Why Do Volunteers Volunteer?

Why Do Volunteers Volunteer?

Agood question and one that I am sure is pondered by most people who conscientiously chose not to volunteer. I guess a cynic might say that people volunteer because they are masochists who enjoy the pain of derision and the criticism that goes with volunteering. On the other hand, some may think that volunteers derive pleasure out of believing that they are making a meaningful contribution to society.

The majority I would suggest simply haven’t thought about it. They live or have lived busy lives with work and family and other interests and really haven’t been involved or come into contact with volunteering. That would quickly change, of course, if they were distressed at sea and required the assistance of the volunteer sea rescue or caught in a dangerous fire situation and seek the assistance of volunteer fire fighters. If you Google this question, you will get over 2.4 million “hits”. Many answers suggest that volunteers gain a sense of accomplishment and a knowledge and understanding of other ways of life – a sense of fulfilment.

They suggest that volunteering provides a sense of purpose that helps you become a happier person whilst boosting your self-esteem. There are also health benefits from helping others. According to Google volunteering reduces depression, increases life satisfaction and well being. Another study found that 200 hours of volunteering per year will lower your blood pressure. As a point of interest we decided to ask some of our members why they volunteer around our Club. These are some of the responses we received:

I volunteer to assist our Club to continue to grow and prosper whilst enjoying the camaraderie with good friends, I want our Club to continue to grow and to be a place for others to enjoy. Some of my challenging

roles at Sorrento have made me a better person and member. We will only proposer and grow, if members put back at least as much as they have received. Volunteering is not a chore I enjoy the participation. – Ian Wittber

...................................................................................................................... Being part of the volunteering team at Sorrento has helped me to contribute something back to my Club whilst forming friendships with the other volunteers. Gardening has always been of interest and I’m enjoying helping with our Club Garden.

– Gerald Hanna

...................................................................................................................... I have always considered volunteering to be equal to commitment and that commitment is equal to involvement. This leads to belonging which leads to new friendships. New friends equal happiness. Everyone wants to be happy, so simply volunteer to achieve your goal! – Di McGivern

...................................................................................................................... As a member for 20 years, I have seen and benefited from the contributions made by volunteers around our Club and consider it appropriate to put some of my own time and effort into helping the Club function effectively. I have always considered it important to make some contribution to the community and in my own small way this is one way I can do it.

– Brian Staples ...................................................................................................................... Both of us volunteer to be involved, to help our Club to function, to get to know people and lastly a sense of commitment. We look at it as if we weren’t volunteering at SBC then we would be volunteering somewhere else. Both being retired we have the time. – Roger and Shirley Palmer. ...................................................................................................................... Being a volunteer for 20 years and working together with the other volunteer’s has been a very rewarding experience. I would

recommend all members to give it a try in whatever capacity they can. When retiring I wanted a part time interest that kept me active and utilised my skill sets. I originally joined the Darts committee then the Executive/ Governing Council. There is a sense of achievement from being a part of a group of committed members, all working together successfully to make our Club the best it can be.

– Wayne Gray ...................................................................................................................... When I was ten my mother encouraged me to volunteer at an Old Age Home and to cheer up the elderly. So maybe that is why I’m compassionate about helping people in need. Volunteering has given me a sense of purpose and has made me a happier person. Meeting different people has helped me to gain knowledge and understanding of other ways of life whist boosting my self esteem. Learning new skills and seeing the rewards is why I will keep on volunteering at our Club. – Charmain Harris

...................................................................................................................... Amateur sporting and other community clubs will not survive without volunteers to help maintain and manage the facilities, and to provide officials to run all levels of competitions. Yes, it can be demanding, and take up a fair bit of time that could have been spent on other activities, but it is rewarding. Volunteering helps me get to know members, their various interests, experiences and quirks, which adds interest to the bowls experience.

– Dan Greig ...................................................................................................................... Volunteering, as a bowls coach, enables me to help others that love the sport. Coaching provides an opportunity to help others overcome issues with their bowling and help them gain a better understanding of the technical side. This is very satisfying. It also gives me a better understanding of the people around me. Watching people grow into better players with their confidence growing is why I love to volunteer. This is better than just sitting back.

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Volunteering makes me feel like the soldier standing in line when the Sergeant asks for volunteers to clean the latrines and I am expected to take one step forward. Unfortunately, all the other soldiers in the line take one step back leaving me out in front as the “Volunteer”. Joking aside, my attitude to volunteering is that if you join a club run by volunteers you have an obligation to share in the workload. I also enjoy the numerous challenges that arise as a volunteer umpire. – Anonymous ...................................................................................................................... I've volunteered all my life in a variety of positions and in different ways. Living in small country towns, everyone helped out in the community so it was nothing to be involved in four or five different groups at a time. Meals on wheels, hospital auxiliaries and not-for-profit charities made me feel good about myself for helping others. Sporting clubs, local papers and school committees allowed me to put my love of project management into action. And now at the Club, I love to teach others the skills I've learnt and see their confidence grow. I strongly believe that if we all do a little, then the few don't have to do it all! –Wendy Flack

These are wonderful sentiments from some of our committed volunteers. I guess that the message here is clear. While we all pay our membership fee to the Club, we need to do more. If everyone paid their fees and sat back, the cost of running a club like Sorrento would soar as paid people assumed the essential roles. Fees would become unsustainable and eventually the Club would become unsustainable.

Sharing the load is important. So if you currently do not volunteer, how about giving it a shot. It’s win-win for you and your Club.

– Thanks to all of the above for their help in compiling this article