Why Volunteer?

by: Susan J. Ellis of Energize, Inc.

People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. But it's also OK to want some benefits for yourself from volunteering.

Some people are uncomfortable with the notion that a volunteer "benefits" from doing volunteer work. There is a long tradition of seeing volunteering as a form of charity, based on altruism and selflessness. The best volunteering does involve the desire to serve others, but this does not exclude other motivations, as well.

Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, begin to think of it as an exchange.

Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their lives. So today you may be the person with the ability to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Even now you might be on both sides of the service cycle: maybe you are a tutor for someone who can't read, while last month the volunteer ambulance corps rushed you to the emergency room. Volunteering also includes "self-help."

So if you are active in your neighborhood crime watch, your home is protected while you protect your neighbors' homes, too. Adding your effort to the work of others makes everyone's lives better.

© Energize, Inc., used by permission.

On Becoming an RMC Volunteer (Cont'd)

CV Improvement:  Whether it’s for a young person to get some ‘real’ work experience onto their CV or perhaps for an older person who might have been out of work for some time through no fault of their own, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that employers recognize the value that volunteering adds to a CV in terms of its ability to use existing skills that can also be transferable, as well as learn new ones, in addition to being able to demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team.

Networking:  In a similar fashion to forging friendships, voluntary work can also enable you to network with others who might be in a position to help you turn your voluntary work from an unpaid hobby into a paid career you’ll enjoy.

Making a Difference:  Most of us are familiar with the old adage that “it’s better to give than to receive” and nowhere is this phrase more apt than in volunteering. People often derive a great sense of satisfaction from being able to help fellow citizens and the United States, as well, and get a lot of pleasure from the gratitude that is shown to them as a result. On a similar note, many volunteers often find that by getting involved with the Republican Majority Campaign, it allows them more access to spread a particular message or to influence policies, which can benefit other Repubican candidates and volunteers as a result.

There are even Health Benefits too!  There is also plenty of evidence and opinion that partaking in volunteering has many physical and psychological benefits. I can give you an increased sense of well-being, improve your immune system, speed up recovery from surgery and help to resolve any anxiety and depression issues you might have.

What is in no doubt, however, is that volunteering with the Repubican Majority Campaign offers a ‘win-win’ situation in terms of benefits to the volunteers and the United States, alike!

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Benefits of Volunteering

Building Self-Confidence:  Although volunteer work doesn’t tend to involve any financial reward, it can be quite challenging and many people find it a useful way of overcoming hurdles and obstacles, which in turn, can increase their self-esteem and confidence, which can be carried through to other areas of your life..

Decision Making:  It’s not just younger people leaving school or university who sometimes need a little help in determining what kind of job or career path they wish to follow, older workers who may have been made redundant and others who are wanting to return to work, e.g. women who have been raising a family, can often find that by carrying out a range of voluntary work activities, it helps them decide the type of work they might prefer to pursue and are best suited to.

Making Friends:  Volunteering with RMC brings like-minded people together in a common setting where you will all be working towards a common goal - getting good people elected. As a result, you'll be sharing common values that inevitably will mean forging new friendships. For many people, it’s this bond of friendship that draws them towards volunteering as opposed to alternative options for meeting new people and making new friends.