This blog will capture my experiences as I do research for and write a book based on 50 interviews with leaders of volunteers from the nonprofit, faith, education, political, and grassroots sectors across the United States and beyond. I interchange these nouns with volunteer: activist, donor, community organizer, philanthropist, and humanitarian. I interchange these verbs with volunteer: give, serve, offer, help, and respond. It is my hope that in doing the interviews and writing the book I will learn valuable lessons that will enable me to be like the amazing people I interview and in turn share these lessons and inspiring stories with you.
My personal background is that I am a lifelong volunteer. My first volunteer activity that I clearly remember doing was in 1964 at the age of 11 trekking through my neighborhood in a scary Halloween custom declaring as the doors opened my call to action: Trick or Treat and Vote on November 3! In the year before I turned 50 and to honor that event, I challenged myself to provide 500 hours (100 hours for each of my decades) of community service while working full time. I am happy to say that I reached my goal and exceeded by almost 200 hours. I learned a great deal about what makes a satisfying volunteer experience for me and what/who inspired me in my work.
My professional background includes being a leader of volunteers in a variety of organizations as well as being a leader of nonprofit organizations. I am constantly blown away by the work accomplished and goals achieved by volunteers. Some are self-motivated and nothing stands in their way of “making a difference.” Yet for most, to be successful in their volunteer work, they need the guidance, vision, structure, and focus to make sure the work is meaningful and with the most impact for the recipients and/or community. It is these individuals – the leaders, managers, coordinators – who I seek as a source of information, insight, and inspiration not only for myself but for anyone seeking to be privileged enough to lead others into work that is beyond financial gain and is for the greater good of all.
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