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By Lucas Rumler

We have been called to remember Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a day of service. For many of us no call forward was needed. Over a quarter of Americans volunteer in any given year with the average hours of service being around 50 a year. Many of us are doing what we can but there is still a need to reach out and recruit more volunteers to better serve America and our fellow man. As Martin Luther King, Jr. himself stated, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Our task as organizers and volunteer managers of various remembrance events was to facilitate the ‘living’ of others.

Our project, which was in conjunction with the Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine, was entitled “I Have a Dream” Café. The concept was to provide a platform for artistic expression in an inclusive setting. In addition, we wanted to reach out to Civil Rights Teams of local high schools, who could compete for micro-grants to start outreach programs in their schools. The Peace & Justice Center made many of our tasks easy– they located the venue for us and had already successfully run the Café in years past. We needed to publicize the event, arrange the facilities, and schedule volunteers and presenters. Most of the preliminary work was handled by our core team of AmeriCorps volunteers to varying degrees of success. Our efforts to line up Civil Rights Teams from the local high schools was fairly unsuccessful. Out of eight high schools contacted, only one was able to create a presentation (due primarily to a truncated schedule after Winter Break). The Café was originally scheduled for Sunday January 18th with a contingency date in case of snowstorms being January 19th. This being Maine, the untimely snowstorm in January was inevitable. We had to reschedule the event until the next day. Honestly I was very pessimistic about the turnout and the prospects for the event and thought it was going to be a dismal failure.

The day of the project we were joined by more volunteers who helped us set up the event and everyone brought a potluck dish to share. The turnout at the Peace & Justice Center for the first part of the program was more robust than I had expected and my optimism was renewed. By the time the evening was over we had over 55 guests and 11 performances ranging from poetry readings to covered songs and original compositions. The highlight of the event for me was the Old Town Civil Rights Team’s spoken word presentation. It was compelling to hear the voices of a younger generation committed to the cause of social justice. When the event was over everyone pitched in to clean up and put away the chairs including random audience members. The event was a success.

It took 10 volunteers nearly 100 hours to plan for and host this event. By the time it was over our ranks had swollen to around 20 if but briefly. Some people contributed only 2-3 minutes in helping put away chairs but the amount of time it saved us was much greater than that. If you give people the opportunity to volunteer they will. Only then can one start ‘living;’ together we can achieve Dr. King’s vision of a peaceful and just society.

Lucas Rumler is an AmeriCorps*VISTA member with Communities for Children and Youth at City of Bangor Health and Community Services and a guest blogger.

By Ann Swain

The phone rings and the caller says…”…have a second?” Before you can say a polite ‘no’, the caller is on their way with their multi-faceted barrage of questions, concerns, venting and who knows what else. At the end of the call, you find you have either agreed to do something you know you don’t have time to do or you find that you have to deal with a situation that you knew nothing about previously.

At the last National Conference on Volunteering and Service I attended a session called ‘The 32-hour Day’. Admittedly when I signed up for the session, I was actually thinking about the book on caring for someone with dementia called, The 36 Hour Day. At first I was disappointed that I had misread the title but then found myself in a session I sorely needed. Yup, the time management issue comes up every day of my life. How on earth can I get 32 hours of work done in 24? Actually, I don’t really want to use up the entire 24 working unless, of course it’s spread over a few days. One can only hope.

I realize there are a number of technological methods which could assist me in some attempt at time management. The first step to recovering from poor time management is to admit there is a problem. Then I can take a look at the list of tasks which need to be completed and prioritize the list, hopefully before it grows. Sometimes, this means not answering the phone for at least one-half hour if possible. So back to technology…some managers have access to the fancy phones which assist in scheduling, some have a PDA which will even alarm to remind them of a task needing attention while others use Microsoft Outlook. All of this technology still needs human attention to input data and to maintain the data.

When I truly evaluate the process and commit to it, it really does work. Schedule time for tasks and stick to it. Always allow for make-up time if you don’t happen to complete a task that was scheduled earlier in the day. By not procrastinating, the scheduled tasks always get done and on time.

I know this all sounds very rigid, but it really does save the brain from some measure of overload. And when someone asks you if you have time, it’s easier to take a look at your documented schedule and say, ‘I really don’t have time right now but I can get back to you at a later time’ (according to your schedule).

Ann Swain is the Director of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Senior Companion Program and a featured blogger.

By Noble Smith

These past few weeks have been momentous for this country capped by two life-long memories – President-elect Obama’s and the Mrs. Obama’s participatory, hands-on involvement with activities surrounding Martin Luther King Day and the inauguration of the 44th President of the United States the following day. These two events will have significant short and sustaining long-term impacts for volunteers and for non-profits nationally and here in Maine.

Just prior to those two spectaculars, the Maine Commission for Community Service reviewed the impact of recent volunteer service in the State of Maine, statistics of which have huge economic, social, ethnic and historic implications, namely:

• With data compiled between 2005 – 2007, 356,000 volunteers dedicate 44.5 million hours of service annually;
• This volunteer service has an estimated economic contribution for volunteer hours served in Maine exceeding $868,000,000 annually;
• More than 9,100 Maine residents participate in national service (AmeriCorps, VISTA,, and Senior Corps) activities each year through 29 projects and programs throughout state;
• The average volunteer hours per Maine resident equals 41.6 hours.

Concurrently and echoing President Obama’s call to national service, AmeriCorps alum and former Secretary of State, Colin Powell reiterated the President’s urging for all Americans to be part of “Renew America Together”, a commitment for everyone “to make a lasting pledge to serve their communities.”

As a country and, indeed, certainly manifested here in Maine, the mandates will be many, varied, more exacting, yet exciting and will add measurably to the short and long-term effectiveness of Maine current and future volunteer initiatives.

But to measure up to the challenges ahead, all of us involved in the volunteer world – staff, organizers, leaders, Commissioners and volunteers themselves – need to step back, assess and reassess our involvements, our effectiveness and whether we are meeting both individual and organizational benchmarks and goals.

President Obama’s commitment to increased national service, the pending implementation of the Hatch Kennedy legislation, and the increasing numbers of citizens who are volunteering – young and old – all of these factors will have an almost immediate impact on our societies AND on our individual and collective abilities to coup with a greatly enhanced influx.

Are we prepared to receive, manage and effectively utilize our forthcoming volunteer workforce?

Each non-profit, those government organizations and private sector businesses who rely upon volunteers must address that question and set in motion a process of evaluating and putting in motion whatever corrective steps are necessary, a process that must also include volunteers as partners and co-equals.

Volunteer aspirations, staff and professional attitudes and skills and non-profits overall are quickly recognizing that changing mandates and their abilities to exceed minimum objectives have become quintessential. There is an enthusiasm, an excitement and a feeling of “yes we can” all of which are beginning to invade the volunteer world.

However, assessment and planning procrastination must not be allowed to fester! With the advent of enthusiastic and strong national leadership coupled with an increasingly powerful volunteer performance in Maine, we are in a handful of states that leads the nation’s volunteer accomplishments.

Maine already provides many volunteer models for other states to replicate and we now have a perfect opportunity to gain another upward step – but it requires the active and participatory involvement of all who are part of the volunteer movement.

Noble Smith is a Commissioner with the Maine Commission for Community Service and a featured blogger.

Did you miss part 1? Click Here.

By Anne Schink

Recently I shared a report about whether those employed in nonprofit work are willing and ready to lead their organizations. An interesting feature of that survey was the list of reasons people gave about what they needed to do to be ready to be an Executive Director.

The single most important thing survey respondents felt they needed to do was to further develop their external connections and networks. Often young professionals feel as if the best way to prove themselves is by ‘seat time’ in the office. Clearly, though, networks in the community are essential in the role of Executive Director. So as a volunteer manager, you may want to consider the many ways you can increase your community visibility while building your network for the next step on your career ladder.

–Join a Peer to Peer Network of Volunteer Managers. In Maine only Cumberland and York counties have formal organizations of volunteer managers. For information about Cumberland County, call Karen Stephenson at 874-1000 kstephenson@unitedwwaygp.org . For information about York County, call Mimi Mills at 985-6869 mmills@buildcommunity.org.

–Create a peer to peer network. Nothing is stopping you from identifying a group of your peers in other nonprofits and getting together informally on a regular basis to share information, resources, and to build a professional network. Remember that animal welfare groups, emergency response organizations, hospitals, and environmental groups all may have volunteer managers, as well as the traditional social service agencies.

–Attend regional or statewide trainings of volunteer managers to increase your knowledge at the same time you connect with others who share your professional interest.

–Join a committee in your faith-based organization that allows you to polish your skills in volunteer management in another setting.

–Make a commitment to meet for coffee people in the community who interest you. This isn’t about avoiding work, but it is about increasing the size of the group of people who know and trust you as an active professional. Sharing a brown bag lunch works too.

–Become a member of an organization that brings you into contact with a broader range of people than you see every day at work, whether it is a service club (such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, or Elks) or the Chamber of Commerce, the Grange, or a Snowmobile club.

In some organizations networking is promoted because everyone benefits when the name of your organization is ‘out there’ in the community. So it becomes part of your work schedule. In other organizations you may have to do this on your own time. In the long run, it’s worth it to build it into your calendar. If discretionary time is in short supply due to family obligations, then engage in some family activities that get you and the family involved with others in the community. That may be a neighborhood organization, a sports club, or a school activity.

What is your experience in building a personal/professional network? I’d love to hear your ideas!

Anne Schink is the Project INVEST Coordinator for the Maine Commission for Community Service and a featured blogger.

By Robert Moore

Research conducted by Elizabeth W. Dunn, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, has indicated that even a small amount of money given to a charity, rather than spending it on oneself, leads to happiness. Professor Dunn’s research further indicated that helping others with acts of kindness such as volunteering is likely to benefit well being and result in greater happiness as well.

If acts of kindness lead to happiness, why is volunteering declining? According to the
U.S. Department of Labor, the percentage of our population who volunteer held steady at 28.8% from 2003 – 2005, dropping to 28.3% in 2006 and 26.2% in 2007. Is it just that we as Americans are becoming more selfish, or is the declining economy making more people actually need the services that they were once volunteering for?

In the United States, the value of the volunteer time has an estimated economic contribution of $158 billion dollars annually. When cash resources are tight, the value of volunteers takes on additional importance to nonprofits. So what can you do? A few thoughts on how to retain or even increase volunteer resources to your organization during these challenging economic times:

1. Marketing! Intensify volunteer recruitment messages by increasing media attention about your organization’s increased needs.

2. Recruit! Look for new pools of volunteers who want to give gifts of time and skills because they are less able to give less financially. Volunteers typically become involved after being asked to volunteer by someone in the organization. Don’t forget the unemployed – a volunteer position can provide a sense of accomplishment and networking opportunities at the same time!

3. Assess your organization for new ways that volunteers can meet community needs, while at the same time reducing stress on your staff. Remember, even the most unanticipated or unexpected situation provides you with an opportunity.

4. Make sure that your volunteer opportunities do not require out of pocket costs.

5. Avoid any perception that volunteers might be used to replace staff. The uncertain economic times add enough stress as it is. You don’t need staff looking over their shoulder wondering if the volunteer that they are training/assisting will soon be replacing them.

6. If you have one, try to maintain the volunteer manager position. Even if you are faced with the need to make cuts, the dollar value that he/she brings to the organization is many times his/her salary costs.

7. Ensure that the leaders of your volunteers are well trained in the best practices for volunteer management; consider placing your volunteer manager on the management team, if he/she is not already on it.

Robert Moore is the Executive Director of the Friends of the Cobbossee Watershed and a featured blogger.

By Julie D. Mulkern

With my turn to post landing on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I thought it apt to post opportunities for all of us to get involved. A day of service is a way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and leadership by participating in community service to helps others. Americans of all ages will celebrate Dr. King with service projects that strengthen our communities. Maybe you will donate to Goodwill, give blood, or help a local food pantry. Whatever you choice to do, know that great things happen when we all work together! Please follow this link to find MLK service opportunities in Maine:
http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/search_results?orderby=day&state=ME&country=US&limit=100&radius_unit=miles.

Julie D. Mulkern is the Development Director at WinterKids and is a featured blogger.

By Melissa Boyd

I had heard the words undoing racism since my early twenties as a community activist and I thought at that time that I was working towards that end. It was not until a few years later when I found myself attending an Undoing Racism workshop with the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (www.pisab.org) that I realized I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

The two and a half day workshop not only tore at everything I thought I knew it gave me an understanding of my own white privilege. That’s right I said white privilege. Now if you are reading this you may ask what exactly is white privilege? According to the dictionary definition White privilege is the advantages enjoyed by white persons beyond that which is commonly experienced by non-white people in those same social, political, and economic spaces (nation, community, workplace, income, etc.). It differs from racism or prejudice in that a person benefiting from white privilege does not necessarily hold racist beliefs or prejudices themselves and can be, as is often the case, unaware of his or her privilege.

However, what I came to find in the workshop was that we all have been conditioned to be racist as a function of the social construct of our society. If that was true and from what I experienced it is, how could I work to undo this injustice? Well, I joined a white privilege brown bag lunch series to discuss my own white privilege–that is how did I get ahead or get where I wanted to be as a result of my skin color. I urge everyone to read this brief article White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack written by Peggy McIntosh.

Two exampled Peggy gives are: 1.) I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented. (2.) I can easily buy posters, post-cards, picture books, greeting cards, dolls, toys and children’s magazines featuring people of my race.

What I have committed to is working to undo racism in my everyday life. The most powerful thing as a white person is to call racism when I see it and pointing out injustice. Over the past several years in Maine we have heard of children being singled out and some violent acts in communities as a result of racism. This is not only upsetting but even more concerning is that more people are not standing out and standing up to this injustice. In my experience being involved in undoing racism I have been to meetings with all white people and asked if we were going to do anything on MLK Day for the children and was told we do not have children of color in our community so why would we?

This is racism and is a continuation of the institutional racism which exists in our society. This only exacerbates the problem and creates another racist generation. I am happy to report that because I spoke out that community now had activities around MLK Day and cultural diversity trainings. I challenge each of you to look at your own white privilege and be brave enough to stand up and speak out when you see injustice.

It seem only fitting to close with a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. “History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people. “

Melissa Boyd is a Commissioner on the Maine Commission for Community Service and a featured blogger.

By Chris Wolff

I was reflecting recently on the upcoming Martin Luther King, Junior holiday, and the fact that it coincides with the beginning of a new administration in the White House. It made me wonder what MLK would think, seeing how far this nation has come since his “I Have a Dream” speech delivered in 1963. Change is in the air, and hopes are high. Martin Luther King Junior had a vision for this country- a vision that created an atmosphere where all people would be treated equally, regardless of race. Though this continues to be a challenge throughout the United States, 2008 has shown that a person can be elected based on the merits of their experience and character and not along race lines. Would MLK have imagined this possible, only 46 years later?

Hopes, dreams and aspirations take time to materialize. But, do we stop what we’re doing because things don’t go along as we expect them to. Patience is not one of my best virtues. Of course, things would move along swimmingly if it was only up to me to make decisions. But, what a dull world it would be if it was the world according to Chris Wolff! Diversity is important. Differing opinions are important. Having someone show us a different way of looking at a situation is important. How else do we learn? And, more times than not, compromises need to happen to move things forward- whether it’s within personal relationships or in the work setting. How often have we worked with people whose egos get in the way of working well within a group- someone who can’t see a situation in a different light- who thinks their way is the only way?

I think we all run into challenging situations in our work- things that make us ask ourselves, “Why do I do this?” But we can’t let go of the bigger picture, and the baby steps toward reaching our goals. As volunteers, we may not see the fruits of our labors during our time as a volunteer within an organization. It may be years before change happens or the true impact can be clearly evaluated. We can’t minimize the impact of just being present, interacting with others, sharing lunch and a smile, and how something so simple can brighten someone’s day. I am a firm believer in good deeds, and what goes around comes around- paying it forward.

I think Martin Luther King Junior would be so proud of the work being accomplished by so many volunteers across this nation. The ethic of service is strong and this provides great hope for the future as we enter a new chapter in our nation. Take a moment to reflect on Martin Luther King Junior on Monday and do something good to commemorate the day!

Chris Wolff is the Community Development Director at the Island Institute and a featured blogger.

By Ruth Saint Amand
The planning process for our event has been an interesting one. With the high cost of fuel and gas and a lagging economy, we wanted to do an event that would benefit the community, adults and children as well. Something to entice the kids was the easy part, with the availability of an events trailer, thanks to a local church, that includes a bounce house, games and a pop corn machine. We then added a resource fair- information for adults on everything from cutting heating costs to how to apply for food stamps, as well as demonstrations for young (karate) and “old” (cutting heating costs and A Matter of Balance). We are also taking the opportunity to collect hats, mittens, scarves; old cell phones and; nonperishable foods. The final component of our event is a fundraising effort to help the United Way of Kennebec Valley through their Heat Helpers Program, a fund available to help people in need this winter that don’t quite qualify for the traditional assistance programs. Though the event is free to the public and to participants in our resource fair, donation cans will be prominent that day along with a raffle to raise funds for this worthy cause.

Our biggest challenge has been to not let this event run away with us! The response for the resource tables turned out much better than we had expected, a good reminder that people do consider it a day on, not a day off! It’s tempting however, to continue to add more and more components, like coat collections and a food sale, but for a first year event, I think we’ve got plenty to coordinate! I’m very pleased to report that volunteer power will not be a challenge – we have had a great response, even for clean-up duty!

All of the staff here at RSVP feel that the rewards from this event will be many – fun and information for kids of all ages; food for area food banks; mittens to be distributed to folks with cold hands; cell phones to be refurbished and distributed to elderly and others who are in need of a 911 phone; and donations to a very worthy cause. Wish us luck!

Ruth Saint Amand is the Director at HealthReach RSVP and is a guest blogger. To learn more about this and other Martin Luther King Day of service projects visit us at VolunteerMaine.org.

By Amy Klodzinski

Planning for the Portland West “Free Book Fair Day” is going very smoothly. From the initial inception of the idea, until the present, the planning has been an enjoyable process. Portland West is planning to host a free book fair benefiting the English language leaning and low-income members of our community. During the book fair, we are going to be displaying books that the Portland West Learning Center Afterschool Program Students created. The students will also be encouraged to attend the event and present their books and other projects to the participants at the fair.

There are many components to creating an event like this and we seem to be keeping up with all of our tasks with ease. We’ve collaborated with the Parent’s Association at Waynflete School to help us in the collection of books. We have created flyers to hand out to our students in the afterschool and English Language programs, the clients in the rest of our programs at Portland West, Reiche and King Middle Schools, other community organizations, and to post in multiple neighborhoods in Portland.

The most rewarding aspect of this project so far has been working with the students in the Learning Center in creating the ‘Community Books.” The students are creating two books. For the first book, the students are working in groups to create accordion books about what needs to be in our community. The second book students are making are individual books centered around themselves and how they fit into their community. The discussions and the creativity of the book making process is where the students are making the most connections.

The next steps are planning for the day of the event. We are very excited and hopeful that we will give away many books to the people who need them.

Amy Klodzinski is a Community Learning Center Teacher at Portland West and a guest blogger. To find out more about this project and other projects visit VolunteerMaine.org .