Volunteering: Have Fun. Do Good!

Take Steps Now to Get Promoted at Work

As I read this article I was reminded again (like any of us need a reminder!) that it’s tough to find a job out there, and if we have a job we’re fortunate.

But what if you’re not entirely happy with what you’re doing now and want to move up the career ladder?

It turns out, says Linkedin, that timing is key. January, June and July are the top three months U.S. employees are promoted. This data was gleaned from 20 years’ worth of analysis of Linkedin profile changes. (By the way, if you’re not on Linkedin, I encourage you to set up a profile – it’s super easy to do and the benefits are amazing.)

What Employers Want

Employers look at accomplishments and new skill sets you’ve picked up, says the article’s author. Over the past almost 20 years I’ve been an association professional, I’ve found that to be true. And, I’ve leveraged my membership in the Alexandria Jaycees to help me learn “promotable skills” like project and people management.

Join the Jaycees

If you haven’t yet joined a professional association like Jaycees (who also have a strong community service mission), do it! What are you waiting for? You’ll meet potential friends, colleagues, and contacts for jobs. You’ll gain valuable skills. And, you’ll get the satisfaction of giving back to your community.

Jaycees = Promotable Skills

I’ve been an Alexandria Jaycee since 2002, and I can tell you without a doubt that the skills I learned there – serving as vice president in communications, membership, and management, then as president – helped me advance steadily in my career. In 2002 I was a membership manager; when I left that job 6 years later I was vice president of communications and community development.

As communications vice president, for example, I had the opportunity to write and edit articles, as well as lay out, the monthly newsletter; create email communications campaigns; and redesign the organization’s website.

Jaycees = Mentors

Along the way I had great mentors, like my good friend Kristie Kehoe, a Life Member of the Alexandria Jaycees, who was already a communications professional. She showed me the ropes and I am eternally grateful.  Since my tenure as vice president, many others have served in that role and have had the same opportunities – to try new skills, find a mentor, and practice in a worry-free (no, you don’t get fired if you make a mistake in the Jaycees organization!) environment.

June & July: Aim for that Promotion

As the Linkedin gurus say… timing is key. Take steps now to pick up project and people management skills, presentation and public speaking skills (Who isn’t afraid of speaking in public? Practice with the Jaycees – I promise it will be less scary as time goes on)… and so much more. Email my good friend Lillian Cheng, the 2011 president of the Alexandria Jaycees, to find out more and how to get involved. Check out their upcoming meetings and visit!

The Human Kind Giving Challenge

I love the internet! You find out so many cool things. I stumbled across a great blog called "Human Kind Media," a web 2.0 media company that focuses on the positive - not polyanna - news out there.

I'm going to take their 29-day giving challenge, and encourage you to do the same.

Basically, you give away 29 things in 29 days - your time, your talent, or some "stuff." The idea makes real Mother Theresa's wisdom: “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”

So, what to give? Well, Cami, the woman who began the 29-day challenge, has blogged (of course) about her giving here. Her gifts include helping someone with a referral (to a business, contractor, whatever) to picking up a few extra supplies at a grocery store or crafts store to share with a homeless shelter or with a teacher for her classroom.

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to give every day through June, but I'm looking forward to the discovery process!

The goal is to get 2,000 people to join in the challenge before July 31 of this year... so get moving!!

What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

Today is Memorial Day, originally called "Decoration Day," a day when we honor those who have died in military service to our country. It's a somber day we all mark in different ways, remembering loved ones who died and honoring those who we don't know personally but whom we respect for their service to the country.

Here in D.C. Memorial Day sentiments are truly visible, from seeing (and hearing!) the Rolling Thunder bikers on their way to the Mall, to watching the ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Of course, the notion that we support the men and women serving in our armed forces is not limited to just one day. There are many ways we can support our troops throughout the year, from USO care package stuffing to donating toys for the Marines' Toys for Tots program; from advocating for veterans' services to adopting a platoon... and the list goes on. Sadly - and fortunately - there are many ways to help our troops and our veterans.

What will you do today?

The "Home Run" Weekend: Four Volunteering Opportunities April 25-27

There are dozens of local charities and organizations the Alexandria Jaycees volunteer for – including Rebuilding Together Alexandria, ALIVE!, The Carpenter’s Shelter and NOVAM – so by joining the Jaycees you get to make a real difference for all of these charities and more.

In fact, the weekend of April 25-27 is what we call the "home run" weekend - and you're welcome to join us at any of these events (without having to join). Just email me and I'll provide details about where to meet and how to find the Jaycees.

April 25 - ALIVE! 6:30-7:30 PM. We'll be unloading a truck containing food, which gets distributed to those who need it the following Saturday morning. It only takes about an hour. ALIVE! is Alexandria's largest "safety net" for families and individuals in need.

April 26 - Rebuilding Together Alexandria. 8 AM – 3 PM at the Carpenter's Shelter (Alexandria's homeless shelter) - 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22313. We have been assigned to help the Carpenter's Shelter with some yard work, including trimming, weeding and spreading new mulch in the front yard and playground. Come out, have fun and do good! If you are interested in this event, or want more information please contact Mike Gallagher via email or 703-965-0481.

April 26 - IMAGINE Dinner. 6 PM - 12 AM, email Amy for the location of the dinner party. Later that evening, participants will gather with guests and volunteer hosts from other dinner parties at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria for dessert, drinks, dancing, and a silent auction. The $30 suggested contribution per attendee on the event will be the ticket to the entire event, which benefits the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM).

April 27 - Carpenter's Shelter Cookoff. 2:30 PM - 5 PM.The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA 22305. Proceeds from the cookoff will be used to support the Carpenter's Shelter for homeless children, families, and adults. NEEDED: 5-10 volunteers to assist with clean up (starting around 2:45 pm, lasting for approximately 30-45 minutes). Volunteers gain free admission (a $40 value!). Contact Amy to help.

Volunteer for Life... an Hour at a Time

"Volunteering doesn't have to be a one-time experience. For many, it's a lifetime activity." While I can't pin down the exact source of this quote, I know there are millions of people across the globe who share this sentiment. Why do so many give their time and try to make a difference in others' lives? I think it's the chance to make a real connection with other human beings - and valuing that connection.

What I see in the majority of the volunteers I've worked with is not an "us" and "them" mentality, but a "we." As in, we're all in this together and we're all responsible for helping one another when we need it and celebrating our joys and successes as well.

All of my colleagues in the Alexandria Jaycees, for instance, believe that the chance to make a real difference in someone's life - whether by teaching him to read, helping her feed their family for a few days, or even just listening to her - is in and of itself a gift. And, I can't tell you how much it's meant to me in my own life when I've received the gift of someone's attentive kindness when I just needed to talk.

I'm inspired almost daily by the Jaycees I know. They give so much of themselves - not just their time and talents (which are considerable gifts) but of their compassion and empathy. And their joy.

And, it's not just through organized volunteer groups that I see the incredible gift of caring and moments of true connectedness given - I see it in the daily kindnesses volunteered to co-workers, family and friends who need a hand or an ear; to strangers on the Metro; to people standing in line at the grocery store; and to people you run across in the course of your everyday routine.

But, I think belonging to a volunteer group, whether it's the Jaycees or some other organization, increases the impact you can make.  There are so many ways to get involved - not only through the Alexandria Jaycees or Arlington Jaycees (or any other chapter of the Jaycees) but by searching (by zip code or your interest area, such as helping children - or by your skill sets) Volunteermatch.org or the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau (AVB). All of these websites have volunteer opportunities for numerous Alexandria organizations, such as ALIVE!, Rebuilding Together Alexandria, the Campagna Center, and the Red Cross.

It's an incredibly wonderful feeling to know that you're making a difference in the lives of Alexandrians - even if you can only give a few hours per month. One of the best things I get out of being a Jaycee is that I have an opportunity to give an hour a month - or a couple of hours a week some months - to connect with people in all walks of life. How are you connecting with others in your life?

Alexandria Jaycees' Community Impact

I ran across an interesting report a few days ago, and thought I'd share it with you. The report wasn't done this year, but you'll get the idea.

"Volunteerism is an enormous economic force, yet it is never mentioned in business school or in economics departments," says Charles Hoadley, former Chief Economist, Bank of America. The Independent Sector, a think tank that analyzes the nonprofit industry, has released a survey showing one component of that impact:

83.9 million American adults volunteer, representing the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at a value of $239 billion.

That prompted me to consider the organization where I spend most of my volunteer time - the Alexandria Jaycees here in Virginia. In our own community, the Jaycees' impact can loosely be measured in the same way as the independent think tank, Independent Sector.

In a typical year the Alexandria Jaycees:

• Help 9 local non profits deliver services to children, seniors or low-income Alexandrians
• Conduct 27 community service projects
• Provide about 300 total hours of community service

And, this is in addition to many training seminars and socials conducted each year. Not too shabby!

Have Fun. Do Good!

"Have Fun. Do Good.” I love this phrase - I think those are both great goals for life (though not necessarily in that order!). No matter what your profession, age, or ethnic background, we can all find meaning in this simple philosophy. It’s the reason I joined the Alexandria Jaycees in 2002 - the promise having fun while doing good things in the community and for my own personal development.

Since I joined, I’ve met new people, made new friends, explored the DC metro area, developed new skills and of course contributed to making ours a better community. I suspect you have had a very similar experience if you’ve been active in any Jaycee Chapter across the world.

Having fun and doing good, to me, is not just about giving back to the community. To me, “doing good” can also mean “doing good” things for my career, my friendships, and my professional development – and doing these things in the company of friends. In fact, I think that one of the cool things about being an active Jaycee is the promise that we can both have fun and do good - in just one organization. 

2008 promises to yield more professional training, more socials, and more opportunities for community service. By being a Jaycee, you have a chance to change your world - by having fun and doing good. I hope you'll use this blog for inspiration to begin - or continuing to - volunteer in your community.

Do-It-Yourself "Voluntourism"

Ever want to go on a volunteering vacation? One of the biggest trends in volunteering right now is going abroad—or staying closer to home—to lend a hand to someone in need and learn about other cultures. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for instance, thousands of people just like you took a volunteer vacation in Louisiana and Mississippi to help rebuild the communities. Those looking for longer-term commitments have gotten involved in City Year, AmeriCorps’ VISTA program, the Peace Corps, and other organizations committed to connecting you to neighbors near and far who need help. Giving a week—or a year—to one of these programs is a fantastic goal. You’ll gain a new perspective on the world, make lasting friendships, and be certain that you have made a difference in someone’s life.

Voluntourism doesn’t have to require a year’s commitment, passport or current vaccinations! Take the Jaycees’ tour through the Alexandria and metro DC region to learn about those in need here in our own community and make a difference locally. You can give an hour, two, or more—and I promise you will gain a new perspective on the world, get to know new people, and make a positive impact for those in need.

You can find information about all of these opportunities on the Alexandria Jaycees' online calendar, under Programs & Events.  Here are just a few of the things you'll find there:

Help eradicate poverty and hunger at ALIVE! food drives, the DC Central Kitchen, and the Carpenter’s Shelter

Keep our environment clean at the Potomac River cleanup

Make an elderly or disabled neighbor’s home safe and livable through Rebuilding Together Alexandria

p.s. If the concept of a week or year of Voluntourism appeals to you, start your research at www.voluntourism.org/traveler.html.