An unpaid intern seems more job hunting and resume building, not volunteering. The soldier who willingly enlists gets paid -- although we call it "volunteering". Peace Corps and our volunteer fire department isn't volunteering -- its stipend-pay. I wish we could better differentiate. True volunteering doesn't involve monetary compensation, nor should it involve public adoration as compensation. As a spirit, volunteerism is selfless, generally with a component of anonymity. Dropping cash into the fundraising jar or collection plate is purely selfless volunteerism. Giving blood is almost pure -- the recipients never know who helped them. We "volunteer" for political campaigns, for school bake sales, for beach clean-ups, for committees -- each for altruistic reasons, but almost always with an under current of personal motivations. "Volunteer" has become a catch-all for laudable community participation. I wish we used words that better reflected the motivations behind "volunteers." It might help inspire more to the spirit.
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