Why Volunteer

by Bill Sutton May 1, 2014

Why Volunteer?
By Bill Sutton

During a recent chapter board meeting, the up-coming National Chapter Leadership Day in Chicago, was one of the items on the agenda. One of the topics we thought should be discussed and could likely benefit all ASHI chapters was the subject of volunteerism. A subject recently addressed in the December issue of the Reporter, by our Executive Director, Frank Lesh. During our Board meeting, we posed questions, such as: How do we get volunteers? How do we motivate volunteers? And, what are some of the benefits we receive from volunteering?

These questions and our discussion regarding these issues prompted additional thoughts on the topic. I’d like to share our discussion and some of these thoughts with you. Not to get ahead of ourselves but our discussion lead us to the following conclusion: Giving back is vital to the success of any volunteer organization like ASHI. Without doubt, ASHI Chapters are the backbone of our organization and they are the source of virtually all of its volunteers. Without the volunteers, ASHI and all the good it has done for the profession, the public, and it’s members, for almost four decades now, would not have come to pass.

Volunteering transcends culture, religion, race, gender, age and nationality. It is the most fundamental act of citizenship and philanthropy in our society. It is offering time, energy and skills of ones own free will. By caring and contributing to progress and change, ASHI volunteers gain skills, self-esteem and develop a more enlightened career. They work toward the improvement of their society, the organization and the profession. In return, they enhance their own lives and by extension they benefit their clients as well. ASHI also helps connect its members, colleagues and stakeholders through volunteering. To echo Frank’s sentiment, it has been my experience as well, that volunteering is much more than its own reward.

The benefit that volunteering provides has been traditionally thought of as the good work given by the individual to the organization; the joy of serving others for the significant personal value that can be derived from the experience for the greater good. In other words, the “great feeling” that is received from helping others. While this is and should remain one of the primary reasons and benefits for volunteering, there are many other benefits and rewards that are created when an individual volunteers in ASHI including:

  • Make important networking contacts
  • Lean and develop skills
  • Gain work experience
  • Build self-esteem and self-confidence
  • Help meet new people and make new friends
  • Express gratitude for help received in the past from ASHI
  • Enhance interpersonal skills (understanding people better, motivating others and dealing with difficult situations)
  • Feel needed and invovled
  • Advance a worthy cause or goal
  • Increase knowledge and expertise about issues related to ASHI and the profession.
  • Get recognized for contributions
  • Improve your happiness and well-being
  • Make a difference in ASHI and the profession

Whether it is important to you to solve an organizational problem, improve the profession, or to develop as a person, volunteering in ASHI offers many benefits in appreciation for the gift of your time, energy, skills and expertise. When you believe that something is worthwhile, worth working for by getting involved in ASHI, you see first hand how things are really done, and what makes the organization function. Now you begin to understand, and truly appreciate all of the time and effort that it takes to keep things going in the right direction. You not only hear of, and see the vision first hand, you live and breathe it, you become a part of it and you help keep it alive.

It has also been my experience that the more you volunteer the more “return value” you will receive. In fact, as noted earlier, the benefits and value you receive are far greater than the time and effort you give, and far more than you can imagine. If you have done regular volunteer work in any capacity you know what I mean. Ask any of those people including the past and present officers, directors and committee members and I can assure you, just like Frank, they will echo these sentiments. It’s called “The law of overcompensation”, which goes something like this: Great success and happiness comes to those who always make it a habit to put more in, than they take out. These individuals are not looking for accolades or the maximum they can receive. They are people who are always looking for opportunities to exceed expectations. And because they are always overcompensating, they are noticed, recognized and rewarded with gratitude and the esteem of their colleagues, clients and by their profession. The result is, they become more connected, and they also benefit from living a more meaningful, engaged, happier and a more satisfied life.

As professionals we all give so much to our clients at each inspection and as ASHI members we all need to give back to our society and our profession. I’ve always said we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Remember John Ruskin’s maxim: “The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get from it, but what they become by doing it.” Edmond Hale said: “I am only one but still I am one. I cannot do everything but I can do something. And, because I can not do everything I will not refuse to do what I can”. In other words, one person can make a difference. What about you? Can you make a difference?

Over the past 38 years, the cumulative action of thousands of caring ASHI volunteers has made a difference. They have had a profound impact on every aspect of our profession, and have fostered ASHI’s growth and development. They have made it the preeminent organization that it is today. This espouses the value of the voluntary work ethic. We are very fortunate, most appreciative and proud of all of their insights and hard work. It is through our volunteer’s efforts that we continue to build public awareness and confidence in the Home Inspector and promote excellence and exemplary practice within the profession. No doubt whatsoever, that’s why ASHI is the best. Fortunately, ASHI has so much more brain power and so many more problem solvers, visionaries, entrepreneurs and potential future leaders just waiting to be asked to contribute. What Frank appropriately refers to as the “Hey you” process. By the way, the number one reason people volunteer is: because they are asked. So please join-in, make a difference and enhance your life. Go for it. Get involved in ASHI. You will not regret it and you will never go back.

Note:Statistics that I have read in various volunteer related web sites indicate that volunteer participation in the US and Canada is highest for those aged 35-54 (30%) closely followed by those aged 15-24 (29%); and the amount of time spent volunteering increases with age, from a low of 130 hours per year in those aged 15-24 to a high of 269 hours per year in those aged 65 and older. I was surprised by the high percentage of people that volunteer in the States and Canada and the amount of hours they contribute. We should be very proud of that.

Bill Sutton, ACI, is a current Board member of ASHI, and AEI.


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