystic or at some point of interest along the way."
To stay fresh, the volunteers take four or five trips a year to
Connecticut attractions, he said.
Haas estimated that 75 percent of the motorists he talks with
are passing through Connecticut, but that doesn't stop him
from guiding them to other New England destinations.
"We have a set of directions for Maine, New Hampshire,
Cape Cod," said Haas, who has traveled to every state and
67 countries.
Rossell, who used to work in advertising in New York City,
said volunteers hand out maps, direction cards and
pamphlets on dozens of state attractions. They also rely on
their knowledge of Connecticut.
"It's such a beautiful state with so many wonderful tourist
attractions," Rossell said.
Caroline Washburn yesterday was nearing the final leg of her
trek to Foxwoods from Naples, Fla.
The small blue-tiled kiosk nestled between a convenience
store and snack shop is beneficial for tourists, said
Washburn, who lives in Sandwich, Mass.
"They saved me half an hour of driving," she said. "It's nice to
have people with experience."
Dominic Carew of New Haven is the manager of the welcome
center and its only paid employee.
"Volunteers are a great resource and wonderful, wonderful
people to work with," Carew said. "They are a wealth of
knowledge. I have learned so much from them."
Of the 418,000 people who stop in Connecticut's six welcome
centers, about a quarter stop in Darien, Carew said.
Help wanted
The Darien center needs about 13 more volunteers from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
To volunteer at a Connecticut Welcome Center, contact the
Retired & Senior Volunteer Program at 899-2442
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| NEON, Inc. 98 South Main Street Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: 203-899-2483 Fax: 203.899.2430 Email: admin@neon-norwalk.org |
| "Volunteers help point travelers in the right direction" |
The Advocate, March 14 2007
