| Volunteerism. You hear the word often on broadcast | | | | volunteer to make phone calls but won't make calls to |
| media and see it in print just as often. Why? It comes | | | | solicit funds.4. Could you make good use of your |
| down to money. According to the "Rural Volunteer | | | | talents/skills? Your volunteer efforts will be satisfying |
| Network," an Ontario, Canada Website, "Volunteers | | | | only if your position makes use of who you are and |
| can often make the difference in whether an agency | | | | what you do.5. How many meetings would you have |
| survives."I've volunteered for decades and gained | | | | to attend? One committee I serve on meets only once |
| much from it. But I've noticed that some volunteers | | | | a month, thank goodness, because my calendar is filled |
| "jump" from one organization to another. They get tired | | | | with meetings. Too many meetings often means too |
| of the same old stuff or are looking for new | | | | little work gets done.6. Would you get regular |
| challenges. Then too, not all volunteer experiences are | | | | communications? Volunteers need to know what's |
| happy ones.Some years ago I volunteered for an | | | | going on. All of the organizations I volunteer for send |
| organization that had a noble mission. When I went to | | | | out regular emails and minutes.7. Do volunteers receive |
| meetings, however, I felt uncomfortable, so | | | | training? Several of my friends volunteer in a hospital |
| uncomfortable I came to dread meetings. After some | | | | gift shop. Before they started work they received |
| detail work I realzed the organization was a poor | | | | cash register, ordering, and merchandise display |
| steward of the grant funds it received. A few weeks | | | | training.8. Are mentors available? You may wish to |
| later I resigned.Many organizations need to improve | | | | volunteer for something new and need a little help. |
| their volunteer policies, according to a 2004 study from | | | | Once you're "up and running" the mentor can help |
| The Urban Institute. Study authors Mark A. Hager, PhD | | | | someone else.9. Would you be able to add to your |
| and Jeffrey L. Brudney, PhD think "charities interested | | | | skills? Volunteerism should be a win-win situation for all |
| in increasing retention of volunteers should invest in | | | | concerned. Being able to add to your skill set is a real |
| recognizing volunteers, providing training and | | | | volunteerism plus. You could volunteer to a new |
| professional development for them, and screening | | | | career.10. Does the organization recognize its |
| volunteers and matching them to organizational | | | | volunteers? Every organization that relies on |
| tasks."Sounds like good advice to me. Preparation is | | | | volunteers should thank them in some way, whether |
| also good advice. Answer these questions before you | | | | it's listing their names in a newsletter or hosting a |
| volunteer for anything. Even if you're an experienced | | | | coffee party. Recognition is your "pay" and makes you |
| volunteer you may wish to answer these questions | | | | feel good inside.I thank all volunteers for sharing their |
| and reevaluate your position.1. What is the | | | | time and talents with others. You keep the world |
| organization's mission? Ask for a hardcopy of the | | | | turning!Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn |
| mission statement and read it carefully. Also check | | | | more about her work please go to Hodgson has been |
| with your state Charity Review Board to see how the | | | | a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of |
| organization spends its money.2. Does the mission | | | | the Association of Health Care Journalists. She has |
| match your goals? I'm a health writer and, to make the | | | | volunteered for the AMA Alliance, Minnesota Medical |
| best use of my time, volunteer for medical and health | | | | Association Alliance, and many community groups in |
| organizations only. You may come to a similar | | | | her hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, |
| decision.3. What would your duties be? You and the | | | | "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written |
| organization should agree on these duties. Since I had | | | | with co-author Dr. |
| trouble selling Girl Scout cookies when I was a kid, I'll | | | | |