Volunteerism

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POINTS TO REMEMBER

“Never before has man had such a great capacity to control his own environment, to end hunger, poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and human misery. We have the power to make the best generation of mankind in the history of the world.” — President John F. Kennedy

 

Manners and volunteerism go hand in hand—both are about putting others first.  When we use our manners as we volunteer, we are able to gracefully accomplish many tasks.  Not only will we will feel better about our work, but we feel better about the way we have done it.     

 

Tips for the Mannerly Volunteer

 

1. “Yes, I will do it.”

For many of us, serving our community is just one of the many tasks we juggle in an ever-growing list of to-dos. We must be realistic with our time commitments and know our limitations. Just as we would not take on five part-time jobs, we should not take on numerous volunteer positions. When we are tempted to over commit ourselves, we must ask ourselves this question: Am I volunteering to make myself feel good or for the good of the organization?

 

We should never have an attitude that we are “just volunteering.” When we commit to a volunteer position, others are counting on us to fulfill our role with integrity, quality, and hard work. Our work as a volunteer is one of the most important responsibilities we can undertake, and our efforts will affect the lives of those we serve and the organization. There isn’t a greater act of humanity than one human being helping another!   

 

“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” —Winston Churchill

 

2. Think before saying, “Yes, I will do it!”

Take time to research organizations that you believe in and activities that you will enjoy. Take on jobs that will challenge you and play to your strengths. When you give because you believe in a cause, it is easier to participate with greater commitment, and organizations and individuals will gain more from your work. When we work from the heart, our work will often inspire others to join the cause.

 

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” — Mother Theresa

 

3. Follow through after saying, “Yes, I will do it!”

Do what you say you are going to do. One of the greatest character traits is being someone that others can depend on. If you agree to a meeting, be on time. If you sign up for a task, complete it. Be mentally and physically present. If you are working with a committee, use good communication: ask for help, share ideas, listen to the contributions of others. Volunteer work done well not only positively impacts the organization or person you are working with but also allows you to feel proud of the work you have done! Remember that quality is often better than quantity.     

 

“No man can become rich without himself enriching others.” — Andrew Carnegie

 

4. “I thought I could do it.”

When you do commit to a task, it is always best to follow through and see it to the end. However, no matter how carefully we plan, at times we do become overcommitted or circumstances in our life change. Many times, over commitment makes us feel guilty. Rather than working through the situation, we see it as all or nothing; it seems easier to quit than to work out a solution.

 

When you feel overwhelmed, ask for help or admit to not being able to do it all. Remember that when you quit without creating a solution or smooth transition, the work doesn’t just go away because you have. Just walking away nonverbally communicates that you don’t care how the decision to leave might affect another person or the organization. Your departure will create extra stress and time for the individuals who have to pick up where you left off, even though they are probably equally busy with their personal schedules.

 

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

5. “He/she said he/she would do it!”

Demonstrate grace to those you work with. Unless we have fantastic personal commitment restraint, most of us have found ourselves in the situation where we cannot do what we said we could. When a volunteer leaves a task undone, don’t tear down their reputation or complain about the quality of work when we think we could do it better. Instead come alongside your fellow volunteer, ask what you can do to help, and encourage them along the way.   

 

“How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving.” — James Cash Penny 

In many ways, thinking of others is a learned skill. We can’t just tell our children to look beyond themselves and expect that it will happen. We have to give them opportunities to do so (see: Professional’s Prospective). If our children are not raised thinking about the needs of others, chances are they will not become adults who think of others. As parents we can feel guilty taking time away from our children to help others. However, modeling service and giving children an opportunity to participate teaches your children one of life’s greatest lessons—the joy of serving others.

 

If you serve grudgingly, a child will see giving back as laborious.

If you put off your service, a child will see giving back as insignificant.

If you serve willingly, a child will see giving back as necessary.

 

Look for organizations that allow you to participate with your children by your side. Show your children that you serve others to show love and to treat people as equals, never out of a better-than-them attitude. Demonstrating manners means putting the needs of others first, even when this requires setting aside our own needs and schedules. Help your children to see that they too can make a difference in another’s life and that they have a responsibility to respond. 

 

 

 

“Too often the tendency is to let government, both local and state and national, take its own course just so long as it does not interfere with the business, convenience, or pleasure of the individual. I do not mean for a moment that taking an interest in public service is a life task or a profession. It is rather an avocation which should be entered into by every man as a part, great or small, of his daily life.”—Franklin Delano Roosevelt, chief marshal, Harvard University’s commencement, 1929

 

Juggling a job and community service can be a very difficult task. Many times sending an unrelated e-mail, arranging a meeting, or taking a telephone call on the sly seems OK because it is volunteerism after all. However, this behavior may not be condoned by your supervisor, so keep volunteer work out of your workday unless you have been given permission. Although giving back to the community is important, remember that your company is depending on you and paying you to provide quality work.

 

Organizations who count on their volunteers also count on the reputation they hold in the community. Your coworkers who know what you are up to may begin to resent the organization if they have to pick up the slack.

 

Networking and Philanthropy

Giving back to the community through organizations can also be a great way to network with other businesses. Before you join an organization with the intention of giving back and networking, know the rules. Many organizations have bylaws and standing rules that outline the appropriate conduct for members. Be aware also that if you are giving back with the sole intention of making business and social advances, your motives may seem tainted to those who volunteer because they believe in the cause. If you are not able to actively network, do your volunteer work well, and people will take notice and want to work with you in areas outside of service. 

 

 

by, Deanna Chappell Belcher, Service Learning Coordinator at The School at Columbia University

 

During the holidays we value spending time with friends and family, sharing good food at festive gatherings, and exchanging gifts that show how much we care about each other. Unfortunately, this exchange of goodwill can too often take a turn toward the materialistic, especially with our children, who are bombarded from the beginning of October with messages telling them what to ask for in their letters to Santa Claus. We don’t want our children to grow up greedy and self-absorbed, but what can we do to resist the culture of consumerism that exists all around us? One way is to get involved in community service together. Starting to give back even with your very young children lets them get into a good habit of service that will stay with them for life. Now that the excitement of the new video games and latest toys and clothes has subsided, it’s a perfect time to think of giving back to your community. There are countless ways that families can get involved in community service together. 

 

Choose a developmentally appropriate project. (But don’t underestimate your children’s ability to care or to make a positive impact in their communities!) When choosing any activity for your children, you want to be sure it’s not so difficult that it will be frustrating, nor too easy and possibly boring. The same is true with community service. You must also be sensitive about how much of life’s hardships you want to expose your children to, while not underestimating how much they already know. One mom of a second grader I know suggested that they volunteer at the local animal shelter for homeless pets. She was shocked when her seven-year-old asked her, “What about helping homeless people?” It’s a good idea to ask children what problems they know about and what they think they can do to help. Then you can use your parental influence to steer them to a hands-on activity that will challenge and reward them. 

 

Pick an important day to start. (But don’t procrastinate!) Many families observe the birthdays of loved ones or important family events with community service. A family I know spends the birthday of their grandmother cleaning up the community center where she volunteered countless hours during her lifetime. If you don’t have a special day in mind (or if your family’s most important days are not until September), why not begin by observing an already established day? The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is observed every January by families and community organizations across the country. Visit their website (see: Tool Box) to learn more about this special weekend and to find opportunities in your area. (This site also provides resources if you want to start your own project.)

 

Invite others to join in your project. (But don’t be afraid to go it alone!) Part of the beauty of service is the sense of connectedness it gives us. We observe a Family Service Day twice a year, when families come together and participate in a variety of service activities, from cleaning up our neighborhood park to cooking for the local soup kitchen, to making cuddly pillows for children in the hospital. Consider inviting your neighbors, your closest friends, or the families in your child’s karate class for a day of service together. If you don’t get the turnout you’d hoped for, don’t worry. Carry out your project, and make sure everyone who couldn’t make it hears about how great it was. They’ll sign up next time. (At our first Family Service Day, we had less than 10 families participate. At the most recent event, more than 50 families came!) For ideas and inspiration, visit Seasons of Service on the web (see: Tool Box).

 

Involve your children’s school. (But try not to overburden the teachers!) Participating in service together can be an effective community-building tool within the school, as well as strengthening the school’s connection to the surrounding neighborhoods. The activity could be as simple as making beautiful birthday cards for seniors at a nearby nursing facility or as involved as a yearlong Penny Harvest (see: Tool Box), culminating in students using their funds to make grants and do service projects with local community organizations. You may need to start small, perhaps asking the PTA to sponsor your first project. But like all great ideas, school-based community service will catch on. Soon teachers will be incorporating aspects of service into their curricula, and your school’s service-learning program will be born!

 

Don’t do all of your giving back around the holidays. (But start planning now for next year’s gift-giving season!) There are year-round opportunities to participate in community activities. Go to Youth Service America’s website (see: Tool Box) and enter your zip code to see volunteer opportunities currently available in your area. By next November, your whole family will be more aware of your community’s needs and of the intrinsic value of helping others. It will be a perfect time to begin a family tradition of giving gifts to those in need. Whether you decide to make a special shopping trip to benefit Toys for Tots or give grandparents the gift of livestock from Heifer International, it will make you feel great to spend some of your goodwill on those outside of your family. And you will be proud to see your children developing into caring and socially aware young people.

Deanna Chappell Belcher is the Service Learning Coordinator at The School at Columbia University in New York City. She has over a decade of experience working in schools, as a teacher, counselor, and administrator. In each of these roles, Deanna has stressed the responsibility of educators to prepare our students for leadership roles in a diverse society. Deanna holds degrees  from Mary Washington College and from Teachers College, Columbia University.  She is also proud of four year old daughter who is starting a Penny Harvest in her Pre-K classroom this Spring!