Newsletter of the East Bay Chapter of STC
September/October 2003

STC as a Volunteer Organization

by Susan Harlan
EBSTC President

The Leadership Day, held prior to the 2003 Annual STC Conference, introduced one of the best speakers this year.


	Fred Sampson, Silicon Valley President, and Susan Harlan at Leadership Day

Mary Merrill, an expert in volunteerism in the Midwest, spoke to chapter leaders about what is happening with volunteers in the world today. When you think about it, STC, particularly at the chapter level, is a group of volunteers who run the organization and its activities

Different Strokes for Different Folks

What I learned is that there are different types of volunteers, and we each have different ideas on what a volunteer does. This was valuable information because it means that we're all correct in our definitions of volunteers! A surprise to me was that the types of volunteers depend on which generational category you're talking about.

What are the differences? A brief history of volunteerism shows the following:

Before 1940—people were very volunteer-oriented and spent lots of time doing lots of work within their groups.
Baby Boomers—are workaholics rather than volunteers. They created a new leadership system of teamwork. Their expectation is that volunteerism makes a difference!
GenXers—are very results-oriented and see technology as a tool. They don't like structure or politics, and they don't take management positions. Volunteering is something they do to help one person.
Nexters—are very civic-minded. They like variety, innovation, and speed. They consider themselves as equals, are very self-assured, and are looking for a cause.

Do you see yourself in there? Maybe your concept of volunteerism doesn't quite match that of your age group, but that's fine. We're looking for volunteers from each of the modes

What About Volunteering for EBSTC?


	Gwaltney Mountford, a dedicated EBSTC volunteer, prepares for her session in Dallas

Let's explore some questions that you might have now. Send me an email message, if you have any comments or questions about volunteering that aren’t covered below.

How can I volunteer when I have a job and a family, a job and school, or a job that seems like double-time?

A possible solution is to join an ad hoc committee. This committee might meet once for a long meeting, and then hold a few short meetings or phone conferences.

Can I run for president or president-elect without committing myself forever? Do I need long-term experience with the chapter?

We can't require time commitments like before. If the two-year requirement of President-Elect to President is too great, we might need to reconsider this in the Bylaws. No previous experience is required for the officer/manager positions if you are willing to learn quickly.

Did someone say thanks the last time you did any type of volunteer work? Did they expect you to keep doing the same thing year after year?

The East Bay Chapter will honor people who give years of service and those who step in for a few hours of help along the way.

Can you think of some new ways of volunteering or doing volunteer work?

Maybe the term "volunteering" or "volunteer work" is what turns you off. If we call these activities Action Groups instead, does that make you want to get involved?

Would you volunteer (or be a part of an Action Group) if the task involved skill development?

If you want to try something new in a safe place, this is the place. We want you to learn while doing, and that means "perfection" is not a requirement.

High-Tech, High-Touch


	EBSTC volunteers join other chapters at a NorCal event

Another important thing about volunteering is having fun! Yes, we have some deadlines and need to have quality, but we also need to make volunteering a good experience. We want the East Bay Chapter to be high-tech and high-touch!

Mary Merrill’s talk on volunteerism was inspiring. I came away with ideas that I want to implement as much as possible during the year. Please join us as the East Bay Chapter moves forward! Your voice will be heard and your efforts will be recognized.

The Volunteer Today web site contains information on Mary Merrill's work as well as other helpful information on volunteering.

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