Aging Fearlessly: Volunteering - Possibilities and Pitfalls

In my last post I mentioned volunteering as an example of a "strong purpose" that can lead to a longer life. That got me thinking about my five decades of volunteering. I used to believe there was an invisible string attached to my right arm, so that whenever anyone said, "Would someone like to volunteer for…." my arm would shoot up automatically. I've made some poor choices over the years, but I've learned to be more discerning and keep that arm under control.

In Maine, especially in small towns, volunteer opportunities far outstrip the number of folks who have spare time. It's important to know how to winnow those options down to a choice few. The first thing I do before volunteering is thoroughly review a group's social media and website. If they don't have an online presence is that a problem? Are they making a real difference or is their website all puffery? Do their goals appeal to me? Would my skills fit their needs? Do they appear to be in good financial shape? If not, would I be willing to help them raise funds? I jot down any questions I have and try to contact someone in a leadership role. No response? That's a deal-breaker.

Over the years, I've learned what red flags indicate that a group is not the right one for me. Some are obvious. Years ago, I signed up to volunteer for a museum in Tacoma, Washington. I was invited to meet with a group of women who wanted to know where I was raised, what my father's job was, what schools I had attended. Mid-interview, I realized they were deciding if I was "the right sort of person" to volunteer. I declined to get involved.

Other red flags can be more subtle or discovered only after volunteering. When we first moved to Maine, I volunteered for several groups which, when I proposed  an activity, said, "Oh, no, we can't do that, we can only take baby steps." Not being a toddler, I found that unappealing. I've also learned to remove my "enthusiasm blinders" that have, in the past, led me to say yes too often. I now try to consider the time, complexity, and difference that any activity will make before signing up. But enthusiasm does play a role. It means I'll look forward to doing that task.

When offered a leadership position, I've learned to go beyond being flattered and take time to consider if it's a good fit for me. I always read the bylaws before accepting because they show how the group operates (or is supposed to operate). No bylaws? A red flag, unless it's a very small community group. If there is paid staff, I try to determine if they have a good relationship with their board of directors. Optimally, boards make broad policy decisions, while the staff determines and executes the details. Once I was the only staff member for a five-state grant-making foundation where one board member insisted on going with me each time I purchased office supplies. We had a little chat about that.

It's also important to know what leadership position fits your skills and preferences. I realized long ago that I can either take good notes or participate in a discussion, but not both. I've also found on boards with both male and female members that "secretary" generally means a woman. I always decline. When my feminist husband and I volunteered together once for an organization's leadership positions, he offered to be the secretary. Loved those raised eyebrows.

Even with these cautions, volunteering is such a rewarding use of one's time. Although the pandemic has made volunteering more challenging, three are some terrific virtual opportunities. In addition to AARP Maine (obviously my favorite), the national AARP office offers intriguing virtual possibilities from working on their Wish of a Lifetime program to being a digital fraud fighter. The Smithsonian Institution is another great option. They are digitizing their paper documents to make them more accessible to researchers and the public. You can transcribe a single page or dozens. I've worked on letters written to and from teachers employed by the Freedmen's Bureau after the Civil War. The teachers offered basic reading and math classes to recently freed slaves. A fascinating glimpse of history.

In my next blog I'll discuss brain health. Meanwhile, if you would like to subscribe to my blog or have any questions, comments, or topics you'd like me to consider, please contact me at me@aarp.org and put "blog" in the subject line. See you again in two weeks!

© 2021 Suzanne Spitz Carmichael

(As I was writing this, eleven wild turkeys sauntered by my windows, a few stopped to munch on ferns. Life in rural Maine!)