Getting Involved In Community Service

April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
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It doesn’t take much effort to get involved in community service and it can be one of the most worthwhile things you can do in your life. The first thing to do is pick something that you care about, or want to see improve, and volunteer to do community service. Think about all the different things you would love to help out with.

Talk to someone in the area in which you want to get involved in. There are many different areas such as volunteering at a hospital, at your church, at a school, or at an animal shelter. These are just a few of the places that love to take volunteers. Community service doesn’t have to be hard work. Sometimes, such as in a hospital, people just need someone to talk to or read to them. Not only are you helping them, but you are also becoming a better person. Helping with small children and other people who cannot help themselves can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life.

Remember to have fun and have a positive attitude while serving your community. Also try to get involved in places that often do community service events, such as a zoo, a museum, or a women’s league. Getting involved is also a great way to meet new people who share the same interests as you.

Try to get your friends, family, and coworkers to help you out as well. The more people you can get to help, the more rewarding your experience will be. Getting involved in community service is hard work, but the rewards at the end are well worth the effort.

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Benefits of Volunteering in Your Community

March 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Most people want to be involved in volunteering but need a push to get going. The majority of us do mandatory volunteering at one time or another but as we enter adulthood, anything that isn’t paying a competitive wage tends to end up on the back burner. There are many benefits to volunteering people never even consider. While the focus tends to be on the job you will do and who will benefit, it doesn’t hurt to look at the ways it will help you as well. For instance, you can get your focus off of yourself.

Most of us lead busy lives and are so focused on our own issues that we don’t take time to consider those who are in a worse position than we are. Indeed. volunteering allows you to gain perspective into people who don’t have a place to live or who have substance addictions that negatively affect their lives. The perspective one gains by volunteering cannot be learned in  a book or classroom, but the face to face interactions will serve as a far more valuable learning tool.

Volunteering also allows you to develop leadership skills on your own time. Potential employers want to know that you have been tested and the right volunteering allows you to do just that. Take a challenging assignment and see it through regardless of what you have to do to achieve the goal. You will come out on the other side a wiser person.

Regardless of your reason for volunteering, there’s no denying the multi-faceted benefits. Personal growth and resume boosting are just two reasons to get out and volunteer.

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Have More Family Time As Volunteers

March 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There are many benefits to volunteering but perhaps none better than a chance to unite the family. Parents today are busy with careers, personal life and each other. It is easy to let a distance grow between the parents and children. This does not need to be the case however. Volunteering as a family teaches valuable life lessons and the best part is you are learning them together. Here are a few reasons to volunteer as a family.

1.) Sense of community- Feeling disconnected from your community is normal but not necessary. There are many projects that would just love to have an entire family involved and working together such as building homes for disadvanged people in the community.

2.) Sense of humility- Given the ease of life with technologies of today, it’s easy to see how kids lose perspective. Volunteering in the community for now pay and helping people who are not as well off as themselves have children to learn that some people really struggle and that they should be thankful for what they have,

3.) You get to spent time together- Spending any time together as a family is great. However, spending time together in front of the television isn’t nearly as productive as spending time helping out in the community. The time spent together problem solving and helping will be a foundation to grow as a family unit.

There really is only positives to getting out in your community and volunteering. You will not regret the opportunity to grow together while also helping others.

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Where There Is A Need There Is A way

December 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The strength in any community is its people. A strong community is often driven by volunteer efforts. Supporting local volunteers is an integral part of any community. That all sounds nice, but how do we implement a successful volunteer project? How do we take what is little more than good intentions and turn them into useful projects that benefit members of a community that are in need?

Volunteerism must start with the desire to help or to aid. The need can be anything from homeless women to illiterate adults, but recognizing the need is often the spark that determines the form a volunteer effort will take. Once a need has been recognized, one must next determine how to best meet that need. Is it better to set up shelters for the homeless as a temporary measure or are volunteer efforts better suited at helped homeless people become productive members of that society? Meeting the need will help to determine who can best help meet that need?

Finding volunteers is often the most difficult part of any volunteer effort. By first determining how to meet a particular need, you may find it easier to locate specific community volunteers to help meet that need. “Advertising” your need for volunteers may sound crass and expensive, but remember that advertising can be viewed as a volunteer effort as well, so ask local businesses, churches and newspapers to donate advertising to your cause.

Volunteer efforts are one of the most effective ways to develop a strong sense of community. Helping those less fortunate, filling a need or cultivating our youth are honorable efforts and should be applauded. The most amazing thing is that most volunteers don’t want to applause or the press, they simply want to help.

If you are interested in developing a volunteer project for your community start by finding what is needed, how to best fill that need will soon follow.

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Defining The Volunteer Experience

December 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The dictionary defines a volunteer as a person who performs an act or work without the benefit of payment. You will note that the definition does not include that the act must be for the benefit of poor or less fortunate people. While most volunteer efforts are aimed at helping those with less financial resources, the true spirit of volunteering simply means doing something to help someone else without benefitting yourself.

This broader definition of volunteering reminds us that there are many ways that we can impact our community through volunteering in addition to popular efforts like soup kitchens and coat drives. To volunteer should be more accurately defined as to help.

Consider for a moment some of the people and groups that could benefit from assistance apart from those people and groups whose needs are addressed by other community efforts. Senior citizens may benefit from a simple visit while a local kindergarten may welcome volunteer help for crafts or outings. Local churches might appreciate help cleaning the sanctuary or a local hospital might appreciate extra help with directing visitors. Volunteering your time and your efforts to help is what matters.

Along this same vein, it is not necessary for a volunteer to be well off or wealthy. Instead of donating money, a volunteer can simply volunteer their skills. A marketing grad student might help a local organization design flyers while a computer whiz may help another organization develop a website. It isn’t always about how much money you can give but about what special skill or talent you can share with your community.

Somehow we began to focus not on the actual act of volunteering, but on the dollar sign attached to it. Of course those who are financially able can and should use their resources to help, but someone can be rich only in talent and still be a valuable volunteer.

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The Formal Volunteer

December 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

While many organizations in a community have a staff which they employ, they often rely on their volunteer staff to ensure that their efforts and programs are successful. These volunteers work on service projects, help with volunteer recruitment and organization and project management. Community service is rewarding and an important part of any community spirit.

Consider, for example, your local library. The public library has a paid staff. These employees handle the day to day operations of the library, leaving big gaps that are the perfect fit for volunteers. Literacy programs, story time, shelving and maintenance are just a few of the areas that a local library may require the assistance of volunteers for.

These opportunities are almost endless. Perhaps your community has a drama program that could benefit from your help in advertising or building sets. A local charity may need help developing fund raisers and implementing drives. Even large art museum’s need volunteer docents. The point is that throughout your community there are a variety of opportunities if you are interested in volunteering.

For those that prefer a more hands on approach, many communities have organizations that maintain local roads, build low-income housing or run errands for the disabled. These organizations are always in need of an extra set of hands.

A great example is assisting a local hospital or Red Cross organization with blood drives. As a volunteer, you may not have the training and know-how to actually draw blood, but the organization could utilize your time and efforts to help with publicity, to document donations or to simple sit with donators after they have had their blood drawn.

If you are interested in a particular community organization, take a few minutes to ask what they need help with and what their volunteer program entails, you might be surprised at how valuable your help will be.

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Free Concert for Service Volunteers

December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Free Concert for Service Volunteers

1. An added perk for volunteers of music events is attending a show for free. The price tag to attend a concert for a star act can be close to a hundred dollars a ticket. By volunteering you offer service through volunteerism and get a night out for free.

2. Offering Your Services

Contact the organization hosting the venue and speak with someone in marketing. Tell them that you are interested in volunteering at musical events and that you have loads of black in your wardrobe.

3. Additional Advantages of Volunteering

Volunteering to serve as an usher or greeter is also a great way to spruce up your resume. Employers look for people who are civic minded. Volunteer credit carries weight and can make a difference in a tight race between two job candidates. Keep a record each time you volunteer along with the contact information for the person you reported to.

4. Dazzle with Your Punctuality and People Skills
A few tips for keeping the door open in the event you want to do this more than once. Be on time and show up prepared. A helpful volunteer is punctual, polite and dressed the part. These three tips are likely to get you an offer to come back.
Remember to send a short letter of thanks it keeps your name fresh to the person making the callbacks.

5. Enjoy the music Come dressed professionally in the specified uniform and color. Go light on the fragrance or skip it all together. People with allergies run the risk of a flare up whenever they venture out. Be kind. Make sure and smile and have fun with it.

6. Spread the Word
If you have a good experience with volunteering any where let people know. Volunteers make a difference.

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Volunteer Workshop Facilatators

December 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Volunteer Workshop Facilitators

Good Facilitators Motivate

1. A good volunteer facilitator motivates and encourages. When coming in to facilitate a group it is good have done homework on the organization. You may know your assignment in advance but if you are unclear double check with a school administer. Things happen and being prepared and organized can free your time up for other things.

2 Good Volunteer Facilitator Etiquette

There is such a thing as etiquette when we lead groups. Respect for people’s time is the number one complaint of people sharing common space. Know your audience as much as possible. Dialogue flows better when the comfort level is not anxiety ridden. Use nametags for you and for the group. Talk to the group and not at them.

3. Location, Location, Location

Make sure people know where to meet. A lot of time is lost from meetings because of poor communication. Offer e-maps in your mailings. Make sure there are plans in place in the event of inclement weather. A phone -tree with all group members listed is helpful in contacting members in the event that a pre planned event is cancelled.

4. Welcoming Committee

Make sure that each new peson coming through the door feels welcome. Name tags and a greet give a message that you care. Food and drink are always a draw. If funds are low turn meetings into a Pot Luck, this reduces the burden of cost on a few people and feeds everyone. This win-win situation now feeds people through community based fellowship.

5. Feedback

Ask for feedback from everyone involved in your experience. Managers can give first hand information on your progress in her company. What you offered worked and your enthusiasm for getting the job done both right and ahead of time have paid off.

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From Volunteer to Employee

December 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

From Volunteer to Employee

1. Moving from Volunteer to Employee
Making the switch from volunteer to employee is a real possibility. Showing up on time and taking care to always be professional can have added benefits. Managers need volunteers who can do the task without adding extra work for them or their staff. A good volunteer takes time to learn some company history and has a passion for their new gig. A professional yet friendly attitude can go a long way.
2. Understand Your Role
Get a clear understanding of your volunteer duties and role. Know who you are there to support. Know your role so you can do your job. Know who you report to and follow up with any questions.
3. Avoiding the Office Cooler
Stay away from office gossip. This is a sure way to make a bad impression. You’re not an employee yet so keep focused on the task at hand. Many conflicts start over lunch and during off site after work venues. Alcohol can cause you to talk more than usual. Know your limit and remember it is okay to pass. Your volunteer time is valuable make the most of it

3. Ask for Progress Updates
Taking the initiative to ask about your progress is a good way to let the manager see you in action. Many organizations are understaffed. Doing a good job with attention to detail will not go noticed. This also lets you know what areas you can improve in. Think of it as getting free advice from a consultant. The Head Hauncho is in charge for a reason. Learn from her.

4. Office Equipment
You will have access to the Internet and telephones. You may make calls and work on data bases with confidential information. Remain profession at all times.

5. Make it Payoff
Be smart and turn your volunteer experience into something you can

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Dangers of volunteering

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Volunteering is an act of social solidarity. It is an impulse that sets of a sea of benevolence. Inspiring acts of volunteerism have always been etched in the collective consciousness of humankind. Kindness, compassion, generosity, and selflessness characterize volunteerism. The birth of volunteerism began as early as human beings existed, but has been prominent after the world wars, and epidemics. Volunteerism has dropped significantly over the past decade or so. Revival signs are imminent as social imbalance still persists in economically and socially underdeveloped countries.

Volunteerism on virtue of being an act of courage and endurance of ones spirit, has its set of advantages and disadvantages. To talk about the disadvantages, volunteerism is risky. It involves cleaning up a mess that some people wouldn’t dare to go into. It is never easy to do something that is not circumstantially induced. That’s what volunteering is all about. You might be living in an upmarket house, with a terraced swimming pool. But in an act of volunteering you might have to stay in mosquito-infested areas, as part of a refugee-help committee. It is clear that volunteers have to be trained in travel health. Health conditions are not the same everywhere.

Volunteering in dangerous areas, is indeed very dangerous. This is because when danger strikes, it does not differentiate the target from the non-targets. In areas of communal strife, violence, social unrest, political breakdowns, volunteerism is indeed a challenge. A volunteer is in as much danger as the people the volunteer is trying to help. Volunteers also run the risk of being stranded in political unstable countries. News reports have it when volunteers became refugees themselves for long periods, when a political coup resulted in seizure of airports by rebels and so on.

Helping people does come with its dangers and risks. But this should not stop people from volunteering. Volunteering should be an act of humanity. Ultimately humanity is the source of sustenance of all factions in the society.

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