VOLUNTEER!

Dennis Speck recieves Lifetime Achievement award

East Linn volunteers Joyce Ohnesorge, Carol Beck, Grace Sowards and Peggy Arnold receive Gold Presidential Achievement Awards

Paul Franklin, Leatha Amort and Don Jones earn Benton County Gold Presidential Achievement Awards

Albany Senior Center helps RSVP honor Alice Hamilton with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

From the RSVP Advisory Council

As I sat down to write this piece I took time to brainstorm everything I had ever felt and experienced through volunteering over my lifetime. When I looked at all the words on the page I realized that those feelings and experiences had all produced a variety of results and consequences that had contributed to my growth....personal and professional!

Putting pen to paper on this topic has allowed me to take a walk along the path of my life journey. As a young Mom, I volunteered with Sunday School, Block Parents, and teams and clubs to which my children belonged. When I was a full time employee, I was on committees connected to work. Now that I (think I) am semi-retired (working 27+ hours per week), I sit on the Linn Benton R.S.V.P. Advisory Board ~ an organization committed to bettering/supporting the lives of seniors.

I remember as a young adult wondering how I would ever have the time or energy to volunteer ~ but I was intrigued by many opportunities that came my way and had a difficult time saying “No”! I was often attracted to the task, the environment, or the people involved. Other times I liked the short time commitment or organizational opportunities. As I ‘let go’ of my routine responsibilities for short periods of time, I actually enjoyed being ‘out’ with others and helping to plan or assisting with the implementation of events and activities. This change of focus was energizing!

I met wonderful people, made better use of my time, developed great time management skills, earned much satisfaction from the accomplishments and realized I had skills I might never have known I had. Since it was easy for me to over commit, I learned to say “yes, but....” which for me was very empowering!

One of the major outcomes of my volunteer involvements was re-entry into the workforce after twenty years as an at-home Mom. When asked by my colleagues where I had been previously employed, I replied that I had been a ‘professional volunteer’. My department head overheard the conversation and retorted, “Diane, it was those volunteer positions that got you this job”! (Oops!) I found that I had undervalued my activities.

Having moved to Corvallis in May 2005, and knowing no one, I cautiously accepted Beth Fox’s invitation to join the RSVP Advisory Board. I look forward to the monthly meetings and feel comfortable making small contributions. As a result I am learning about Oregon and Linn and Benton Counties in a way I never would have had I said “No”! As the volunteer Literacy Tutor Coordinator at LBCC, working with RSVP has provided a network with which to make contact that I may never have developed. I see a bigger picture of volunteering than I had ever imagined.

There is no limit to the kinds of groups with which to be associated and no limit to the rewards, out comes, or experiences that volunteering can and does provide.