I am happy to have an opportunity to participate in a civic activity since this is, as I strongly believe, an excellent opportunity to make a difference, to influence the social environment, to make the world we all live in a better place. In the nearest future I am planning to participate in a fund raising activity, arranged by Brooklyn community board. The fund rising activity is going to be aimed at collecting funds for the senior center and some other organizations, dealing with the elderly, diseased clients and some other categories of vulnerable populations in the region. I am interested in this activity since I know, that a number of people in our society feel as if they appeared beyond the society, they feel lonely and disregarded. The most necessary services are being provided to such people by the society, and they, in the majority of cases, do not starve to death. Our society cares that much. But what also matters is that people should have some entertainment, some social and cultural life. It is not a human life, if a person has an opportunity to only satisfy their primary needs and instincts. It is important, that people should have something more, should have enjoyable experience in their lives. Thus, I find this a very important problem to address on the one hand, while on the other hand I believe that it is critically important to remain a caring and active community member. I strongly believe that all the progress made by the human kind has been made by the people who cared, and I would not like to be the one, who hampers this process. Many scholars have remarked that liberal society is being built through civic activities, by the people who want to make a difference (Georgeou, 2012). At the same time, it is very well known, that a number of social programs are being cut off. And in the majority of cases this stands for the people, who remain without cultural and social life, who are forced to lead a sort of animal-like existence, when the authorities only make sure that they do not starve to death. I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of active members of the society to make sure, that all the draw-backs of the state policy should be made up for by NGOs and people, who just care. For me personally this is also going to stand for personal satisfaction, as it is a regular outcome of social work (Stebbins, 2015), but I also count on receiving the experience, outstandingly valuable in life, and this is a common outcome of participating in civic activities (Eyler, 1999).
The activity in which I am planning to participate will be held on November 17, 2016 at 81 pct 1958 Fulton St. Brooklyn NY 11233.
It is, certainly, critically important to properly prepare for the activity. I would like to have my effort being applied with utmost effect. It is important that I should understand the precise problems, which are faced, and in which way I can be most effective as a volunteer. Certainly, I could try to do something as an improvisation of some kind, but it is important that the activities performed by me should fall in line with overall strategy, to which the board sticks. For the board members it is important to have volunteers cover up for certain needs, and they can precisely show me the segment of work, where I can be most effective. This is why I need to come to the board beforehand and participate in the board meeting. Thus I can both get acquainted with the team members, get to know more about current problems and challenges, faced by the organization, and, at the same time, I would be able to receive certain directions as for how to prepare for the activity, what to pay special attention to, and a number of other small things, which are known to the board members through their experience, while may not be necessarily evident to me.
I understand that the board in general and the campaign in which I am going to participate is important for the community, and here are just a few benefits which are provided:
Care for children from poor families, and thus, prevention of adolescent crime.
Care for lonely and elderly people, and thus prevention of their sicknesses, etc.
I am planning to talk to such members of the board as Jane Wellington, the board’s secretary, Andrew Pavliv, the board’s executive director, Anya Frain, the board’s representative for contacts with the community members, Alice Rorris, the Board’s executive in charge of the fund raising campaign. I am planning to ask them, what the procedure is for the vulnerable population group’s members to receive support at their organization. I am also planning to find out, which categories of such vulnerable groups are served. What the board’s capacities are and whether they provide services only directly to the customers or also delegate such provision also to other organizations. I also need to find out, how open the information about the board is, whether people can learn about the organization’s mission, its history and what are the channels, through which such information is “transmitted” to the community members.
I, certainly, would desire to find out more about current projects ran by the organization, and ways in which volunteers like me could provide help and support. I am certain, the information I will receive will be nearly enough for me to properly prepare for the event. Certainly, after the meeting and prior to the visit I will also have to do a thorough research on the problems with which the board deals as well as on the most effective methods of conducting the activities, in which I am planning to involve. In general, I consider my chances to provide effective help to be quite high and thus is looking forward to participating in the event.
- Eyler, Janet, Where’s the learning in service-learning, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1999.
- Georgeou, Nichole, Neoliberalism, Development, and Aid Volunteering, New York: Routledge, 2012.
- Stebbins, Robert A. “Leisure and the Motive to Volunteer”. Houndmills, UK: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
