Volunteering: Have Fun. Do Good!

Helping Alexandria's Kids

Here are two news items from Alexandria City Councilman Rob Krupicka's email update:

Enhancing Pre-K in Alexandria

At the June 24th City Council meeting, the Alexandria City Council will consider a proposal to use $300,000 in unused child care money from last year's budget to enhance pre-k opportunities in Alexandria.  This effort is aimed at improving quality and access to pre-k services in order to ensure more children show up for kindergarten ready to learn and to excel.  Quality improvements help us to ensure we get the best bang for the buck for our children.  Access improvements help us ensure more children are ready for school. The more children that show up ready to learn, the more efficient and effective our schools can be.

Safe Routes to School
I have the privilege of chairing Virginia's State-wide safe routes to school committee.  We are working with VDOT, the state PTA, local government and national groups to do all we can to provide safe and convenient ways for children to walk or bike to school.  The recent Washington Post series on obesity illustrates our great need to ensure children are active and fit.  As part of this effort, Mt. Vernon Elementary school has received a national grant to increase walking and biking to school by testing programs that can be used to encourage children to walk and bike to school.  I am looking forward to working with City and school staff as well as the Mt. Vernon PTA to ensure we develop a model that can be emulated across our city and the country. 

To sign up for Rob's e-newsletter, send him an email.

Days 1 - 7: The Humankind Giving Challenge

It's hard to believe it's been a whole week since I stumbled across Cami's 29-day giving challenge. Basically, you give away 29 things in 29 days - your time, your talent, or some "stuff." The idea makes real Mother Theresa's wisdom: “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”

It's been a busy week at work so many of my giving occurred there.

Day 1: I gave away an old printer/scanner/copier to Camp Virginia Jaycee, a camp for children and adults with special needs.

Day 2: I offered to help a colleague find work he would be most interested in, using his results from the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

Day 3: I participated in a conference call for a colleague since he was unable to.

Day 4: I offered to help a colleague fill out his LinkedIn profile so he could build an online network to find a job.

Day 5: I offered to help a colleague create a website for her freelance clown business so she could build it up.

Day 6: I offered to go pick up an extra grill and supplies for the picnic tomorrow.

Day 7: Today is the Alexandria Jaycees picnic, so I'm going to find something I can do or give away there. So far today has been all about me!

Drop me a note (comment) and let me know how your week of giving went!

The Human Kind Giving Challenge

I love the internet! You find out so many cool things. I stumbled across a great blog called "Human Kind Media," a web 2.0 media company that focuses on the positive - not polyanna - news out there.

I'm going to take their 29-day giving challenge, and encourage you to do the same.

Basically, you give away 29 things in 29 days - your time, your talent, or some "stuff." The idea makes real Mother Theresa's wisdom: “We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”

So, what to give? Well, Cami, the woman who began the 29-day challenge, has blogged (of course) about her giving here. Her gifts include helping someone with a referral (to a business, contractor, whatever) to picking up a few extra supplies at a grocery store or crafts store to share with a homeless shelter or with a teacher for her classroom.

I'm not sure yet what I'm going to give every day through June, but I'm looking forward to the discovery process!

The goal is to get 2,000 people to join in the challenge before July 31 of this year... so get moving!!

What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

Today is Memorial Day, originally called "Decoration Day," a day when we honor those who have died in military service to our country. It's a somber day we all mark in different ways, remembering loved ones who died and honoring those who we don't know personally but whom we respect for their service to the country.

Here in D.C. Memorial Day sentiments are truly visible, from seeing (and hearing!) the Rolling Thunder bikers on their way to the Mall, to watching the ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Of course, the notion that we support the men and women serving in our armed forces is not limited to just one day. There are many ways we can support our troops throughout the year, from USO care package stuffing to donating toys for the Marines' Toys for Tots program; from advocating for veterans' services to adopting a platoon... and the list goes on. Sadly - and fortunately - there are many ways to help our troops and our veterans.

What will you do today?

Do You Tweet?

I consider myself to be a pretty web-savvy woman... I blog, podcast, have many social media profiles, have created RSS feeds, shared photos, and organized meet-ups. So, when I heard about Twitter, I decided to find out more. What I found, I didn't really "get." Sure, the basic concept is easy to understand: you post messages to your own mini-blog (or respond to others' messages) in 140 characters or less.

A Tweet, which these mini-messages are called, can be something like, "I just had the best cuppa joe," "I just signed up for a hatha yoga class," or "Did you see who got kicked off Idol last night?" I thought I must be missing something - who in the world would want to know that I think Kona coffee rocks?

I asked one of my colleagues who Tweets regularly what's in it for her. As it happens, Jill Foster has her own Twitter page and uses it to catch up with friends; but, she also uses it for her social media consultancy. She sends out ideas, questions, comments and the like to her "followers" (those that subscribe to her Twitter feed) and gets real-time client (or potential client) feedback.

Since I don't have a social media-based business, I moved on to other forms of social media to explore. Until today, when someone in the DC Web Women group (which Jill chairs) that I belong to sent out a link to a YouTube video explaining what Twitter is and why I should care.

I'm still not sold on Tweeting, but at least now I "get" it. If you've been wondering what this phenomenon is all about, check out the video.

Thanking Mom

I loved this list and thought you might, too... if you want more, visit the source: Mother's Day Celebration.

Mother's Dictionary of Meanings

• Dumbwaiter: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.
• Feedback: The inevitable result when the baby doesn't appreciate the strained carrots.
• Full Name: What you call your child when you're mad at him.
• Grandparents: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they're sure you're not raising them right.
• Hearsay: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.
• Independent: How we want our children to be for as long as they do everything we say.
• Puddle: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.
• Show Off: A child who is more talented than yours.
• Sterilize: What you do to your first baby's pacifier by boiling it, and to your last baby's pacifier by blowing on it and wiping it with saliva.
• Top Bunk: Where you should never put a child wearing Superman jammies.
• Two-Minute Warning: When the baby's face turns red and she begins to make those familiar-grunting noises.

Voices

Blogs give any of us a chance to put our thoughts out there and share what we know; ask readers to share what they know; and highlight interesting facts, photos or stories.

Here are some voices in the Northern Virginia area:

• Urban Places and Spaces. Thought not the exclusive focus of this blog, the NOVA area is covered. "This blog focuses on historic preservation, urban design, transportation, asset-based community development, arts & cultural development, commercial district revitalization, tourism & destination development, and quality of life advocacy.
• Washington Times blogs. Several blogs, covering politics, general news, religion, technology, culture, and sports.
• Northern Virginia Daily. Political coverage of Virginia.

Stay tuned... I'll be adding to this list!

And... is there a NOVA blog you follow? Use the comment form to share!

The "Home Run" Weekend: Four Volunteering Opportunities April 25-27

There are dozens of local charities and organizations the Alexandria Jaycees volunteer for – including Rebuilding Together Alexandria, ALIVE!, The Carpenter’s Shelter and NOVAM – so by joining the Jaycees you get to make a real difference for all of these charities and more.

In fact, the weekend of April 25-27 is what we call the "home run" weekend - and you're welcome to join us at any of these events (without having to join). Just email me and I'll provide details about where to meet and how to find the Jaycees.

April 25 - ALIVE! 6:30-7:30 PM. We'll be unloading a truck containing food, which gets distributed to those who need it the following Saturday morning. It only takes about an hour. ALIVE! is Alexandria's largest "safety net" for families and individuals in need.

April 26 - Rebuilding Together Alexandria. 8 AM – 3 PM at the Carpenter's Shelter (Alexandria's homeless shelter) - 930 N. Henry Street, Alexandria, VA 22313. We have been assigned to help the Carpenter's Shelter with some yard work, including trimming, weeding and spreading new mulch in the front yard and playground. Come out, have fun and do good! If you are interested in this event, or want more information please contact Mike Gallagher via email or 703-965-0481.

April 26 - IMAGINE Dinner. 6 PM - 12 AM, email Amy for the location of the dinner party. Later that evening, participants will gather with guests and volunteer hosts from other dinner parties at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria for dessert, drinks, dancing, and a silent auction. The $30 suggested contribution per attendee on the event will be the ticket to the entire event, which benefits the Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM).

April 27 - Carpenter's Shelter Cookoff. 2:30 PM - 5 PM.The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA 22305. Proceeds from the cookoff will be used to support the Carpenter's Shelter for homeless children, families, and adults. NEEDED: 5-10 volunteers to assist with clean up (starting around 2:45 pm, lasting for approximately 30-45 minutes). Volunteers gain free admission (a $40 value!). Contact Amy to help.

Cathy's "Great Places to Eat": Satay Sarinah

Yummy. As the name implies, the satays at Satay Sarinah are the highlight of the menu - chicken and beef are my faves but they have lamb, tofu and shrimp too, with Jasmine rice. I discovered this Indonesian restaurant during one of the Alexandria Jaycees' "International Nights" - periodic (for awhile we met monthly) dinners out at ethnic food restaurants around the area.

The restaurant is in the shopping center near Giant and the Dunkin' Donuts on Van Dorn - 512 S. Van Dorn Street [Directions]. Washingtonian magazine named Satay Sarinah among their top cheap eats in 1999, 2003, 2004, and 2005. The staff is great, and will tell you about their experiences growing up in Java or Bali. Check it out!

Volunteer for Life... an Hour at a Time

"Volunteering doesn't have to be a one-time experience. For many, it's a lifetime activity." While I can't pin down the exact source of this quote, I know there are millions of people across the globe who share this sentiment. Why do so many give their time and try to make a difference in others' lives? I think it's the chance to make a real connection with other human beings - and valuing that connection.

What I see in the majority of the volunteers I've worked with is not an "us" and "them" mentality, but a "we." As in, we're all in this together and we're all responsible for helping one another when we need it and celebrating our joys and successes as well.

All of my colleagues in the Alexandria Jaycees, for instance, believe that the chance to make a real difference in someone's life - whether by teaching him to read, helping her feed their family for a few days, or even just listening to her - is in and of itself a gift. And, I can't tell you how much it's meant to me in my own life when I've received the gift of someone's attentive kindness when I just needed to talk.

I'm inspired almost daily by the Jaycees I know. They give so much of themselves - not just their time and talents (which are considerable gifts) but of their compassion and empathy. And their joy.

And, it's not just through organized volunteer groups that I see the incredible gift of caring and moments of true connectedness given - I see it in the daily kindnesses volunteered to co-workers, family and friends who need a hand or an ear; to strangers on the Metro; to people standing in line at the grocery store; and to people you run across in the course of your everyday routine.

But, I think belonging to a volunteer group, whether it's the Jaycees or some other organization, increases the impact you can make.  There are so many ways to get involved - not only through the Alexandria Jaycees or Arlington Jaycees (or any other chapter of the Jaycees) but by searching (by zip code or your interest area, such as helping children - or by your skill sets) Volunteermatch.org or the Alexandria Volunteer Bureau (AVB). All of these websites have volunteer opportunities for numerous Alexandria organizations, such as ALIVE!, Rebuilding Together Alexandria, the Campagna Center, and the Red Cross.

It's an incredibly wonderful feeling to know that you're making a difference in the lives of Alexandrians - even if you can only give a few hours per month. One of the best things I get out of being a Jaycee is that I have an opportunity to give an hour a month - or a couple of hours a week some months - to connect with people in all walks of life. How are you connecting with others in your life?