10 Reasons to Volunteer
By Julia O'Connor

How are your New Year Resolutions holding up? Did you have all the good intentions of giving up time in your busy schedule to help others or to improve yourself? Whether it’s community service or for a trade association, here’s why you should step up and volunteer.

Just DO IT ...

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO --
Not to impress your boss, pump up your resume or add a line for your obituary, but only because you want to do it. In essence, volunteering is a non-paid job that needs to be taken seriously.

BECAUSE YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT --
You make a commitment to people and you allocate the time. There is nothing more disappointing than having a great committee that fades out as the year progresses, winding up with the Faithful Few who do the real work. You should only volunteer for those assignments that you have the time, energy and money to complete.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SKILL --
Accountants become treasurers. Marketing folks are on the promotion committee. You improve your skills with each assignment.

TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW --
Accountants can bring insight to the marketing committee. Marketing folks learn finance by serving on the audit committee. It gives you the opportunity to step out and try something new, or to hone your skills in a new field.