Having accepted, I am even more excited to share this good work and help them to grow. RTLI is a very local chapter of a national organization that really seems to understand that the magic of what they do happens on the ground in a spirit of community. Please understand, I’m not against national organizations. They have important roles to play. Rather, I’m all in for local groups and human connections, and helping folks understand how deeply important they are. 

I’m just beginning to get the story of how these particular folks got together. I can tell you already it’s a group of 1,000 sweet tales, and not always the kinds you’d expect!

RTLI was founded by a few local gentlemen named Joe Botkin and Sol Goldstein who are no longer with us but remain deeply beloved and appreciated. The network now stretches across Long Island, with a significant core now having served for decades. While I’ve gotten used to how this works with artists, I marvel at how some of these folks seem to use this experience of volunteer physical labor as a fountain of youth. It’s impressive!

They are always looking for more volunteers, especially folks with relevant skill sets who like working with layman volunteers. Furthermore, they are interested in partnering with other groups to see how we can better serve our region. They would love to speak with you about whom else they should be talking to, and how everyone may get involved.