Jeanna Hensler has been working at The Minneapolis Foundation since October 2006. She worked in the Community Philanthropy Department for two years and currently holds a position in the Development and Client Services Department. She spends her time with The Wildcat Sanctuary as an on-site and special events volunteer and with Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) as the Volunteer Meeting & Training Coordinator and as an Intake volunteer.

For the past 3 years, I’ve been spending time as a volunteer, playing several different roles with several different organizations.  The cause that is nearest to my heart is animal welfare.  After 8 years working in the field, I decided to make a career shift but didn’t want to lose my connection to animals and the animal welfare work in which I had been so deeply involved.  Volunteerism was a natural choice.

I chose to take a volunteer position with The Wildcat Sanctuary, a group that I worked along side during my career as an animal shelter director.  I chose this group because I was already familiar with the work of the Sanctuary and because they have a reputation as a leader in their field.  Most of us have some idea of where we would like to spend our time, but if you aren’t sure, there are number of resources available to help you find your way.  Check out websites for Volunteers of America, Volunteer Match, HandsOn Twin Cities, and even Craig’s List.  Just as it is important to understand the mission, philosophy, and financial health of an organization that you would donate dollars to, it is equally important to understand these aspects of an organization when you are considering donating your time and energy. Taking the time to “interview” and research a prospective organization before accepting a volunteer position is a great way to ensure that you will find a fit that will be prosperous and long-lasting.

While the commitment of a volunteer isn’t as binding or as time consuming as that of an employee, it is important for volunteers to take their positions seriously and to honor their volunteer commitments.  There are so many non-profits that depend on the time, energy and expertise of volunteers to fulfill their missions. Often times the bulk of the work falls into the laps of a few, fiercely dedicated volunteers.  When you find a position with an organization that suits you, set expectations for your contribution and don’t feel like you have to do it all.  Remember, volunteering should be fun; it should make you feel good about how you spend your time; it should be a contribution; it will be rewarding.  One of the best contributions you can make to an organization and to your community is to be a dependable and dedicated volunteer.

Get out there!

Find what motivates you!

Make a difference!

And do it all out of the goodness of your heart!

• In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service ranked Minneapolis-St. Paul #1 in volunteerism for the second consecutive year, with 38.4% of its population volunteering.
• Our state ranks third in volunteerism, which translates to 1.6 million Minnesotans who contributed nearly 170 million hours of service from 2006 to 2008, valued at $3.4 billion of service, according to the Independent Sector’s estimated dollar value of volunteer time.

OK, so we’ve got statistics to prove we’re above average. But that’s not the end of the story when it comes to volunteering.

Every year, around this time, I’m reminded of the unlimited potential of volunteerism. My colleagues and I are gearing up for National Volunteer Week in April. Meanwhile, the Fifth Annual HandsOn Twin Cities Volunteer Expo recently connected more than 130 area nonprofit organizations with the thousand or so visitors who frequent the Mall of America (MOA) on any given Saturday.

I’m no stranger to the MOA; its proximity to my South Minneapolis home and LRT access often make it my most convenient shopping destination. For the past couple of years, I have represented the Corporate Volunteerism Council – Twin Cities at the volunteer expo, and I can tell you that the energy in the mall is somehow changed for those few hours. Yes, the positive energy has much to do with the line-up of talented local community groups performing on the HandsOn stage and the participating nonprofits’ tireless dedication to strengthening our communities, but the impromptu conversations are really what get me.

At the Corporate Volunteerism Council booth, my exchanges with passersby usually begin with them scanning our member list, then telling me about the great time they had volunteering with their colleagues at work and the important need their company’s nonprofit partners meet. (Music to a corporate volunteer manager’s ears!) Many employers use volunteerism as a teambuilding and retention tool, and, increasingly, skills-based volunteerism, which leverages a person’s specific talents and training, is finding its way into professional development plans and performance reviews around the world.

The conversations eventually turn to other ways in which these people give back – maybe as a mentor, a coach or through their faith community – on their personal time and why they volunteer. Suddenly the statistics have names, the power and potential of giving by doing are personified, and HandsOn’s (and Gandhi’s) call to “Be the Change” walks among us.

The year is still young. Challenge yourself to volunteer. Together, we can effect change – one person at a time.

Related links:

• Corporation for National and Community Service
• Independent Sector
• HandsOn Network
• HandsOn Twin Cities
• Corporate Volunteerism Council – Twin Cities

I confess to being a total “Gleek!”  I adore the new Fox show Glee and just can’t get enough!  There is something about the rag tag group of high school singers just trying to fit in that makes my own little heart sing.  And, now I have even more reason to love the show . . .

During the week of October 19-25, over 60 network television shows will incorporate service and volunteerism into their plots.  Happily, Glee is one of the 60 whose main characters will be volunteering in the next episode.

The initiative is a part of the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s (EIF) multi-year “iParticipate” campaign.  In addition to the show plots, EIF has produced a series of public service announcements to reinforce the importance of volunteerism. Through these PSAs, EIF will also recognize and encourage support for five key areas of service: Education & Children, Health & Well Being, Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, and Support for Military Families.

If you have your own flair for drama or excellent comedic timing, you can also enter your own service oriented plot ideas for your favorite shows.   In addition to seeing your ideas acted out on the small screen, you might even win the Grand Prize: a $5,000 donation in your name to your charity of choice; two Silver Prize winners will each receive a $2,500 donation.  Click here for more details on the contest (deadline is October 26.)

Post back any volunteer plots you see during the week.  Lets keep a running list and we can see which shows best captured the spirit of service.

PS – if you are looking for places to volunteer, check out Hands On Twin Cities for a calendar of opportunities.

Minneapolis is a vibrant community filled with civic minded individuals, something I value.  A few weeks ago, Minneapolis was the host of the first National Civic Summit.  The event was created around the National Association of Secretaries of State being hosted by our Secretary of State, Mark Ritchie. The Summit was a two day affair that focused on two key questions:

• How can we increase civic imagination and capacity to solve today’s challenges in ways that serve the public interest?
• How do we use technology to move from isolation and overload to effective collaboration and solutions?

I had the pleasure of attending the kick-off event held among the ruins of the Mill City Museum.  The evening, sponsored by Target, was also promoted as a Tweetup with live stream tweeting by attendees.  It was a real effort to ensure that even those who could not attend in person can still feel that they are engaged.  There was great music, thanks to Dan Wilson and a full crowd.  Every time I looked around I was struck by who was there.  There was a shared energy throughout the space by the diverse crowd representing a variety of ages, ethnicity, and professions.

A short picture montage of the National Tweetup in Minneapolis, MN on July 15, 2009, part of the larger National Civic Summit. Live music by Dan Wilson.

more about “Tweetup Picture Montage on Vimeo“, posted with vodpod

Everyone who was there had come because they had some connection to civic engagement.  I left the event feeling proud that I live in a place where people care so much about their community, have a desire to be connected and want to contribute to its future.
Then, last week I opened up the Star Tribune  to read the headline, “For the third year in a row, Minneapolis-St. Paul is ranked No. 1 in the country for volunteerism among the nation’s larger metro areas.” Based on a study by the Corporation for National Service, Minnesota also ranked number 3 in the country.  The article stated,

“Volunteer officials in Minnesota said the Twin Cities and the state have consistently experienced high volunteer rates because of citizens’ sense of civic duty, professional organizations that connect volunteers with opportunities and corporations that encourage and reward volunteerism among employees.”

The results of the survey were another illustration that I live in a community where people proudly and willingly give of their time and resource to act on their civic duty.

There are so many great things in our community, what makes you love living here?