T
from the president
Let’s Talk To Serve
Kaye Schendel Gamma Phi | National President
There is an article by Rachel Naomi Remen titled “In the Service of Life” that has profoundly changed my thinking about service and the work we do as volunteers. The article was published in the spring 1996 issue of Noetic Sciences Review. If you never had the opportunity to look at this article, I encourage you to do so. You can find the article online at www.wellnessgoods.com/serviceoflife.asp. Here is a brief excerpt from the article that I believe might offer an interesting framework for you to consider: “ Serving is different from helping. Helping is based on inequality; it is not a relationship between equals. When you help, you use your own strength to help those of lesser strength. If I’m attentive to what is going on inside of me when I’m helping, I find that I’m always helping someone who is not as strong as I am, who is needier than I am. People feel this inequality. When we help, we may inadvertently take away from people more than we could ever give them; we may diminish their self-esteem, their sense of worth, integrity and wholeness. When I help, I am very aware of my own strength. But we don’t serve with our strength, we serve with ourselves. We draw from all of our experiences. Our limitations serve, our wounds serve and even our darkness can serve. The wholeness in us serves the wholeness in others and the wholeness in life. The wholeness in you is the same as the wholeness in me. Service is a relationship between equals.” I was so excited when I learned that the theme of this issue of The Triangle was service. You see, I just completed the service immersion trip to Jamaica with 16 Sigma Sisters. I can tell you that a remarkably rewarding time was had by all, and we learned so much in “our service to others” that week. One of the participants in the trip was Linda Clayton, Omicron, and also a member of the Western Wayne-Washtenaw Alumnae Chapter. Linda just retired from many years as a teacher. When asked why she decided to participate in the trip, she simply said, “Because I can!” You see, she no longer had the constraints of her job and other demands. But I will advocate that we all can and should think about adding service to our lives.
L eft // Ann-Marie Zambrano (Zeta Epsilon) and Megan Donlick (Alpha Pi) play with students during the before school program. Center // (Left to Right): Linda Manley-Kuitu (Epsilon Rho), Emily Russell (Alpha), Mariah Henderson (Theta Delta) and Paul (a local on-site worker/partner) rebuilding a wall at Gordon’s Early Childhood Institute in Jamaica.
There are many ways to get more out of your service/volunteer experience. Below are some options that you can consider: 1. P ick the right project. Ask yourself what kind of work would you like to do and what groups you would like to serve. Are there specific social or environmental issues you want to address? How much time do you have to volunteer? And what do you want to get out of the experience? Once you know the answers, choose a few organizations and tour the facilities or ask questions. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to stretch beyond your comfort level. Trying something new could open up a whole new world of opportunities. 2. Engage in the work you are doing. Go out of your way to interact with others on the worksite. Take the time to have a conversation with other volunteers, staff and also with the people you are serving. Know that you may have a lasting impact on them and they may also impact you. Listen. 3. Go above and beyond. Let’s face it, that’s just who we are as Sigmas anyway! If you finish with your project or task, ask for another project or opportunity. 4. Reflect on your experience. Take some time to think about the aspects of your service that you found the most meaningful and why they were meaningful to you. Think about what you would change about your experience, what challenged you, and the impact you had on the issue or people you served and the impact the experience had on you. 5. Record your experience. I like to journal, but that may not be what works for you. At any rate, write down your experiences. They may be useful to include on a resume or in your portfolio. I hope this issue of The Triangle will inspire you to serve others. Why? Because you can!