arlene trimbleAssistant IT Director| Local GovernmentAlamo, Ca, United States
I am looking for current thoughts on volunteering and what it means to you. I appreciate all your thoughts.
1. What motivates you to volunteer?
2. What types of volunteer activities would you like to engage virtually?
3. What types of volunteer activities would you like to engage in person?
4. What types of recognition/incentives would you like to receive as a volunteer, if any? Saving Changes...
Stephen AgnelliIn Service Recruiting Senior Enlisted Leader| United States Air ForceFort Belvoir, Va, United States
1. Assisting others in areas of my expertise. I think we can learn a lot from each other, as long as we are open minded and practice active listening.
2. Hearing guest speakers talk about topics as it relates to career or professional development. By doing so we can increase production and morale.
3. Making a difference in our local communities. Whether that be picking up trash or helping an organization such as Habitat for Humanity.
4. None. I would just prefer to know that I'm adding value as a volunteer, as well as what we contributed to as a team.
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Arlene,
volunteering almost continuously since 1998 for PMI changed my life, my behaviours/mindsets and my professional standing.
Being part of a community motivates me but practical benefits like getting recognition, using volunteering as a sandbox, having a global network, seeing others succeed also because of my 5 cents are important to me.
In a global network, virtual engagement is normal, occasional f2f meetings are indeed highlights though. Even in my local mentoring relationships, due to Corona restrictions, I did not meet people in person but thru zoom - it worked well.
One value of leaders is humility, so I am not looking out for recognition, longing for batches and needles, and like to give kudos to others rather than thinking I was important.
The benefit I get out of volunteering is indeed respect, reputation, a large network, and being asked to help. Mostly for free, sometimes for a fee. Saving Changes...
Someone (or a few someones) helped us get to where we are in our careers and if we can return the favor to others, we should.
Folks volunteer for a variety of reasons. In my case at the beginning, it was to grow my network and to improve my odds at job & gig opportunities. At this point, I do it because I want to give back to the PM community, not because I stand to gain anything from it.
I tend to prefer asychronous voluntary work which I can do at my own pace and on my own time rather than in person where people's schedules invariably create challenges.
Recognition? A simple "Thank you" is good enough, but I'm not averse to getting some cool swag either :-)
Kiron Saving Changes...
arlene trimbleAssistant IT Director| Local GovernmentAlamo, Ca, United States
Thank you everyone for sharing and "volunteering" your insights and lived experiences on the humble act of volunteerism. I echo your thoughts on the values of volunteering: knowledge, respect, reputation, networking, and giving back. Yes, I am with you on the asynchronous nature of voluntary work because for me it connotes freedom in what I love to do. Cheers to all of you. Saving Changes...
It is our social responsibility. Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
A word of caution with regards to volunteering: Don't do a job that someone else should be getting paid to do or that an entity is profiting from. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
@Peter,
yes, caution and judgement is necessary before taking on a volunteer role. And it has to suit to your passion.
Regarding not to be a volunteer if someone else could be getting paid for it, I do not agree in every situation. Take food supply as and example, which can be bought from farmers and supermarkets, but - in Germany - there are many volunteers supplying food to poor people. Or the 1000s of volunteers who came to help people loosing their homes and cars and loved ones after the 2021 flooding in Germany.
Business and economy has no priority above society.
...
2 replies by Latha Thamma reddi and Peter Rapin
Sep 27, 2022 1:59 PM
Peter Rapin
...
Typically in a progressive society the government assumes, or should assume, responsibility for the less fortunate. This is done through taxes. When volunteer organizations and individuals assume that responsibility it lets the government off the hook - the government does less and less as the volunteer groups take on more and more.
I'm not saying there is no room for volunteers just that one needs to look at the bigger picture and consider the macro impact.
Apr 12, 2023 3:29 PM
Latha Thamma reddi
...
Very Nice question and replies, Thanks for sharing
Saving Changes...
Peter RapinSubject Matter Expect; Project Delivery| Independent ConsultantOntario, Canada
Sep 27, 2022 1:02 PM
Replying to Thomas Walenta
...
@Peter,
yes, caution and judgement is necessary before taking on a volunteer role. And it has to suit to your passion.
Regarding not to be a volunteer if someone else could be getting paid for it, I do not agree in every situation. Take food supply as and example, which can be bought from farmers and supermarkets, but - in Germany - there are many volunteers supplying food to poor people. Or the 1000s of volunteers who came to help people loosing their homes and cars and loved ones after the 2021 flooding in Germany.
Business and economy has no priority above society.
Typically in a progressive society the government assumes, or should assume, responsibility for the less fortunate. This is done through taxes. When volunteer organizations and individuals assume that responsibility it lets the government off the hook - the government does less and less as the volunteer groups take on more and more.
I'm not saying there is no room for volunteers just that one needs to look at the bigger picture and consider the macro impact.
...
1 reply by Stéphane Parent
Oct 06, 2022 12:07 PM
Stéphane Parent
...
I have a hard time contributing to hospital foundations. They are often set up to purchase equipment needed by the hospital. If they are needed, why are they not part of the hospital and provincial purchase plans?
Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Well, economy and government sectors are subsystems of society, or the social sector. Every human is part of society but less than 50% participate in economy (if you subtract slaves and semi-slaves even less). Society indeed does work and creates value, mostly unpaid, and in the form of volunteering.
If economy or government does leave gaps - and they do, either by mishandling or by outdated targets - per default society and volunteers jump in. Because society has to survive and we appreciate to help others.
Over 60 million US citizens were volunteering in 2015 and creating value. The fire fighters in Germany are 95% volunteers (over 1 million).
In PMI, we mainly volunteer for PMI administrative and internal targets. Some exceptions exist where PMI volunteers serve for other society parts, NGOs, e.g. Germany has a social services program centered in Munich providing PMs to run some projects for other NGOs
https://pmi-gc.de/en/service-offering/soci...ty-projects-eng
