Today's topic is volunteering.  Did you know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor reports that 61.8 million people volunteered in 2008?  That's 26.4% of the U.S. population.  And the median annual hours volunteered was 52!  What do all these people know that most people in the U.S. do not know?

Well, here are the reasons volunteers give for their efforts:

I volunteer to:

• Help others
• Make a difference
• Find purpose
• Enjoy a meaningful conversation
• Connect with my community
• Feel involved
• Contribute to a cause that I care about
• Use my skills in a productive way
• Develop new skills
• Meet new people
• Explore new areas of interest
• Meet good people
• Impress my mom
• Impress myself
• Expand my horizons
• Get out of the house
• Make new friends
• Strengthen my resume
• Feel better about myself

Wow, that's an impressive list of benefits!  Are you part of the 61.8 million people who understand these benefits first hand?  If not, you might want to consider joining this group.  I have heard of people out of work who are just waiting around until their unemployment runs out to get serious about finding a job.  Well, why not spend that time productively?  And what a better potential employee you would be if you had some volunteer work to put on your paperwork!                               

The students at WSMT spent much of this past Saturday working at the Trek 100, a bicycle tour to benefit the MACC Fund.  We often attract back several graduates to this fun event.  They site many of the reasons above for continuing to volunteer for this exhausting and exhilarating day.