This coming Sunday marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration of community service that is part of Global Volunteer Month. At California Local, we don’t need to look at the calendar to think about volunteers. They’re the fuel that powers the organizations we list in our Community Resources directory, as well as being an essential component at every level of local government.
But this annual observance, which runs April 16-22, does provide an opportunity to mull over how important volunteerism is to the American psyche. Rosterfy.com, a site that helps groups recruit and manage volunteers, begins its history of volunteerism in America in 1736, when Benjamin Franklin founded the first volunteer firehouse. “This first brigade was formed by 26 volunteers, and as more and more continued to sign up, additional brigades were formed. This tradition has continued throughout the centuries, with around 70% of American firefighters today being volunteers,” notes a blog post by Alice Turnbull.
Esprit de Corps
Nixon wasn’t the first, or the last, commander in chief to put volunteerism on the presidential agenda. In March of 1961, John F. Kennedy issued the executive order that created the Peace Corps, which put idealistic Americans to work around the globe. Though its influence and cachet may have peaked in the 1960s, the Peace Corps lives on and is currently active in 60 countries.
Nixon—no fan of Kennedy, or the Peace Corps—brought the organization under a new agency, ACTION. Though that name may not resonate now, ACTION has since given birth to AmeriCorps. This independent government agency fuels the work of California Volunteers, and you can learn a lot more about them from reporter Graham Womack’s article below.
Working to Inspire
Josh Fryday, California’s chief service officer, touts the state’s AmeriCorps agencies, which offer paid service opportunities to students and others.
Lighting Fires
Another notable intersection between presidential politics and volunteerism came in 1988, when the phrase “a thousand points of light” was used by George H.W. Bush in a speech he gave while accepting the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention. Though smart-aleck journalists had a field day with the speech, written for Bush by Peggy Noonan and Craig R. Smith, if one strips away partisan politics, there is a certain grace to describing America’s clubs and volunteer organizations as “a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.”
If you’re a potential volunteer who is looking to fire up your own light, California Local writer Ray Delgado has some tips on how to get going. And if you’re a community organizer who’s looking for some fresh recruits or generous donors, check out the recent blog post by California Local cofounder Chris Neklason. He explains some new features on the site that are designed to expand the reach of folks who would like to lend a hand.
Help Others, Help Yourself
Volunteering it a great way to help your community. But you also reap benefits, including the chance to learn skills, reduce isolation and ease polarization.
Getting the Word Out
Nonprofits and other groups play an important role in every community, yet people are often unaware of this work. Getting the word out is vital. We can help.
