How are your New Year Resolutions holding up? Did you have all the good intentions of giving up time in your busy schedule to help others or to improve yourself? Whether it's community service or for a trade association, here's why you should step up and volunteer.

Just DO IT ...

BECAUSE YOU WANT TO --
Not to impress your boss, pump up your resume or add a line for your obituary, but only because you want to do it. In essence, volunteering is a non-paid job that needs to be taken seriously.

BECAUSE YOU MAKE A COMMITMENT --
You make a commitment to people and you allocate the time. There is nothing more disappointing than having a great committee that fades out as the year progresses, winding up with the Faithful Few who do the real work. You should only volunteer for those assignments that you have the time, energy and money to complete.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE A SKILL --
Accountants become treasurers. Marketing folks are on the promotion committee. You improve your skills with each assignment.

TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW --
Accountants can bring insight to the marketing committee. Marketing folks learn finance by serving on the audit committee. It gives you the opportunity to step out and try something new, or to hone your skills in a new field.

TO LEARN HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES --
There are differences in structure, philosophy and accountability among governments, profit-making companies and non-profit organizations. We are interdependent and need to know how we can best function together.

BEAUSE YOU HAVE A PASSION --
Whether it is for abandoned kittens or abused children, daffodils or drum fish, quarter horses or history - or especially a group where you can improve your professional skills - there is an organization that needs your enthusiasm.

TO DEVELOP AN INTEREST --
Perhaps you would like to know more about a subject - painting techniques, for example. Volunteering at an art museum allows you to test the waters by observing a group at large, participating on the fringes and learning about the subject. If the interest becomes a passion, how fortunate. If not, you have a better understanding and learned something new.

TO GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE --
Truly, there are few natural born leaders. Most of us have worked our way up the ladder by raising our hands and jumping in. It is a great way to overcome shyness, to learn team work and to develop abilities in public speaking, letter writing and organizational development.

BECAUSE VOLUNTEERING HAS NO AGE LIMIT --
You can be the youngest, oldest or middlest in a group, and your time and experience will be appreciated.

BECAUSE IT IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY --
In America, we are a country of joiners - volunteers who fight for independence, build towns and maintain civilization. We do it because we want to be in control of our selves. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to give something back to your community as well as to be part of directing its growth.

TODAY - Thank someone who volunteers - who gives time to make your life, your career and your community better. And, if you volunteer, give yourself a pat on the back - you deserve it.

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