Pen Pal

Many of my older friends, who are retired, retiring or contemplating this life change wonder what their less structured days may hold.  Though I am still happily, productively employed, and very actively engaged in community volunteering,  I've recently, accidentally discovered, a meaningful and flexible way to make a difference, as a pen pal.

My new pen pal is a former colleague's adult child, who I initially met as a Special Olympics athlete. There are so many folks, young and old, whose lives can be brightened by occasional letters from those outside their immediate circles.  And, as fate would have it, our lives are brightened equally or greater.

Connecting Willing Volunteers with Fulfilling Opportunities

Comerica Bank hosted an event today, featuring a stellar panel of community leaders, who shared their reasons for volunteer engagement and practical ways to maximize impact.   My aha moment occurred when one of the panelists I'd invited, shared that his community engagement prior to 9/11 had been two-fold: supporting his wife's volunteer leadership and writing checks/attending nonprofit events.  I've only become friends with this successful lawyer and incredible community leader since his immersion into board service.

My assumption, prior to today, was that successful folks included board service or other significant volunteer commitments in their way of being/doing/operating.  My aha discovery was that the "engagement gene" may well evolve as an individual has more control over her/his schedule.  Sometimes it is inherited - and sometimes it evolves.  

Regardless of how an individual invests time, talent and/or treasure, passion is the key.  Excitement about the organization's mission will ideally inspire engagement and commitment.

What is a Volunteer?

There are countless descriptive definitions and examples of volunteering.  Volunteers make priceless impact every day.  As I was running this morning, in a volunteer t-shirt, I thought of a simplistic way of depicting what ideal volunteers are:

• Valuable
• Open
• Listening
• Understanding
• Needed
• Talented
• Empathetic
• Energized
• Resource

Thank you to each of you for making such a difference in so very many ways!

Paintdrops Weren't Falling on Our Heads

Years ago, my husband and I realized that we were "have it done for yourselfers" rather than do-it-yourselfers".  However, I recently agreed to join my Comerica colleagues for 4 hours of paining at a United Way agency for Comerica's national day of service.

Thankfully, visions of paintdrops falling on my head, did not materialize.  One of our committed colleagues engaged her accomplished painting contractor husband.  He and she saved the day!

Our small, but eager team was effectively directed to achieve a project that appeared to exceed our abilities.  This experience reminded me that leaders often situationally emerge.

We can keep paintdrops from falling on our heads by bringing the right tools and engaging the best team members.

45 Ways to Make a Difference

45 Ways to Make a Difference

1.      Volunteer!

2.      Contribute financially to a non-profit organization.

3.      Join a non-profit friends group.

4.      Become an advisory board member.

5.      Serve on a board.

6.      Chair a committee.

7.      Plan an event.

8.      Make friends aware of the great work of your chosen non-profit organization.

9.      Walk, run or bike for an organization.

10.  Donate your new or gently used items to an organization.

11.  Vote.

12.  Bring someone with you to volunteer.

13.  Recycle.

14.  Collect non-perishable food items for a food bank or pantry.

15.  Give blood.

16.  Register as an organ donor.

17.  Provide toiletry items to a homeless organization.

18.  Be a mentor.

19.  Teach a class.

20.  Encourage a friend, stranger, colleague, family member or neighbor.

21.  Speak up for someone who needs an advocate.

22.  Discover new volunteer options. One Houston option is http://www.volunteerhouston.org.

23.  Take the magazines you’ve read to a nursing home or hospital.

24.  Organize a group of colleagues, friends or neighbors for a volunteer project.

25.  Conserve natural resources.

26.  Fund-raise for a non-profit.

27.  Assist a classroom teacher.

28.  Coach a team.

29.  Fund a classroom project. One option is www.donorschoose.org.

30.  Thoughtfully re-gift.

31.  Donate books to the library.

32.  Motivate positive action with a letter to the editor.

33.  Donate or recycle your old cell phone.

34.  Keep reusable bags in your car for shopping trips.

35.  Support a non-profit through social media.

36.  Donate eyeglasses. One option is www.lionsclubs.org.

37.  Donate unopened contact lenses.  One option is http://www.madre.org.

38.  Shop for a cause.

39.  Donate your hair. One option is www.locksoflove.org.

40.  Support our troops.

41.  Share knowledge.

42.  Send used greeting cards to St.Jude’s Ranch (www.stjudesranch.org).

43.  Become a foster parent.

44.  Attend a fund-raising event.

45.  Make a donation in memory or honor of someone.

Follow Passion when Volunteering

My day has been filled with varied volunteer activities for DePelchin Children's Center, March of Dimes and Junior Achievement.  The activities were different for each organization, but the common element is that each benefits children.  There are unlimited opportunities to make a difference and we need to assess the best fit for our skills and interests.  Fortunately, I learned early in my volunteer experience that just because an organization is worthwhile, I may not be the best volunteer for the organization.  When we are passionate about a cause we bring our best to the opportunity and tend to maintain involvement. 

Board Engagement

We tried an experiment with a nonprofit board that I chair.  We conducted board orientation after we had included the new board members in two events:

• board reception for new, retiring and returning board members and senior staff 
• board meeting and state of the organization presentation

All three activities were held within a two week period.  Feedback was positive.  The new board members had a chance to visit socially in a lovely home with key staff, seasoned board members and one another before engaging in governance.  When they participated in board orientation, they already had a broader sense of the opportunities and challenges facing the organization and knew many of the other board and staff who were also committed to serving children and families in Texas.

There are many ways to foster engagement including shared vision, passion and camaraderie.

Passion for Children

DePelchin Children's Center has been serving the needs of Houston children and families since 1892.  Services have expanded through the years and include mental health, residential treatment, foster care, adoption, education and prevention.

The vision is aspirational: We envision a world in which every child is safe and healthy.

And the mission is to strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being.

I've had the privilege of serving on the board of this amazing organization for many years and am thrilled with the commitment, professionalism and passion consistently demonstrated by the staff and board.

There are so many ways to make a positive impact for all who have a passion for the well-being of children and all of our children need opportunities, resources and advocates.  Many of us had the privilege of growing up in loving homes with supportive families.  Not every child has this experience.  If you're looking for a chance to change the world, consider sharing your time, talent and/or treasure with one of the many terrific organizations committed to strengthening the lives of children.

Superior Impact

My Junior League involvement predates my motherhood.  My reason for mentioning this is that motherhood is the way to timestamp many of my Junior League experiences.  I love the incredible friends I've made, the amazing organizations we've benefited, the leaders we've trained, inspired and launched, and the legacy we imprint upon the Houston community.  Our impact is multiplied through our time, volunteer hours and monetary contributions. 

My volunteer roles are all important to me and the community.  I benchmark many of my involvements against the superior impact of the Junior League of Houston.

Volunteer Board Members

There are countless ways to volunteer and each has the opportunity to impact the life of the volunteer and those he or she serves.  I was asked recently how to become a board member of a volunteer organization since I am very active in the community.  There are many paths to board service including:

• establishing a stellar reputation with an organization as a committed volunteer
• providing a skill that is absent or under-represented on the board
• being nominated by a friend or colleague who knows what you can contribute
• responding to a solicitation for new board members
• making your specific interest known to current board members or staff
• achieving highly positive company, community and/or association visibility
• serving as a company or organization designated representative

 Board members are expected to bring 4 Ts to a non-profit:

• Time
• Talent
• Treasure
• Touch

The first 3 Ts are self-explanatory. Touch includes sharing the organization's mission and needs with your network.  It involves being an ambassador for the organization.

Those with a sincere interest in making an impact are far superior board members than those who are viewed as resume builders.  And, it would be rare for an organization to tap a board member who has not already been active in the community.  As with most other opportunities, a broad, diverse network helps connect the willing and able to the organizations that have expressed needs.

Board representation is gratifying work when you are engaged with an organization with a mission that matches your passion.  Without passion, it becomes just another task on a to-do list.  

Volunteering Triples Impact

My world has been positively impacted by the power of voluntarism from childhood.  My precious Mama was the perpetual room mother for at least one child each year, helping countless teachers expand their impact and benefiting innumerable classmates.  She was ever present for the many opportunities that our church needed and provided.  She met numerous needs in her active leadership roles with Junior Auxiliary.  And her remarkable impact continues through P.E.O.

Not everyone is so fortunate to have a volunteer role model.  I am most grateful that I've always known that one of our responsibilities is to assist others.

Volunteering is good for our conscience, community and career.  First and second, we know that we feel good when we help others. But, one of the additional benefits of volunteering is career enhancing.  Volunteering:

•  makes a difference in the lives of others
• distinguishes those who serve others
• has the potential to hone new skills
• provides leadership development opportunities
• expands networks

It Could Happen to Anyone

Edgar has joined the Way Station ministry at our church, Palmer Memorial Episcopal, serving a hot breakfast to hundreds of hungry Houstonians each Friday.  He always comes home so moved by the experience.  Friday was more emotional than ever, as he greeted a well-educated colleague in the line.  The impact of job loss became far more than a statistic when this former classmate shared his story. 

It makes me realize just how very fortunate I am to have a great job that I love. 

Is It Time to Change Your Volunteer Post?

Why are we volunteering where we are volunteering? Periodically, we must pause to remember why we are maintaining or neglecting our various volunteer commitments.  We need to remember why we initially engaged with the organization. 

Were we chosen/or did we choose to engage because of a particular skill set, passion or connections?  If so, we need to ascertain if we have added sufficient value from our involvement. We must also question whether the organization could benefit from new blood with a similar reason for engaging.  Best yet, we will realize that our reasons for investing our discretionary time and talent with the organization remain worthy. And when we methodically choose to pare a commitment, my hope is that we will find another organization that will similarly benefit from our engagement and identify another volunteer who will serve in our place.

We all make a difference!