Pathfinder Series: Shawn Cyderman You Are Paying it Forward

May 2025

Laura Anderson

Following the conception of neighbors helping neighbors, Shawne chose to be the leader of the Dispatch team. She explains this team as, “the glue that holds everything together.” Dispatch consists of six volunteers who answer the phone messages for requests from members and dispatches those requests to one of the thirteen teams of Senior Village that services the SaddleBrooke community. It is a policy that the messages be picked up within a 24-hour period. Shawne stated, “We respond to calls within six hours.” Dispatch is available to members 24/7. They average twenty calls a day and have had as many as forty in one day.

Shawne’s favorite part about being a volunteer for Senior Village is she likes talking to people. She loves a challenge and states, “I like being a positive problem solver when someone can’t do the job.” This also gives Shawne knowledge of what is happening in the community. Being a member of the dispatch team allows her to volunteer from home. It is a crucial piece of the Senior Village experience that is all behind the scenes. “It makes me happy,” Shawne shares.  Given all that Shawne does in SaddleBrooke, one would infer that she is extremely busy. Her response is simply, “I am only as busy as I want to be.”