Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 10:44 PM Traditional Volunteerism is Service Too “Serving your country outside of the military”, Part I By Marc Beechuk Queen City Forum Magazine columnist Service is a word many Americans have embraced. They have defined the term in many ways by committing unique and various acts of consideration. In the context of wartime, many citizens of our country subscribe to the belief that being a soldier or putting up a yellow ribbon is the best that we can do. Of course, soldiers are undertaking noble tasks, but there is a large portion of America that is anti-war, has a medical disability barring them from combat or simply does not agree with a policy of world policing. In this situation, there are still ways to nourish one’s neighborhood, county, state or even global community. By serving any of these bodies you are making a difference for our country and contributing all that is asked of an American. An easier way to grasp volunteerism is to split it along the lines of traditional volunteers, such as AmeriCorps, YMCA or PTA, vs. those who participate in local government, such as Zoning Commission members, Board members of councils and anyone who shows up to voice their opinion in a political forum. There are many outlets for volunteering in the traditional sense, but don’t stop at these examples, get involved in activities you enjoy or are convenient to your family, beliefs or community. Doing your part can be as easy as car-pooling, buying candy from a youth organization or planting trees. For folks looking to contribute more, allow me to offer up a few opportunities and their corresponding benefits. The YMCA or YWCA offers many opportunities to help around your community. With more than 2,400 locations in the U.S., YMCA has been preparing young men and women in all walks of life. Their goals have always been creating healthier, more resilient individuals and safer, more viable communities. They have met these challenges through programs, youth sports, clean-up activities and the promotion of values. YMCA’s accept volunteers for all these tasks and support creative ideas of aid in just about all forms, urging even the youngest of kids to get involved. Individuals with a larger scope should check out www.idealist.org. This website is a wonderful resource for people looking to get involved, groups looking for support and all other facets of the non-profit world. They have gone so far as hosting a design contest for non-profit organizations. That shows the creativity and level of sophistication the “helping” sector has attained. From this site you can explore a vast array of options in the volunteer world. This site also does research for the non-profit world, i.e. a study on perception of teen drinking and how that affects the campaign against peer pressure. The program begins with a 2-3 day retreat followed by a week of Core Training during which you will participate in fun and challenging exercises to learn about yourself, your fellow Allies and the Public Allies program. After Core Training, you will serve at your Partner Organization four days each week, where you will have responsibility for meeting concrete goals that make a difference in your community.   By the title “idealist,” you can imagine what is trying to be accomplished on this site. If you tend to see the glass as half full or would like to, give it a minute of your time and see what possibilities are out there. Another conscientious group filling in the gaps that our legislations left open would be AmeriCorps. Started in 1995, the goals of this organization are to meet the nation’s needs in education, public safety and environmental protection. Volunteers for AmeriCorps have tutored, mentored, built housing, taught computer skills, cleaned parks and rivers, run after school programs and responded to natural disasters. One great reason for younger individuals to work with this group is the education credit they can receive and put towards tuition or even past student loans (up to 7 years old). These denizens can earn up to $4,725 for helping out for one year. People working for AmeriCorps are asked to pledge 10-12 months of at least part-time work. They recommend novice helpers try out other programs before donating such a substantial portion of their time. Donating a portion of your time to help out less fortunate people is a rewarding task in its own right. Volunteers help shape futures and provide foundations for folks to build upon. These fellow citizens are commonly afflicted with disadvantaged upbringings, mental illness or even just a rough spot along the road of life. They value the help and unlike just giving tax money to the government, you can see what your contribution does in another’s life. You can feel the change occurring and realize how the country is getting stronger one person at a time. Repaying this great land for the opportunities and possibilities given too you is the greatest form of service America can receive. Links · www.crossculturalsolutions.org · www.ymca.net · www.mentoring.org · www.aarp.org/volunteer · www.idealist.org · www.voa.org · www.americorps.org · www.peacecorps.gov · www.publicallies.org Contact Information · marcb@queencityforum.com