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WHAT'S NEW
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Volunteering 101: How to get started
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Discover great ways to effectively give your time and energy to a cause you support.
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By Adele Sanoy
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Volunteering is a way to contribute to the lives of individuals, organizations, causes and communities. If you've considered getting involved, now is a great time. Here are some tips that will help you get started.
How, What, Why?
Decide if you've got the energy and desire to share your time and talents with others. Those are key ingredients for being an effective volunteer. Then, consider the following:
• Determine exactly how much time you can contribute. You can volunteer with as little as two to four hours a week, once a month, or as much as 40 hours a week.
• Consider your interests in things such as politics, children, health issues, the elderly, the environment, arts, music, education. Look for organizations that support these causes.
• The job skills you already have or want to develop can direct your choice of cause to support. Volunteering is an excellent way to build a portfolio, develop new skills and perhaps a list of references. Be sure to request letters/confirmations of participation after each major assignment to keep among your portfolio/resume.
• If one of your goals is to meet people and develop friendships, make sure that your volunteer experience will involve interaction with others. If you want to have a quiet retreat from the public, find a volunteer position that has minimal public interaction.
Where?
After making the choice to get involved, the most difficult decision may be deciding where to volunteer. Here's how to hook up with an organization:
• Read classifieds in major newspapers, community newspapers and the free publications in the grocery store foyer. Small publications that offer free advertising for non-profit organizations are more attractive to some charities that are on tight budgets.
• If you want a lot of flexibility or variety perhaps you should consider the annual or special events held by various organizations. Watch the classifieds and community event calendars.
• Find out if there is a volunteer center located in your city. Volunteer Canada (www.volunteer.ca) lists many such agencies.
• Check the Internet. There are websites that match volunteers to organizations such as www.charityguide.org and www.idealist.org where you can look for volunteer opportunities in Canada and the rest of the world.
• Phone your community association to see if they know of opportunities in your area.
• Check the yellow pages to find an agency that supports a particular health, religious, political, or social cause that interests you.
Getting Started
Once you have decided who to support, contact the agency and get to work! Here are some brief tips to make your volunteer experience positive and effective:
• Visit the agency. Ask what the mission statement and goals of the organization are.
• Ask for a job description. Discuss the various volunteer positions available.
• Ask about training.
• Find out if there are terms and conditions.
• Show up on time. Be reliable.
• Be effective but don't burn yourself out. It should be fun, and it shouldn't take away from your paid employment.
• Attend the volunteer appreciation functions. Stay connected to meet people and learn about other events.
For me, volunteering is addictive. It has enhanced my personal well-being by providing me with memories and friendships that inspire poets. Considering many other possible addictions, it's a great "vice" to have.
For Adele Sanoy, volunteering has been a way of life for many years. In 1999, she founded Single Volunteers Society of Calgary, to which she volunteers her time on a daily basis, supporting non-profit groups by organizing volunteer activities for singles.
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