Volunteers to Leaders, Making VASFAA Proud!

Last May, I was asked to present a session on Volunteering for VASFAA at the Annual Conference. What could I say to the membership? How could I drive home how vital it is to VASFAA to have “active” members, rather than just members? How could I impress upon the membership the importance of building a professional network through volunteering? How could I encourage our current and former volunteers to mentor previously untapped members (or prospective members) toward improving their resume through volunteering.

It had been stated before: “Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” – (Author Unknown)

The sayings and mottos brought home some special meaning to me. It had been awhile since I had put ideas together for a presentation on a topic that I believe in personally and professionally. Being a volunteer is something that is taken for granted. Somehow we think that by being a member of an organization, we are doing our part to be an active member. It takes more effort than signing up to make a member active. And once that action gets rolling, it’s interesting to see what becomes of those who are actively volunteering.

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” – (Elizabeth Andrew). Our jobs require us to work hard. Sometimes, we don’t even know that we are working that hard because the days slip into weeks, and weeks slip into months. Before you know it, we have been in our jobs and/or professions for years! We give talks to parents and students about financial aid and what the financial aid community can do for them. We venture out into the communities we serve when we are asked and it isn’t only on weekdays. Truly, it seems our jobs are the epitome of volunteerism.

“We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality of our service relationship to humanity.” – (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) Money for us isn’t what it is all about. We assist so many students looking for a way to improve their lives. We do give our hearts to them and their families. But have you ever stepped back to see what it is you have given? Can you see what it has done for you and what you have become? A volunteer grows into an active leader! Look at the number of leaders that are commonly known who started out by being volunteers?

“We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.” – (Winston Churchill) As a VASFAA volunteer, one becomes involved in committee work and becomes a part of the VASFAA team. As this participation becomes part of the volunteer, ownership of VASFAA’s mission becomes part of the volunteer. A year or two on a committee and something wonderful starts to happen to the volunteer. Taking on more responsibility for a task or project becomes second nature to the volunteer as the volunteer matures into someone trusted and known for getting the job done. Writing a report and handling part of a budget suddenly brings notice to this person from the current leadership. Eventually, it is decided that this volunteer can lead a committee. A committee chair is born and the first rung up the leadership ladder becomes reality!

Once a level of confidence is gained, no limits exist as to how far one can go into the organization. A committee chair in charge of Awareness this year, and Support Staff another… and colleagues are really starting to notice how natural a leadership position looks on this volunteer. A reputation for getting things done is what this volunteer is noted for. Suddenly, Board elections are around the corner and this volunteer is nominated for a leadership position on the Board! It’s all a matter of getting the talent and name out there to the membership. Volunteerism builds leaders! “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – (Aesop)

So, let the life of a volunteer be a lesson to you. Volunteerism in VASFAA builds character, responsibility, respect, and all the qualities that only bring good to you and to others. What you may take for granted actually becomes part of you. To see the glowing pride on the face of an active volunteer is like finding gold. That gold will shine brilliantly and colleagues will take notice of it, on or off the job. So be careful what you wish for, because it may just be the thing that takes you to full-blown leadership potential.

In closing, let me ask that if you have not been able to do a little extra for VASFAA this past year, that you seriously consider it for the coming year. This association is full of opportunities to build a reputation, a career, and a leader. Take the advice given at that session last May…Bloom where you are planted!