Posted September 16th, 2008 by admin
Post by Tom Old, Owner, Alta Vista Consulting and Member, United Way Board of Directors, Volunteer Engagement Chair
What are you doing when you grow up? Have you ever heard those words? I have, several times in my life. I remember those words in high school then as I finished college, after my military service and several times in my work. When I left a major electronic company three years ago – I again heard those words.
As I started the second-half of my work career, I took a new look at what was important and what did I want to do when I grow up? A few years ago I was reading a magazine from Trout Unlimited and I noticed an advertisement about giving back:
“We make a living what we get …We make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill
So what does this mean to me? For me, I have found more satisfaction from giving back to my community and family. I have found new friends and rewards that are thank-you smiles than I saw in my corporate life. There are many needs in this valley and state that need not only your financial support; they also need your time and talent! If you would like some help in finding one of these opportunities, the volunteer center can help you find one!
I have found my life more rewarding by giving back!
What would make your life more rewarding?
PS: I have also found it is more fun to go fishing that to read the magazines.
Posted September 12th, 2008 by admin
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
An L.E. is a ‘Loaned Executive’, a person from an area business who is ‘on loan’ to UW during the Fall campaign. This year, we have 18 LE’s, people from a variety of fields: banking, health care, utilities, students, and VISTA volunteers.
Back Row: Scott Burnham (Wells Fargo), Mike Kingery (Intermountain Gas Company), Tanner Aasheim (Payne Financial), Brian Liberty (Idaho Power), Ross Valentine (KeyBank), Matt Ward (Home Federal)
Middle Row: Melanie Roper (VISTA), Emilia de Leon-Montero (VISTA), Mellissa Larson (Home Federal), Alison Harry (Saint Alphonsus), Connie Aschenbrenner (US Bank), Kelly Bohnsack (Bank of the Cascades), Justin Stiffler (Boise Cascade)
Front row – holding the sign – Roberta Russell (Blue Cross), Joshua Zickefoose (US Bank), Roger Aguilar (Intermountain Community Bank), Amy Humpherys (Boise Cascade), Beth DeRieux (St. Lukes)
When the LE’s arrive in the office it feels as though the cavalry has arrived, and none too soon, as we have some 300 workplace campaigns scheduled for the next three months. It would be impossible for the 12 person UW staff to manage that kind of a schedule, so for us, the LE’sare what makes it all happen. And when we talk about our low administrative costs, this is partially how that happens–our workforce doubles during the campaign, but it’s a volunteer workforce, sponsored by the Treasure Valley business community.
The LE experience can be a life-changer. A lot of people come to the role appointed by their companies, who recognize the networking and leadership development potential of the program, and others are sponsored by businesses as temporary employees. LE’s arrive in August, get a couple of days of orientation, then hit the ground running. They handle 5-10 workplace campaigns, fitting them in around their regular jobs and responsibilities. It’s a lot of work, and they do it with an approach that’s like a team heading for the NCAA championships. It’s kind of spectacular, really; people who come from all different places in life, all juggling multiple responsibilities, all retelling a story that many have just heard for the first time. They’re passionate, committed, and they work tirelessly. It is nothing short of inspiring.
And on the life-changing front, it can be a little disorienting when the whole deal is over. As an LE you hear stories you can never forget, so when your tenure is over and you’re back in your regular job (likely enjoying the sanity that is restored with the extra 10 hours back in your week), it’s hard to let it rest. The story’s still there, but the audience isn’t quite the same.
Last year’s LE’s weren’t going to go for that–they were changed and they couldn’t just go on the way they had before. They still had the passion and they wanted to share it. Plus, they liked each other, which is a really nice side benefit to being an LE; if you’re lucky, you’ll come away from the experience with a bunch of friends who are like old Army buddies.
And so LEAP was born.
LEAP–as described by Kelly Parker, 2006 LE Alum and Relationship Banking Officer with Bank of the Cascades (enthusiastic LEAP member, reluctant blogger):
Today is a milestone in my life. I’veofficially entered the world of blogging – I’m a blogger. What has compelled me to make this leap, you might ask? Involvement in the United Way and spreading the word in my community. Last year my company asked me to be a Loaned Executive. They wanted to pay me to go out and ask people in our community to giveto United Way. Apprehension was my first reaction – until I learned about the process and the positiveimpact they make in our community. I quickly became a believer and a passionate spokesperson……..and then the Loaned Executiveexperience ended. I had just gained the experience I needed to be truly effectivein my community and now my outlet had vanished. Alas, I was not alone. Other fellow Loaned Executives shared in my opinion and LEAP was born. LEAP (Loaned ExecutiveAlumni Philanthropists) is a new group created to bridge the past and the present – to be a resource for upcoming Loaned Executives and to unite past Loaned Executives. As the Vice President of this emerging group, I’m excited and encouraged to see the synergy that is building. What a rewarding experience to not only see the needs that people are facing but to know there are agencies ready to fill those gaps. Together, we are making the Treasure Valley one heck of a place to live.
So, LE alumni–you out there? Share your story here.
Posted September 5th, 2008 by admin
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
The DIRT Clods were at the Boise Samaritan Village yesterday, helping stage an on site fair for the residents who weren’t able to make it to the Western Idaho Fair. The Boise Samaritan Village is a not-for-profit assisted living and nursing facility that serves those in need of long-term care, regardless of ability to pay. This is where you go if you’re a 35 year old who’s sustained a brain injury and have no health insurance, or where you go if you need Alzheimer’s care and can’t afford it, but your Medicaid hasn’t come through yet.
You would think, given the historical nature of these kinds of places, that it might have an institutional feel–but it doesn’t. Precisely because of things like an on site fair. The staff at the Samaritan Village know their residents by first name. They joke around with them and each other. By and large, it’s a fairly happy place.
I would know none of this if I hadn’t been there yesterday, seeing inside the place with my own eyes–which is something I would never choose to do of my own accord. Those kinds of places freak me out. They make me confront my own mortality, and nobody likes to do that. And despite the happy nature of the place, and the great feeling I got from helping out, I couldn’t wait to get out of there so that I could stop thinking about scaring things like getting older and dying. I’m grateful that places like the Samaritan Village exist, and I am in complete admiration of the people who work there everyday, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m too scared of it.
And I’m not alone. A lot of the DIRT Clods told me they were going to sit this one out. These are great people who are committed volunteers. I mean, they’ve pulled carpet out of medical quarantine units:
(definitely DIRTy)
But direct service volunteering can be intimidating. Sometimes it’s easier to do things that help people when you’re not actually interacting with them. And I think this is one of the things that keeps people from volunteering–the intimidation factor of working with people.
So just like jobs, neighborhoods, colleges, spouses, the right fit is important, and the wrong fit feels awkward. And also just like jobs, neighborhoods, colleges and spouses; choices abound, and though some may be wrong for YOU, none of them are wrong.
If you’ve had a volunteer experience that wasn’t good, maybe it was because it wasn’t the right fit, and if you’ve never volunteered before, maybe the notion of what volunteering is seemed somehow undesireable, or boring, or scary, and that held you back. But I can guarantee you that there’s something out there in the world of volunteer opportunities that will make your heart sing. Maybe you’re not a people person, but you can do this:
(that’s us, scraping out 30 years’ worth of bird poop from an old cell block at the Old Pen)
So if you’re not volunteering, maybe now’s the time to find your fit. Maybe you’re a Jessica, who relishes the dirty jobs but sits the people ones out (seen here with an ancient bat carcass) or maybe you’re a Frank, who loved the Boise Samaritan Village fair so much he signed on to be a regular volunteer:
Are you a Frank or a Jessica? And aren’t you kind of curious to find out?
Posted August 29th, 2008 by admin
Posted by Neva Geisler, Director, Volunteer Engagement
More than 1200 people showed up to support the community over a plate of flapjacks at yesterday’s campaign kickoff breakfast–doubling last year’s attendance.
This was a first time event for United Way. In the past, we’ve done your basic big event breakfast, $30 tickets, reserved tables, a program of the coming year. But that kind of event never quite felt consistent with UW’s broad community focus. Anybody can give or volunteer with UW, and anybody might be a beneficiary of a UW program, so it seemed like we should kick off our campaign with an event that anybody could come to. And thanks to some great sponsors: Simplot, Albertson’s/Supervalu, KTVB, we were able to throw the kind of party that reflects how we feel about this year’s campaign and the work ahead of us–a celebration OF community and FOR the community where everyone could be a part of it. The fact that our numbers doubled makes us feel like we really got it right.
Check out our Celebrity Pancake Flippers!
Governor and Mrs. Otter Flipping Flapjacks for United Way
Posted August 27th, 2008 by admin
Blog post by Neva Geisler, Director of Volunteer Engagement
We’re going to raise $6 million during this year’s campaign.
I say this with confidence because I believe it. I believe it so much, in fact, that I’m already thinking of the agencies who are going to be relieved to hear that in an economic downturn, when their resources are being stressed to the max, they’re going to get a little extra help from their community.
I believe it because the Idaho Foodbank just told me not to send over a group of volunteers because they didn’t have enough food on their shelves for them to sort. I believe it because Jesse Tree, an emergency rental assistance agency who receives UW grant money, recently told us they are receiving more requests for help from intact families than ever before.
Hardworking people who are living paycheck to paycheck, are struggling under dramatic increases in food, energy and gas prices. When they can’t quite make it to the next paycheck, these are the services that are there to make sure they don’t fall through the cracks.
And it’s not just these emergency services, it’s the stuff that prevents people from being at risk in the first place–it’s programs that help youth reach their potential, families achieve financial stability, and substance abuse recovery and mental health crisis services. Last year’s community donations are at work at more than 30 different agencies in the Treasure Valley. View the list.
When you look at the web of services, how they all work together to lift people to a better quality of life, it is impossible to choose where you’d make the cuts.
Which is why I believe that we can raise $6 million–because we can and we have to.
