Have some spare time? (this was a joke - laugh here!)
Citizen Involvement and Volunteerism was a past topic at the Committee of 100 meeting. Almost every community group that relies on citizen volunteers to staff and lead their organizations are searching for new recruits. As our society grows more complex, and two-income households become more common, it appears as though fewer citizens are volunteering in the traditional organizations. "Our culture thrives on the involvement and connections through voluntary associations, yet increasingly, our society ..." is developing citizens that are becoming more and more isolated.
We believe strongly that for our community (neighborhood, Civic Association, County, Country) to remain strong and vibrant, we must invest our own resources. Our goal is for each of our citizens, to volunteer, somewhere, anywhere. Pick something that you are passionate about, and find a way to assist that cause. No one can invest all of their time in every cause, but we do believe that everyone can invest some of their time in one cause. If this were to occur, we believe that our community would grow in strength and value. We would like Bellevue Forest to become a model of Volunteerism across the County and Country.
Where to begin?
It is often said, "Think Globally, Act Locally" Find an organization that supports something you love, and ask how you can help. All organizations would love any time you could offer. This does not have to be a 20 hour a week commitment, but a 2 hour per month effort. Start small, and see how it works. Taylor Elementary School is desperate for adults with a few extra hours a week to assist them with any number of programs that they need help with. Another option is to contact Arlington County's Volunteer Coordinator, Connie Francis. Connie facilitates volunteer recruitment as the county seeks to "increase the participation of residents of all ages and backgrounds in community affairs and the political life of the County. Finding ways to increase such participation is one of the challenges/opportunities Arlington has if it is to become a sustainable, world class, exemplary urban community."
I will list a few options below. Please believe me that there are thousands of volunteer organizations, and I could never list them all, but if you would like me to add a few that you are fond of, please send me a note.
To start, your Civic Association is looking for neighbors interested in monitoring local issues, and representing our community, either by serving as an Officer of the Civic Association, or as a delegate to the Civic Federation.
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