Baby Boomers Offer Large Numbers of Volunteers

Baby Boomers are members of a diverse group born between 1946 and 1964. Some still cope with teenagers at home, others pay university tuition fees, some care for aging parents while still others enjoy their grandchildren. Some baby boomers work full-time, some part-time, while others contemplate retirement or are already retired. Their interests and aspirations are as diverse as they are. They are always looking for new experiences, challenges and how to make a difference. Baby boomers want to stay active in mind and body, make connections and continue to learn.

Because of their sheer numbers, baby boomers influence and redefine every stage of their lives. Volunteering will be no different.

Research indicates four main reasons why baby boomers volunteer. They want to:

• Support a cause that they believe in.

• Make a contribution to society.

• Share their skills.

• Do something meaningful with their friends and colleagues.

More importantly, baby boomers want to volunteer on their own terms. Consider some of the challenges that baby boomers face:

They don’t have enough time.

• Theirs is known as a sandwich generation – caring for children and aging parents simultaneously leaves less free time.

They don’t have time during traditional work hours.

• Many baby boomers work full-time and many work past the traditional retirement age of 65. Unless their employers have a corporate volunteering program, these volunteers can’t always be available when you need them.

They don’t identify with traditional images of volunteers.

• The clichéd image of kindly white-haired volunteer clashes with the way baby boomers sees themselves – more youthful and dynamic than their parents.

They don’t want to do routine or menial volunteer tasks.

• With less free time, many of today’s volunteers expect challenging and meaningful work that reflects their skills and experience.

Short term (episodic) or a regular commitment?

Volunteering doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Between work, children, aging parents, homes, hobbies, friends, appointments, and other commitments, you may not think you have much time left over. But your involvement can be as much or as little time as you have.

• You can volunteer sporadically, to help out at a special event, or on an on-going basis, for one day a week or a few days a year.

• If you go away on holidays, your volunteer work can be put on hold or shared with another volunteer.

Frontline help or behind-the-scenes support?

You can join your local community clean-up or lead the development the funding proposal.

Volunteering from home or out in the community?

Virtual volunteering can be done from home through Internet sites that link volunteers with recipients. You could connect with kids who need homework help or people who need a life coach.

Whatever you choose, be realistic about your commitment

Organizations can accommodate your interests and your time frame, no matter how little or how much you can do– but they do need you to show up when you say you will. The people they serve count on you.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has numerous current volunteer opportunities available with over 165 local non-profit agencies. To secure volunteer opportunities call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087 or email information@vccv.org. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.

Recognizing Volunteers

Much is said about recognizing volunteers. In a recent survey in Illinois, 44% of those responding said they don't think they do a good job of recognizing their volunteers. This response made me wonder if people think 'recognition' is the end-of-the-year dinner Many agencies don't have the resources to do this kind of event and feel bad about not doing it.

However, I believe good leaders recognize their volunteers from the minute they join a program by treating them as individuals with talents and interests who need to be matched to the right task. Leaders also understand the value of praising effective work at the time it takes place and treating volunteers as important members of the team. This kind of recognition is more important than any social event that might be held.

I have found over the years that while some volunteers love the big yearly event, others don't care at all and find their satisfaction in the work they do and the feedback from those they work with. This could be recognition in the organization's newsletter, a note from a pleased staff member or client, or a 'promotion' to a more responsible volunteer assignment.

Volunteer recognition can be public or private and should be appropriate to the person and his/her contribution. Most of all, it should be honest and demonstrate some particular insight into what that person has done.

The following are some everyday ways to recognize volunteers:

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

·       Learn what motivates each volunteer and make your recognition appropriate to what he or she thinks is important.

·       Give volunteers tasks in which they will be successful.

·       Give volunteers whatever training is necessary to perform well.

·       Thank volunteers genuinely and appropriately.

·       Give volunteers feedback.

·       Invite volunteers to participate in decision making.

·       Promote volunteers to other roles that take better advantage of their talents.

·       Ask volunteers for their feedback.

·       Ask volunteers to recruit others.

·       Make sure the volunteers are doing work that is meaningful to them and the community.

·       Let the volunteers know about the outcomes of the program.

·       Never forget the power of a simple thank you, oral or written."

Jeanne H. Bradner
From Leading Volunteers for Results: Building Communities Today
Found in the Energize online library at http://www.energizeinc.com/a-z

Join the VCCV’s Family Volunteer Day!

Celebrate the Power of Families and Join us for Family Volunteer Day of Service
Saturday, April 21, 2018        
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Big Woods Lake

Cedar Falls

Teach your children the importance of service and nurture the desire to give back to the community.

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley will host a Family Volunteer Day on Saturday, April 21 from 10 - 11:30 a.m. at Big Woods Lake. This all age family-friendly event will focus on assisting Black Hawk County Conservation with a spring clean-up. 

Volunteers should plan to meet on the corner of North Big Woods Road and Lake Street. Gloves and garbage bags will be provided.

For more information on this event or to learn more about family-friendly volunteering contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 272-2087, email or visit www.vccv.org.

Prepare To Celebrate Volunteerism In April

Volunteerism has become an integral part of society, affecting youth and adult volunteers, nonprofits and businesses at large. April has become the month for volunteer recognition with the nominations of the Mayors Day of Recognition of National Service, National Volunteer Week, and Global Youth Service Day. Additionally, volunteerism will be celebrated locally at the Mayors’ Volunteer and Top Teen Awards. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is the lead agency for these April events.

To spotlight the impact of national service and thank those who serve, mayors and country officials will participate in the fifth annual National Service Recognition Day on April 3, 2018.

National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals.

This year National Volunteer Week’s theme, Celebrate Service, presents an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit organizations and government entities alike to celebrate the ordinary people who accomplish extraordinary things through service April 15 – 21.

Each year, millions of youth around the world work together with schools, youth organizations, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, volunteer and national service programs, government agencies, faith communities, and other individuals to address critical issues and change their communities on Global Youth Service Day.

Global Youth Service Day is held during the last weekend of National Volunteer Week on April 20 – 22. Through programs such as this, youth volunteers are recognized for the tremendous impact they are making on our country's most critical challenges year-round.

Locally, the Mayors’ Volunteer Awards honor the exemplary contributions of individuals ages 19 and older who dedicate their time and talent to volunteerism in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Evansdale and surrounding communities in Black Hawk County.

The Mayors’ Top Teen Awards honor youth ages 13-18 attending a school in Black Hawk County. The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa also selects one junior from each of the accredited high schools in Black Hawk County to receive the $1000 Mother Moon Service Scholarship.

This year, the Mayors’ Volunteer and Top Teen Award recipients will be recognized at special events on May 1.

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley for more information about volunteer placements at (319) 272-2087, email, or visit www.vccv.org.