About Volunteering

Volunteering

Volunteering is good for people. In fact, beyond the social aspect of volunteering, people receive other benefits, far stronger: becoming more capable, confident, and useful. According to “The Health Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research” by the Corporation for National and Community Service, “those who volunteer have lower mortality rates greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.”

Mark Horoszowksi wrote in “5 Surprising Benefits of Volunteering” for Forbes Magazine, the following:

• “Volunteering time makes you feel like you have more time.
• Volunteering your skills helps you develop new skills.
• Volunteering leads to better health.
• Volunteering your experience helps build your experience.
• Volunteering your love makes you feel more love.”

Volunteering also sets a good example for others which may, in turn, encourage someone else to find a cause and volunteer. By volunteering for a cause or organization in which you believe, you will meet like-minded individuals who share your ideas and values. Finally, doing good is worthy of our time just in and of itself.

People volunteer for a wide variety of causes and reasons. In retirement, I am volunteering with several groups whose activities align with my interests. As a full-time employee, I also volunteered, but with fewer entities and often more short-term activities. Now, I have the leisure to add to my volunteer activities.

Recently, at two meetings for very different organizations, I suggested some action which was immediately shut down, rudely, to my way of thinking. If the group is discussing options, brainstorming, if you will, about whatever topic, be it fundraising, acquiring new members, or developing programs, all ideas should be put on the table. Later, those ideas can be vetted through discussion.

Longer term members of a group may know history that would make the idea unfeasible, but a recent member of the organization does not know that history. In that case, the idea suggested should still be put on the table. Then the longer-term members can explain kindly why the idea should be shelved. That explanation then removes the sting from the rebuke.

My suggestions may not have made the final cut in a discussion, but immediately shutting down anyone’s ideas leads very quickly to a few venturing to suggest ideas with those who have been shut down keeping silent. I will not be contributing to the discussions in the near future. I don’t mean that to sound petulant.

I do mean that my silence has resulted from those quick putdowns. In fact, the putdowns may result in my scaling back or ending my relationship with the organization. At some point, I can revise my notion of remaining silent. However, I do fear that many people once shut down will either not contribute or will find another organization.

The takeaway from this post is that if you are part of any organization, volunteer or otherwise, and if you are part of a brainstorming session, live by the rule of all ideas welcome. Then in the discussion of the proposed ideas, explain why an idea cannot be carried through, or try to figure out a way that it could be modified so that it would be useful. Avoid dismissing ideas out of hand.