Vermont ranks number one in per-capita Peace Corps volunteers

(NECN: Anya Huneke, Burlington, VT) - When it comes to volunteering and helping others, Vermont is at the top of the list, according to new information released by the Peace Corps. And some who have worked with the Peace Corps say the rankings don't come as much of a surprise.

Five years ago, Erin Roche and her husband signed up for an experience that would take them halfway across the world- to the kingdom of Tonga in the South Pacific.

They were looking for a change and an adventure that would benefit them- but more importantly, others.

They joined the Peace Corps, and for two years, taught English at a post-secondary school. They returned to the west coast to restart their careers...

Erin "But we got back to Seattle and our real lives weren't the same."

So, they moved to Vermont, and Roche got a job at the center for rural studies at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

Erin "Vermont seemed like a really interesting place- it had a lot of the same values that the Peace Corps makes you think about."

That could explain Vermont’s latest ranking by the Peace Corps as the number one volunteer-producing state - per capita - in the country.

According to data released this week, Vermont has the highest number of Peace Corps volunteers - almost 10 per 100-thousand.

Washington, D.C. ranks second- with almost eight, and Maine third- with almost six.

Not only is Vermont at the top of the list, but

its largest city, Burlington, is in the top ten in the country per capita for peace corps volunteers. Some are recent college graduates... but many others are residents-who are already involved in community service.">

Ned McMahon\Prof., Int'l Devel., UVM "Burlington is a progressive city- with a long history of civic engagement."

Ned McMahon - professor of international development at UVM - says he isn't surprised by the rankings.

Ned “It's not anything new, but it's certainly something I hope will continue."

Chances are, it will.

Jake Evans - a Peace Corps recruiter - says interest in Vermont has been steady, and applications across the country are up 18-percent over last year.

Jake: "It could be the economy... a new president... people looking for something else to do..."

Hisashi Kominami is among those considering the peace corps- after grad school at UVM.

Kominami ”It's something I always thought about doing."

And now, he says, may be as good a time as any.

Salvation Army Volunteers Visit the Homebound

Volunteers delivered Christmas gifts and holiday greetings today to more than 1,000 home-bound people in the metropolitan area. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the spirit of giving, more than 100 Salvation Army volunteers donated time Sunday to deliver Christmas gifts to shut-ins.

Roughly 1,000 homebound, elderly or disabled people throughout the metropolitan area are remembered in the annual event known as “Shut-In Sunday.”

“We’re trying to reach people who are unable to leave their homes, for whatever reason,” said Major Phyllis Blinks, divisional volunteer services director for the Salvation Army. “Our volunteers take each person a Christmas gift, check on their well-being, and let them know someone cares about them.”

Blinks said the Salvation Army has fewer volunteers this year, but more requests for home deliveries. Last year, volunteers delivered to about 800 homebound people; this year more than 1,000 have requested a visit. Volunteers must pass a background check before assisting with ‘Shut-In Sunday”.

For more information about Salvation Army volunteer projects, call (816) 756-1455.

Posted by: Caroline Rooney
Last Update: 12/06 5:13 pm

Gift Wrapping Skills Raise Money for Cancer Society

Here is a great idea:
BIG FLATS -- Many holiday shoppers dread the idea of wrapping gifts, but Teresa Smith of Corning loves it.

In fact, Smith devotes several hours each Christmas season to wrapping gifts for total strangers.

Smith is among an army of volunteers who man the American Cancer Society gift-wrapping booth at Arnot Mall in Big Flats.

"I enjoy it, for one thing. I'm retired and I think it keeps you young by volunteering," Smith said. "I like to wrap. I've been doing it for five or six years. I signed up for eight (shifts) this year."

The American Cancer Society could use more people like Smith.
It takes 400 to 500 volunteers to keep the booth running because it's open seven days a week during the holiday season, said Louise McIntosh, the society's community executive for Chemung, Steuben and Schuyler counties.

For a donation of $1 to $5, depending on the size of the package, harried shoppers can let Cancer Society volunteers handle the wrapping.

Those donations, in turn, help fund a myriad of programs and services.
"It goes for patient services, research programs, transportation and things like free wigs for chemotherapy patients," McIntosh said.

The American Cancer Society could use about 200 more volunteers to ensure that its Arnot Mall booth is staffed throughout the shopping season, McIntosh said. Shifts are about four hours and volunteers can sign up for one shift or as many as they want.

Pat Schooler of Big Flats helped man the booth Sunday along with her daughter, who volunteered as part of a high school health class project.

"I encourage anyone to come out and volunteer. There's still a shortage," Schooler said. "It's a great way to teach kids how to volunteer and give to the community.
By Jeff Murray •jdmurray@gannett.com • November 29, 2009

The Cover Is Here!

Here is the cover I have just been sent for The Volunteer Book. Wow, it's exciting to see my name right there on the front. It is to be published in March of 2010. I'll keep you posted.

For a bigger version (one you can actually see my name)check out my website at:http://deniselocker.com//news.htm

Volunteer Needs

Swine Flu Vaccine Testers Needed in Kansas
Heartland Research Associates are looking for 25 to 40 children between 6 months and 9 years to test the swine flu and seasonal flu vaccines in Wichita:
http://www.kansas.com/living/health-fitness/story/942123.html


Iowa, Woodbury County in Serious Need of Volunteers
Rescue squads and local ambulance are at a critical point and in desperate need of volunteers to fill out their ranks: http://www.kcautv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10977706&nav=1kgl

Fun Day in the Forest Looking for volunteers
15th annual Friends of the Freetown-Fall River State Forest in Massachusetts is September 27 and volunteers are needed: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090824/NEWS/908240319/-1/NEWSMAP

Volunteer Destination-the World?

Have you ever considered spending your time volunteering someplace in the world? My recommendation to you is go for it!

I had the opportunity to spend a summer in Belgium. I know you’ve heard it before, but it’s true. It was life changing. Besides proving a clearer understanding of God and how He works in the world, your view of the world changes. Your understanding of where you currently live and the rest of the world will take on a whole new meaning. Your view of service will change too because you will see first hand the difference small things can make in the life’s of others and communities.

The church also benefits because the people that come back from these short-term trips have a new vision and excitement that becomes contagious infecting the whole Body. Also those volunteering in this manner become serious about their personal walk with the Lord through practices such as prayer, Bible studies, involvement in leadership and long term ministry service.

The nationals get a huge boost in productivity and exposure when teams come for construction projects, Bible classes, medical/dental clinics, business/agricultural consulting, English camps, sports camps, drama, etc. They also notice when a group of foreigners come to give of themselves to provide knowledge of the God, better living situation, or physical health. Lives are changed affecting many now and into the future.

I would recommend for your consideration Face to Face International. This is a ministry that will assists you and/or your church, denominations, ministries, schools, etc. in a way to ensure you are fully equipped with necessary legal forms, shots, logistical support, language assistance, knowledge of the destination and people group(s), and spiritual prepared for a safe trip that will be beneficial for all.

Face to Face International has helped thousands to go to over 60 countries. Why not you? http://face.org

Christian Serve

Latest “Volunteering in America 2009” report shows a positive view of Christians and their willingness to serve their communities.

The report sites, “Over one-third of the nearly 62 million volunteers donate their time through religious organizations.

“Religious organizations are a key source of potential volunteers for nonprofit organizations,” said Nicola Goren, the corporation's chief executive officer. “Nonprofits looking to expand their reach and impact may find it beneficial to work more closely with religious organizations in their communities, especially in these tough economic times.”

To read an excellent article that provides a short overview of the report go to:
“Faith groups top others in getting volunteers” By Lindsay Perna, Religion News Service, Aug. 6, 2009, 6:06PM The Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6563306.html

Volunteerism in American Key Findings

• In 2008, 61.8 million Americans or 26.4 percent of the adult population contributed 8 billion hours of volunteer service worth $162 billion, using Independent Sector’s 2008 estimate of the dollar value of a volunteer hour ($20.25).

• Despite the challenges of a tough economic situation, the volunteering rate held steady between 2007 and 2008, while the number of volunteers slightly increased by about one million.

• Over 441,000 more young adults (age 16-24) volunteered in 2008 than 2007, representing an increase from about 7.8 million to more than 8.2 million.

• Neighborhood engagement levels have risen sharply since 2007,with a 31 percent increase in the number of people who worked with their neighbors to fix a community problem and a 17 percent increase in the number of people who attended community
meetings.

• As the economy slows and nonprofit organizations struggle to provide services on smaller budgets, volunteers become even more vital to the health of our nation’s communities. Between September 2008 and March 2009, more than a third (37%) of nonprofit organizations report increasing the number of volunteers they use, and almost half (48%) foresee increasing their usage of volunteers in the coming year.1 Almost no nonprofit organizations are showing a decrease in their volunteer usage.

• Volunteers were much more likely than non-volunteers to donate to a charitable cause in 2008, with 78.2 percent contributing $25 or more compared to 38.5 percent of non-volunteers.

Source:
http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/index.cfm

Volunteer Needs

Here is a list of few volunteer needs.Check out the first one. Eat chocolate for a year. Oh yea!

Volunteers To Eat Chocolate Every Day for a Year:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/5892215/Wanted-volunteers-to-eat-chocolate-every-day-for-a-year-in-the-name-of-science.html

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers Needed:
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20090803/VALLEYNEWS/908039993/1074

Senior Meal Delivery Needs Volunteers:
http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20090803/NEWS/308039983

Volunteers Needed for Buddy Walk:
http://www.aikenstandard.com/Local/0803-buddy-walk-promo

Mining Information Volunteers Needed:
http://www.entropiaforum.com/forums/mining/158166-need-some-mining-info-volunteers.html

If you have volunteer needs email me to have them listed. blessingmeadow@sbcglobal.net

Staff member’s spouse wants to volunteer in the area where their spouse works.

In my experience, a spouse volunteering in the same area where their husband or wife works is not a good situation for several reasons. It has the potential of putting other staff members on the spot. This is especially true if the volunteering spouse inadvertently creates more work, is performing their tasks incorrectly, or just wants to hang around their spouse. Having the volunteer in the department can also cause the employee to hover over their spouse. The volunteering spouse may expect special treatment. Even more problematic, sometimes the volunteer will look to their spouse to call the shots instead of deferring to the volunteer leadership team. If the spouse of an employee expresses a desire to volunteer, they should complete the questionnaire process just like everyone else. It may be that the spouse would prefer to volunteer in a different area, and it is the staff member that is pushing them to volunteer in their department. Establish, as early as possible, that staff spouses are welcome and encouraged to volunteer, but not in an area where the employed spouse is working or is responsible.

One staff member shared the following story: “From time to time Martha* would come to the office to 'help out.' Her job was to file documents, but she was not consistent in where she filed items and never became familiar with the filling system. As a result, she had frequent questions for the two support staff members in the department, constantly interrupting their work. To complicate things, Martha was the wife of the department head. Whenever she was there, he was constantly hovering. Don't get me wrong, Martha is delightful; however, a different assignment would have been appropriate, such as helping with the monthly mailings, where she and the other volunteers could socialize to their heart’s content as they worked.

The problem we encountered by allowing Martha to work in her husband’s department was that it created confusion about who should be calling the shots relative to her work assignment. This dilemma had the effect of unsettling everyone concerned, including Martha, the volunteer supervisor, and the two employees in the department.” Written by a non-profit Department Assistant –Name withheld upon request
*Not her name.

Summer of Service Begins

Maria Shriver, California's first lady invited another first lady, Michelle Obama to join her in San Francisco Monday, June 22. The aim was to help finish a playgroung at Bret Harte Elementary school. What is wonderful about this story is the work done by volunteers.

"You don't have to be a first lady to make a difference, you don't have to be a president or a governor... You just have to be a patient, committed, and compassionate human being," said Maria Shriver.

This event was the beginning of a 12-week program entitled Summer of Service which is part of the President's United We Serve program. The goal is to encourage individuals to become involved in their community through service. Let's all find someway to join in and make a difference in our own community.

“How do I talk to them? What do I say?”

Camille, church secretary in a one-secretary officeWhen Camille asked me this question I was surprised. To be honest, I didn’t understand what she was asking. Volunteers aren’t aliens. They generally speak the same language. It was when I asked her what she meant and she asked the second question, (“What do I say?”) that things became clearer. I know first-hand that with most one-secretary offices you are so busy with long lists of responsibilitiesy on your shoulders you don’t have time to even think about what you would ask someone to do, let alone find the time to train them. You’re in a get-it-done mode, nose to the grind stone, and head down, moving straight ahead. Having a volunteer , as desirable as that would be, would stop you in your tracks and you would need to take time out to talk to them. You'rer four steps ahead of them and can’t look back. What do you say that can get them up to your speed and allow them to be helpful to you and the organization without taking time away from your schedule? Balance! You need balance and a volunteer can help provide that necessary quality in your life. Yes, you will have to stop and slow down, for a time, to get the volunteer up to speed and allow them to be helpful to you and the organization.? Balance! You need balance, and a volunteer can help provide that necessary quality in your life., Yes, you will have to o stop and slow downstop, for a time, to get the volunteer up to speed, but it will be beneficial for you even beyond the prospect of getting more tasks done. If you are going 110 miles an hour, I know you don’t want to hear this, but you need balance. One way to get this is to slow down, train a volunteer, and allow them to they will help you. How do you talk to them? You have to stop for a minute, look them in the eyes, say hello, thank them for coming, and then tell them what you need help with.

Where Do People Volunteer?

Below is a list of activities put together by the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified in February 2008. Find your category of volunteer needs and you will then have a brief description of your volunteer. This information is key in helping you find the volunteers you are looking to recruit.

• Coach, referee or supervise sports team – Men (10%) are more likely than women (2.7%) to participate in this area. The men have children under 18 years old and are equally divided amongst races.

• Tutor or teach – Women tutor more than men (12.9%) and men (8%). The women are between 20-44 years of age with the largest group falling in the 35-44 year old bracket. The ethnic breaks down with Latino representing 12.7% and Asian 12.3%. These women have a BA or higher, are more likely to be married and have children under 18 years old (17%).

• Mentor youth – This group is made up of singles between the ages of 16-19 (19.9%). It is closely divided between women (6%) men (5.5%). The largest percent in the race category is African American at 8.8% and they have a BA or higher.

• Usher, greeter, or minister – Men (5.4%) or more l likely than women (3.4%) to hold this position. The primary age group is 55-64 years old. The largest percentage, 20.8%, has less than a high school diploma with 13% having a high school diploma with no college. They are equally divided between single (8%) and married (8%). The ethnic breakdown is very close across races: Asian 12%, African American 10.3%, Latino 9.8%, Caucasian 9%.

• Collect, prepare, distribute or serve food – Women by 10.7% and men by 7.2% make up this group. The age of this group averages 65 years and over (15%) and participants have less than a high school diploma by 20.8%. Asians (12%) and African Americans (10.3%) are the key ethnic groups represented in this undertaking.

• Collect, make, distribute, clothing, crafts or good other than food –Women (4.2%) outpace the men in this task 1.8%). The largest age group is 65 years and over, with the majority of them having less than a high school diploma (5.4%), and with 4.2% being a high school graduate with no college. The two main ethnic groups are African American (3.9%) Caucasian (3.2%).

• Fund raising or selling items to raise money – More women than men (12.4% to 8.8%) perform this task. The age groups break into two distinct categories ages 16-19 and 35-54. The largest percentage is white (11.2%), with some college or associate degree. They also have children less than 18 years old of age.

• Provide counseling, medical care, fire, EMS, protective services – The separation between men and women for this category is men 3.6% women 2.8%. The primary age group percentage is 20-24 years old. The majority have some college or an associate degree or higher and are single. The ethic division is White 3.1%, African American 2.9%, and Latino 2.8%.

• Provide general office services – This area is dominated by women (6.2%), with men responding at 2.7%. The age group averages 65 years of age or older, with no dependent children. The racial split is as follows: Latino 5.1%, African American 5%, and Caucasian 4.8%. The groups nearly equally have high school diplomas (5.5%) or some college or an associate degree (5%).

• Provide professional or management assistance including serving on a board or committee – Men at 9.3% just out pace women at 6.3% in this area by 3%. They are between 55 – 64 years old and have a BA or higher. These men typically do not have children under 18 years of age (9.4%). They also fall mainly into two ethic groups: Caucasian (8%) and Asian (6.4%).

• Engage in music, performance, or other artistic activities – Men stand out in this category at 12.4% as opposed to women at 5.4%. The main age group is 16-24 years old. Of this group, 12.2% have less than a high school diploma and are typically single (10.4%) with no children (13.6%).

• Engage in supplying transportation to people – Men are represented in this group by 12.4%, whereas women volunteer at 5.4%. The main age group is 16-24 years old. In this group 12% have less than a high school diploma, while 9.8% are high school graduates with no college, and 8.2% have some college or an associate degree. They are also predominantly single (10.4%). Asians represents 9% of this group and Caucasians 8.4%.

Snowflake Quotes About Volunteers

Snowflakes melt alone - but together they can be traffic stoppers!
Anonymous