We VOLUNTEER our Time! Congratulate Yourself & Post Ideas!

LaneyDoll · 07-22-2011, 09:42 AM

This is a great thread and I am hoping it gets going again.

I have always done volunteer work.

From age 13 to 17, I visited/volunteered in the nursing home my mom worked for. My sister and I would feed residents, read to them, visit to them and take them for walks/rides in the facility.

From 18 to 19, I did behind the scenes work for Camp Smile A Mile. Nothing fabulous, mostly stuffing envelopes, filling raffle boxes etc.

From 19 to 27, I was one of five core members of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Alabama. When we merged with the Atlanta chapter, the new group was so big that I no longer felt like I was needed and I moved on to a smaller group closer to home. The fact that I was also a new mom made it harder and harder to interact with the kids-my heart weighed too heavy and burnout set in fast.

So, at 28, I moved on to the Pride group in my hometown. Not what you think, for them, "Pride" meant pride in the town/community. We raised money for schools and community groups like the Boy Scouts. But I left there after a fiasco involving another member. She pushed and pushed for us to host an event that, in hosting, would cost us about 90% of our financial assets. I was the only one who opposed it and did so since there was no guarantee of return. We spent almost everything we had and lost every bit of it. At that point, I decided I really did not want to work and work and work for the funds to be wasted carelessly so I quietly left. And took a much needed break from non-profit.

Almost, three years ago, when I joined the BDSM lifestyle, I started donating time and energy to them. To have finally settled into something that I love, that I see the results of is wonderful. I am not sure how much people will view it as volunteering, but I don't get paid so to me, it counts-lol.

Sparkle · 07-22-2011, 10:18 AM

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.

07-22-2011, 09:42 AM	#1
LaneyDoll Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Girly girl femme Preferred Pronoun?: She; Ma'am; Miss ;) Relationship Status: Pitbull protected. Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,204 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 6,892 Thanked 7,683 Times in 1,607 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	This is a great thread and I am hoping it gets going again. I have always done volunteer work. From age 13 to 17, I visited/volunteered in the nursing home my mom worked for. My sister and I would feed residents, read to them, visit to them and take them for walks/rides in the facility. From 18 to 19, I did behind the scenes work for Camp Smile A Mile. Nothing fabulous, mostly stuffing envelopes, filling raffle boxes etc. From 19 to 27, I was one of five core members of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Alabama. When we merged with the Atlanta chapter, the new group was so big that I no longer felt like I was needed and I moved on to a smaller group closer to home. The fact that I was also a new mom made it harder and harder to interact with the kids-my heart weighed too heavy and burnout set in fast. So, at 28, I moved on to the Pride group in my hometown. Not what you think, for them, "Pride" meant pride in the town/community. We raised money for schools and community groups like the Boy Scouts. But I left there after a fiasco involving another member. She pushed and pushed for us to host an event that, in hosting, would cost us about 90% of our financial assets. I was the only one who opposed it and did so since there was no guarantee of return. We spent almost everything we had and lost every bit of it. At that point, I decided I really did not want to work and work and work for the funds to be wasted carelessly so I quietly left. And took a much needed break from non-profit. Almost, three years ago, when I joined the BDSM lifestyle, I started donating time and energy to them. To have finally settled into something that I love, that I see the results of is wonderful. I am not sure how much people will view it as volunteering, but I don't get paid so to me, it counts-lol. __________________ There are beauties who stop traffic and then there are beauties who grow obsessively in the hearts of the susceptible.

07-22-2011, 10:18 AM	#2
Sparkle Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Femme Preferred Pronoun?: She, please Relationship Status: Loved Up Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Western MA Posts: 2,183 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,001 Thanked 6,555 Times in 1,553 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	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. __________________ I am made of stars