[Sparkle]

Thank you, Volunteers!!! The work you do is so necessary and invaluable.

Most of the non-profit fundraising work I do is completely reliant on volunteer support, especially in this economy. I currently work with a volunteer board and they are fantastic, they do so much work and have so much enthusiasm; they make my work much more fun.

I am currently volunteering on two fundraising projects. (a hazard of being a professional fundraiser). One is a benefit for friend who is undergoing some horrific surgeries, the other is setting up an endowed scholarship fund in the memory of two classmates for my 20th HS Reunion next summer.

I would really love to do some volunteer work that didn't involve fundraising though, I will strive for that when I've finished these projects.

A happy volunteer story...

When I first moved to London and I was applying for my residency based on my same-sex relationship, I could not work (legally) and I could not travel (because my passport was in the home office - for 2!!! years)...

I became a full-time volunteer with Stonewall Lobby Group, the largest LGBT lobby group in Europe. It was one of the best things I have ever done.

I was working in the office when monumental legal change was happening:
the ban on gays in the military was lifted, Section 28 was repealed, LGBT adoption was made legal, same-sex immigration was legitimized, and the groundwork was being laid for civil unions.

To be *there* as it was happening, where it was happening was life changing for me. It restored my hope and it gave me a real sense of value and accomplishment -- both things I desperately needed at that time (because of my own legal struggle to remain with my partner). And the icing on the cake was that I met some of the most famous queers in the UK and I organized events at some of the poshest places in London. And most important, I made incredible friendships that I still have today.

When my residency visa was approved, I had a paying job within a week because of the networks I had developed for myself through Stonewall.

Ever since then I've made it a priority to do some volunteer work, however small the time I have to give.

Volunteering is good for the organization and equally good for yourself.

So, thank you again to each of your who volunteers time somewhere or with someone.
You're doing important work.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.