Hello all!
I have finally awakened from my year long slumber, hopefully with more drive then before and will actually update this blog. Life Lessons with Laura is back on track and ready to roll. No guarantees, you've seen the poor track record.
There is a great deal for me to explain to you as my life has radically altered from my last post. For one, I've moved! Second, I've graduated (with honors - go me!). Third, I have a job - sort of, I'll explain, I promise! I live in my own apartment with the three best roommates ever :) and oh, yeah, I'm single now too. Life is firmly on the fast lane and not waiting for anyone to catch up.
I currently live in Maine, which is awesome and beautiful and the hipster city of Portland is phenomenal! There is so much to do and see and all types of curisoities to shift through on a daily basis. Before you ask, of course I've found all the used book stores on Congress Street! Now before I become too longwinded on the beauties of my new life, I really should settle into the topic of this post.
Which is volunteering.
My job is with Catholic Charities Maine, a really stellar organization that focuses most of its energies on helping people. There really isn't a person CCM refuses to help (side note: I really wanted to use a double negative there, but didn't! Score!). CCM has over thirty organizations it runs and funds across the state of Maine (and for you lacking in geography, that's a massive area of land we're talking about). Anywho, I absolutely adore my job and can honestly say I don't dread waking up in the morning. Mostly, my satisfaction comes from knowing the help I give to others. Technically, my post here at CCM is through the national AmeriCorps program. I'm here to capacity build and set up a sustainable volunteer program in order for the organization to process and supervise volunteers for all of the various programs offered at CCM. Lots of jargon, I know. Basically, I'm here to help make their volunteer services department work more smoothly. Which is awesome! I'm here to help people to help other people! how cool is that?
'Why is that cool?' you may ask. Well let me tell you, good friend! My job is all about service. Volunteering is a huge deal. From a business stand point, volunteering is numbers and that manpower (or womanpower) means money, money saved and money earned. And since we live in a capitalist society, the money saved through volunteer service hours mean more funds for our programs, staff, and people who rely on us for help. Yeah, I know, it is pretty awesome. Not to toot my own horn or anything. I'm pretty lucky to work here. But volunteering really shouldn't be about the money. Instead, volunteering is a unique association of truly altruistic people giving of their time freely to help other people. Are there benefits for the volunteer? Of course! But think of the benefits that people are receiving from that time and service. It cannot be adequately counted. Volunteering is an amazing thing! Think about the volunteers in your neighborhood and thank them! Their time, their energy, and their service help build our communities. As human beings and instinctively social creatures, community building and altruism (aka the motive behind volunteerism) builds networks and ties that keep us stable, but more importantly builds relationships we need.
Volunteering has good effects for the community and the individual. On one hand you have a person helping another person or persons, which really, how can you find something wrong with that? Second, it helps the community by growing, stabalizing, and a whole list of other good things. Plus the volunteer gains some good things too. Volunteering is healthy, I promise, no bullshit. Here's an article to prove it!
http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf
Next, volunteering allows individuals to meet, bond over shared interests, and overall, really, good things come from volunteering! So go out and volunteer! Meet people! Do things! Help others out!
Good day all! Arrivederci!
Disclaimer: These views are my own personal opinions and may/maynot reflect the views of Catholic Charities Maine, National Corporation for National Service, or AmeriCorps. Thank you.
I have finally awakened from my year long slumber, hopefully with more drive then before and will actually update this blog. Life Lessons with Laura is back on track and ready to roll. No guarantees, you've seen the poor track record.
There is a great deal for me to explain to you as my life has radically altered from my last post. For one, I've moved! Second, I've graduated (with honors - go me!). Third, I have a job - sort of, I'll explain, I promise! I live in my own apartment with the three best roommates ever :) and oh, yeah, I'm single now too. Life is firmly on the fast lane and not waiting for anyone to catch up.
I currently live in Maine, which is awesome and beautiful and the hipster city of Portland is phenomenal! There is so much to do and see and all types of curisoities to shift through on a daily basis. Before you ask, of course I've found all the used book stores on Congress Street! Now before I become too longwinded on the beauties of my new life, I really should settle into the topic of this post.
Which is volunteering.
My job is with Catholic Charities Maine, a really stellar organization that focuses most of its energies on helping people. There really isn't a person CCM refuses to help (side note: I really wanted to use a double negative there, but didn't! Score!). CCM has over thirty organizations it runs and funds across the state of Maine (and for you lacking in geography, that's a massive area of land we're talking about). Anywho, I absolutely adore my job and can honestly say I don't dread waking up in the morning. Mostly, my satisfaction comes from knowing the help I give to others. Technically, my post here at CCM is through the national AmeriCorps program. I'm here to capacity build and set up a sustainable volunteer program in order for the organization to process and supervise volunteers for all of the various programs offered at CCM. Lots of jargon, I know. Basically, I'm here to help make their volunteer services department work more smoothly. Which is awesome! I'm here to help people to help other people! how cool is that?
'Why is that cool?' you may ask. Well let me tell you, good friend! My job is all about service. Volunteering is a huge deal. From a business stand point, volunteering is numbers and that manpower (or womanpower) means money, money saved and money earned. And since we live in a capitalist society, the money saved through volunteer service hours mean more funds for our programs, staff, and people who rely on us for help. Yeah, I know, it is pretty awesome. Not to toot my own horn or anything. I'm pretty lucky to work here. But volunteering really shouldn't be about the money. Instead, volunteering is a unique association of truly altruistic people giving of their time freely to help other people. Are there benefits for the volunteer? Of course! But think of the benefits that people are receiving from that time and service. It cannot be adequately counted. Volunteering is an amazing thing! Think about the volunteers in your neighborhood and thank them! Their time, their energy, and their service help build our communities. As human beings and instinctively social creatures, community building and altruism (aka the motive behind volunteerism) builds networks and ties that keep us stable, but more importantly builds relationships we need.
Volunteering has good effects for the community and the individual. On one hand you have a person helping another person or persons, which really, how can you find something wrong with that? Second, it helps the community by growing, stabalizing, and a whole list of other good things. Plus the volunteer gains some good things too. Volunteering is healthy, I promise, no bullshit. Here's an article to prove it!
http://www.nationalservice.gov/pdf/07_0506_hbr.pdf
Next, volunteering allows individuals to meet, bond over shared interests, and overall, really, good things come from volunteering! So go out and volunteer! Meet people! Do things! Help others out!
Good day all! Arrivederci!
Disclaimer: These views are my own personal opinions and may/maynot reflect the views of Catholic Charities Maine, National Corporation for National Service, or AmeriCorps. Thank you.
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