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June 27, 2002
Local Teachers Continue Working as
Volunteers
Many teachers, upon retirement redirect their
energies to a different kind of service – volunteering. It seems that the
built-in characteristic of helping others, a trait that has been nurtured
during their teaching careers, is still alive in some retired teachers.
All they
need is an assignment.
Of the 177 members of our California Retired
Teachers Association Local Division 90, many of whom are from Fontana,
the 47 members who reported their hours have been working in various
volunteer capacities for years.
What
general questions can we ask about volunteers?
Who do they become volunteers? What do the
do? Do their arms have to be twisted to join the ranks? Are they
recommended by others? Do they see a need and volunteer voluntarily?
Volunteers feel satisfaction in helping
others. They perform a surprising variety of activities. Usually it only
takes gentle persuasion to enroll a volunteer. Some are recommended by
established volunteers which is a fine way to gain a new member. And yes,
some do ask if they may become volunteers since they have time on their
hands and want to share the feeling of pride they see in other volunteers.
Volunteers, sometimes called guides or docents,
are a much-needed resource in our nation. One would be surpirsed at the
range of jobs they perform. They may work several hours a week to almost
full time; some for ad hoc duties and some for long-term work.
Their pay is pride, usefulness, self
satisfation, a complimentary meal, a certificate, a tangible gift at an
annual recognition lunch, and pleasant social interaction with like-minded
colleagues. Most are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.
While our Division 90 is a small local
organization boasting of its volunteers, formal volunteer organizations
are big business in the U.S. They have annual conferences and publish
manuals dedicated to keeping volunteerism alive and well. Techniques to
recruit and keep volunteers have been developed to assure a steady supply
of volunteers, a critical commodity in our culture.
You see, the monetary value of volunteers
reaches hundreds of millions of dollars each year which helps keep
organizations afloat. Some associations would not be able to operate
efficiently without a corps of volunteers.
Many human services are dependent on the
presence of volunteers. Senior citizens may need auxiliary help,
including hospice care. Meals on Wheels and senior transportation are
other examples.
The Red Cross, Traveler’s Aid, Salvation Army
also need volunteers, often on an interim emergency basis which is when
volunteers reach great heights in helping one’s fellow man.
Members of community service clubs often act as
volunteers for community-benefit programs such as scholarship breakfasts
and Special Olympics activities.
Hospitals and clinics, educational facilities,
churches, art galleries and museums all welcome volunteers. There are
many others including the California Speedway.
Our Division 90 is fortunate in having Mrs.
Erma Wendelstadt, a dedicated Fontana elementary teacher for the recording
of volunteer time. This figure is sent to headquarters as part of the
State-wide accumulation of hours.
In her most recent report, she listed a total
of 19,685 hours, which at a moderate rate of professionals pay of $15.00
per hour, equalled $302,952.00 for a 12 month period.
Wendelstadt laments the fact that some
volunteers do not report their actions, skewing the figures as a result.
Last year, the State of California total for
the California Retired Teachers Association alone was 1,826,953 hours
which had a financial value of $28,116,806.00! Imagine the total nation
wide for all volunteers.
A person interested a a full report of “
Volunteering in the U.S.” can order an Executive Summary through the
Internet.
From time to time the L.A. Times has a full page
listing volunteering opportunities in the Southland.
Volunteering makes life more interesting. Try
it.
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