First, a big "thank you" to everyone who has enabled this project to come together, beginning with the inspiration of Lisa, Michael and the whole team at the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The brilliant cartoonists of the NCS – under the leadership of Greg, Jeff and the board - are the real talent of this project, and we could not find a greater gift than their art, message and voice. To everyone else who is helping in ways big and small, please know how grateful we are for your efforts!
Second, a big thanks to you, our fellow reader of comics, for caring enough to learn more! There are so many giving individuals like you, and clearly we are all needed right now to combat pressing issues in our communities. Comics give us that laugh each day, but they can also touch us deeply.
I’ve been involved in planning and implementing national volunteer programs for quite a while and have learned that while we may all want to make a difference, we are naturally drawn to different issues and different forms of helping. These desires and chosen avenues of service can vary and change as we progress through life. I’ve also learned the value of providing high-quality experiences in order to achieve high rates of volunteer retention - volunteers need to have good experiences or they won’t choose to return. To create a positive experience for you and those you want to help, it’s important to find alignment. Make sure you push yourself and those you serve with you to find something that combines your interests and hobbies with the causes and issues you care about most. Finding something that clicks for you is like discovering a room in your house you never knew existed: not only are you richer for it, but it also allows you to expand your reach and touch more lives.
We’ve also learned that most of us don’t volunteer as individuals - we like to give with our friends, family and co-workers - so we are forming the new Service Leader Network around this simple concept. Imagine if every school, agency, business, faith community, hospital and civic group had at least one “Service Leader” who was their point person, like a coach, for all things related to service. This person would get everyone on the team and ensure that each individual had a positive experience. The Service Leaders would participate in an orientation, training and web platform, and collectively they would form a network for sharing ideas and brainstorming. If you want to be one of the co-founders who launches that network, we welcome you. Now in the time to get involved. Thank you in advance for being patient with us as we venture into this new territory together. The possibilities are exciting and far-reaching, and I welcome your ideas and feedback as we begin this journey.
To great possibilities...
Second, a big thanks to you, our fellow reader of comics, for caring enough to learn more! There are so many giving individuals like you, and clearly we are all needed right now to combat pressing issues in our communities. Comics give us that laugh each day, but they can also touch us deeply.
I’ve been involved in planning and implementing national volunteer programs for quite a while and have learned that while we may all want to make a difference, we are naturally drawn to different issues and different forms of helping. These desires and chosen avenues of service can vary and change as we progress through life. I’ve also learned the value of providing high-quality experiences in order to achieve high rates of volunteer retention - volunteers need to have good experiences or they won’t choose to return. To create a positive experience for you and those you want to help, it’s important to find alignment. Make sure you push yourself and those you serve with you to find something that combines your interests and hobbies with the causes and issues you care about most. Finding something that clicks for you is like discovering a room in your house you never knew existed: not only are you richer for it, but it also allows you to expand your reach and touch more lives.
We’ve also learned that most of us don’t volunteer as individuals - we like to give with our friends, family and co-workers - so we are forming the new Service Leader Network around this simple concept. Imagine if every school, agency, business, faith community, hospital and civic group had at least one “Service Leader” who was their point person, like a coach, for all things related to service. This person would get everyone on the team and ensure that each individual had a positive experience. The Service Leaders would participate in an orientation, training and web platform, and collectively they would form a network for sharing ideas and brainstorming. If you want to be one of the co-founders who launches that network, we welcome you. Now in the time to get involved. Thank you in advance for being patient with us as we venture into this new territory together. The possibilities are exciting and far-reaching, and I welcome your ideas and feedback as we begin this journey.
To great possibilities...
