Volunteering: A simple man’s view Published April 14, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Bryan Franks 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs NCOIC COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Okay, so, me writing a commentary about volunteering is similar to a vegan talking about the latest's deer recipes, but even I have some insight that I would like to share about the volunteer world. This week happens to be National Volunteer Week, a week where we collectively go out and find activities to improve and better our communities and fellow man, woman, child, cat, dog, the neighbor's annoying chicken...okay the chicken may be a little much. As individuals, we have the potential to touch people's lives in many different ways. As Airmen, we have a responsibility to not only protect and defend our country but also to serve as examples in our community. When put into that context I can almost feel the weight of the world on my shoulders to be everything to everyone...but volunteering isn't really that hard...really! The first thing about volunteering is finding something that is personally important to you. If you have lost friends or loved ones battling cancer, volunteering for a foundation that supports cancer research would be a place where you could devote some volunteer time. If "Save the Baby Seals" or supporting the local chapter of "People for the Population Protection of Possums" isn't close to your heart, you can start looking into what you are good at or enjoy doing. Readily I would admit that I'm not the one to volunteer to run a marathon to support a cause because quite frankly I don't like running. However I am really good at fishing so a fishing charity tournament would be a way I could volunteer. If you haven't figured out it yet, I'm trying to tell you to play to your strengths when it comes to volunteering. Okay, I've covered two topics about volunteering: something personnel and something you like doing. If nothing is personnel, and you don't like doing anything, you're either a rock or a Specialize Undergraduate Pilot Training student who is deeply committed to becoming a pilot...and I salute you literally (if you are the second one). Some view volunteering as something else that takes time which is a valuable commodity to all of us. I myself admit that sometimes it's hard to get involved in one more thing because I have other responsibilities: parent, husband, son, friend, Airmen... you may too; but I encourage you to look out in our local community who supports this base in so many ways and mostly through volunteer work. So now that your spirits are soaring and attitudes motivated to move mountains, hills or how about just some litter...depending your level of motivation. Come out and support Clean Sweep at the Magnolia Bowl in downtown Columbus this Saturday, April 16 from 9 a.m. to noon. As part of Clean Sweep, local volunteers are conducting a Magnolia Bowl Revitalization, mulching and planting flower beds in community parks, and pinpointing areas to pick up litter including our schools and neighborhoods. To volunteer for this event contact Shasta Nance at the Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK at 328-8369 or snance@cldlink.org or Kathy West with Keep Columbus/Lowndes Beautiful at 328-4460. If this commentary didn't doing anything for you then hopefully the food that they plan to provide all the volunteers at Clean Sweep will.
