I’m writing today’s column from a hospital as I wait for a friend who is having a procedure done. Sitting here, I note that the receptionist answering phone calls and questions from anxious visitors is a volunteer.
This seems as good a time as any to talk about one of my favorite subjects – volunteerism. The term “volunteer” conjures up lots of different ideas but few folks are aware of the historical impact that volunteers have had on our country as well as the impact volunteers still have. (Full disclosure, I teach a class on the history of volunteerism so get your pencils and notebooks ready).
The start of volunteerism
The origin of volunteering is usually traced to 12th century Britain, where more than 500 hospitals were operated by volunteers. Certainly, people were helping others long before then.
Volunteering was initially connected to religious institutions. My source says the word ‘volunteering,’ taken from the French, was used when people willingly joined the military service. The American Revolutionary War was the first major volunteer recruitment effort. Throughout the country, volunteerism expanded beyond faith and into patriotism. The first volunteer firehouse was started in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin in 1736.
Volunteering in the 1800s
The founding of one of the most famous humanitarian organizations, the Red Cross, happened during the Civil War when volunteers organized to provide free medical treatment under the guidance of Clara Barton.
Americans also began to get involved with social reform issues. Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Harriet Beecher Stowe demonstrated that the combination of voluntary political activism and philanthropic work could enhance public awareness and shift opinions against slavery. Other social movements inspired Americans to volunteer politically to enact social change, such as the Temperance and Women’s Suffrage Movements.
Volunteering in the 1900s
With the increasing popularity of volunteering, academic institutions and workplaces started requiring students and workers to engage in volunteering (we call this mandated volunteerism). Organizations like Rotary Club and Kiwanis International coordinated volunteer projects to foster stronger connections between businesses and communities (social community volunteerism).
The Great Depression initiated a greater need for charitable services and led to coordinating volunteers for community-based organizations such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters (community engagement volunteerism).
As the country became involved in World War I and World War II, volunteers were encouraged to collect materials, preserve supplies, and purchase war bonds. Corporate philanthropy began with General Electric creating the first matching gift program in 1954 (corporate volunteerism).
History of National Service
Many Presidential administrations since the 1960s have initiated their own national service programs to coordinate and encourage volunteerism.
Celebrate AmeriCorps Week - March 14-25
AmeriCorps Week is a time to salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service, thank AmeriCorps community partners, and communicate AmeriCorps impact on communities and on the lives of those who serve.
What you can do
You can learn more about these national service programs and other ways to engage in volunteerism via Serve Washington - https://servewashington.wa.gov/.
Soliciting your ideas
If you know of a nonprofit that is doing something great, celebrating a success, needs some outstanding volunteers, or hosting an event, let me know! This column (aside from a little education) celebrates nonprofits!
Mary Beth Harrington, CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) lives in Tumwater. She travels the country speaking at conferences and to individual organizations articulating issues facing nonprofits. Send your ideas to her at MaryBeth@theJOLTnews.com
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JulesJames
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.
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Report this
SusanF
The League of Women Voters is a national organization founded in 1920 six months before the 19th amendment allowing women who were citizens to vote. Founders wanted to inform women of issues they could vote on. Its mission is empowering voters and defending democracy. In 1971, membership opened to anyone over the age of 16. There are state and local leagues that are affiliated with the national one, and ours is the League of Women Voters of Thurston County. We are all volunteers, but also advocates for issues that we study, and for our state-wide Be a Voter campaign. lwvthurston.org
Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Report this