From the Editor's Computer
Volunteers are the backbone of any community or organization. Without their efforts, our communities would not be as rich and varied.
Volunteers come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Their interests are as diverse as their personalities. Some volunteer in the same sector, some volunteer in many sectors.
Unfortunately, there is (at least in my opinion) an alarming trend moving through the ranks of volunteerism in North America. People refuse to volunteer unless they are given monetary compensation and public recognition for their efforts, plus an escape clause. No wonder “volunteer burnout” is becoming more and more prevalent in our society. When you treat volunteering like a job that requires bribes and feelings of power to complete, you miss the immeasurable and intangible rewards that volunteering brings.
When I was a Girl Guide, we were encouraged to do “Good Turns” each week - more than Random Acts of Kindness, these were actual volunteer tasks we performed - service for a local group or individual, picking litter, and more. These activities taught us how to be good citizens in our homes, school, community and the wider world.
The best Good Turns were ones done anonymously, tasks that needed done to improved our world, and used each person’s unique talents, whether the results were noticed or not.
We have a lot of volunteers in our communities who are doing what needs to be done, anonymously, because they have discovered the true meaning and rewards of volunteerism.
Beth
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRrQUPqHpApwcGv9a6OKboxkl0lRuiC7/view?usp=sharing
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
Read the complete issue of The Chautauqua here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRrQUPqHpApwcGv9a6OKboxkl0lRuiC7/view?usp=sharing
To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.
