A Community Conversation: Volunteerism
Originally broadcast December 15 on WSKG Radio

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Volunteers are an important piece of our society, making it possible for many orgnaizations to exist on tiny budgets, and offering services that would be severely restricted if that had to be performed without volunteer, unpaid workers.

But it is also widely understood that volunteering is a mutually beneficial activity. Many volunteers gain valuable experience and insight while helping others through service organizations. People also volunteer becuase it is personally gratifying on an emotional, even spiritual level.

In the formal, educational level, there is the concept of Service Learning; an experiential form of education that combines academic study, community service, and student reflection.

Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, is the associate director of counseling and advising for minority educational affairs and assistant director of service learning at the Public Service Center at Cornell University. He has worked at the center since 1991. Their program serves over 3,000 students and includes over 100 faculty members that support its 12 learning courses. It is volunteering from an academic and leadership learning approach that  develops skill for positive social change. 

Sara Doane is a graduate of SUNY Binghamton and BCC's  VISTA Service Learning Coordinator. At Broome Community College, their Service Learning program is just beginning to get underway, yet already in the Fall 2009 semester 400 students have participated.

In the community there are many ways to get involved as a volunteer, both helping others and gaining experiences for yourself and those you work with. If you think of your interests, volunteer opportunites are most likely available in them, such as music organizations, sports, animal care, and services to people who are elderly, or for youth, or the handicapped. The United Way is one organization that serves many other organizations.

Phillip Ginter is the   Director of Allocations at the United Way of Broome County.
Mr. Ginter strongly believes in volunteerism and has served as a volunteer instructor for the American Red Cross and currently serves as a volunteer trainer for the Broome County Department of Social Services facilitating trainings for prospective foster parents.   Mr. Ginter has over 15 years of experience working and volunteering in the nonprofit sector in various roles including grant development and program administration.He believes volunteers play a vital role in supporting nonprofit agencies in delivering on their missions.  Whether it be through serving on a board, assisting with fundraising, or aiding in the delivery of direct services.  In an era of do more with less, volunteers help fill the gap between what paid staff can do and what an organization wants to do.

Continue the conversation on our discussion board, Community Connections