what to do? Volunteering.

[13]

I've been volunteering my whole life, seems like...

Special Olympics with my pops every summer.
Assisted Mandarin-speaking immigrants on learning how to pass the citizenship test.
Assisted in a kindergarten class with >50 students.
Served as a writing and math/science tutor at a local community college.

Currently, I'm a volunteer in one of Detroit's ERs.

[sftc]

I saw this the other day- this pro photog takes beauty shots of pound dogs to make them more adoptable. IMHO it's a great idea for maggot volunteer work since there a lot of people around here with decent cameras, a good eye and a passion for dogs:

[sidewall]

I'm coaching special olympics right now, really rewarding.

[Downbound Train]

Finally found something to sink my teeth in to. A few friends have enjoyed doing it in the past, and after reading the suggestion here that you should volunteer doing something you enjoy I applied with SOS for their snowboard outreach program. I am looking forward to exposing underprivileged youth to the immense joy of sliding down snow on plastic and wood. Should be a good time.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
-Chinese Proverb

Think about it DBS.

I actually like what you are doing. Exposing some poor kid to an expensive sport gives them a glimpse of how the other 1/2 lives. Teach GOAL SETTING through the side door as the REAL lesson they can take from your class. Teach them that a good life full of fun shit like gay snowboarding can be theirs with the right attitude and goals.

Maybe some of the little bastards will even see people on skis and decide to do that instead of the lame activity you are teaching them.

[doughboyshredder]

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
-Chinese Proverb

Think about it DBS.

I actually like what you are doing. Exposing some poor kid to an expensive sport gives them a glimpse of how the other 1/2 lives. Teach GOAL SETTING through the side door as the REAL lesson they can take from your class. Teach them that a good life full of fun shit like gay snowboarding can be theirs with the right attitude and goals.

Maybe some of the little bastards will even see people on skis and decide to do that instead of the lame activity you are teaching them.

That's kind of part of the point. SOS has a ski session also, but not many kids want to ski, cause it sucks.

Really, I grew up dirt fucking poor. Government cheese and food stamps poor. If I can help any of these kids realize that they don't have to be stuck in that life, just because they were born in to it, I will be very stoked.

[doughboyshredder]

Started another session of SOS last night.
It's amazing how a night of teaching kids about snowboarding can be just as, if not more rewarding than a day shredding steep pow. It's really an awesome experience.

I urge any of you that have the time and the inclination to do something, somehow for someone other than yourself. You'll be glad you did.

And, to respond to DBT's old post, our main focus is actually teaching them values and goal setting. Snowboarding is just the vehicle for those lessons.

[userA]

must have been pretty wet n windy on your new charges, how'd they take the wild weather?

[doughboyshredder]

We got so lucky. A sucker hole opened up and we had nice soft snow with no wind and no rain, until the end when it started misting up.
Perfect conditions for their first time sliding on snow.

[Buke]

That's awesome. SOS sounds like a good org.

I volunteered as a homework helper at the Seattle Library one year. If you are looking for another avenue to volunteer, that's a great way to do it.

[Chugachjed]

This is a great thread! I've been bringing my little one and volunteering at the Alaska workers association. There's lots of work to do to make positive change.

[Jer]

DON'T TALK ABOUT IT - DO IT!

[iceman]

[spook]

isn't your approach to speeding tickets basically volunteering for dan samas?

[iceman]

isn't your approach to speeding tickets basically volunteering for dan samas?

So, to paraphrase...



...because Dan Samas will save us?

[doughboyshredder]

One of the best days snowboarding I have ever had!

I started volunteering with Outdoors for All this weekend. Wow.
Today I worked with a couple other volunteers and an intellectually disabled young adult. We used a tether and had him absolutely flying down a blue run, with his hands up in the air hooting and hollering. So much joy. I don't think I have ever seen anyone with a bigger smile than he had today. His father was there and that joy was transferring over to him as well.

So far this season all of my ride days except for one have been dedicated to training and teaching through SOS and Outdoors for All. I can't say that I've ever had a more enjoyable season.

[Rideski]

13 year bump.

I did a couple years with national sport center for disabled. Ski guided several blind people etc.

For the last 4 years I've been volunteering for a nonprofit org that teaches people how to do solar, heat pumps, insulation, etc to reduce fossil fuels and increase renewable energy. Lately it's been kind of getting on my nerves from a money aspect. I can still afford my mortgage but I'm not swimming in cash over here. I know the org has some income and I know people that are employed by other orgs and making a good living. The advice and efforts I've given to this org would be worth 10's of thousands if it were a paying employer vs volunteer. Where is the line in the sand?

[fatnslow]

13 year bump.

I did a couple years with national sport center for disabled. Ski guided several blind people etc.

For the last 4 years I've been volunteering for a nonprofit org that teaches people how to do solar, heat pumps, insulation, etc to reduce fossil fuels and increase renewable energy. Lately it's been kind of getting on my nerves from a money aspect. I can still afford my mortgage but I'm not swimming in cash over here. I know the org has some income and I know people that are employed by other orgs and making a good living. The advice and efforts I've given to this org would be worth 10's of thousands if it were a paying employer vs volunteer. Where is the line in the sand?

Sounds like you already answered your question. When you resent giving your time it's time to cut bait. Do you have an opportunity to become a paid contractor for the org ?

[Rideski]

The org is run by some people (no joke) in their 70's and 80's. So I presume the torch will be either passed or dropped in the next decade. Other than that, probably not at any equitable rate. Hypothetically I should be making contacts that will help me in my regular job but the dynamics of the org are prohibiting that.

[Harry]

I used to do triathlons in my 20s and 30s, but I am 66 now and slowing down. I still want to be involved though. So I volunteered.

Tomorrow is a small local triathlon, sprint distance. I did a short training session, they gave me some orange cones and a safety vest and I am ready to go tomorrow. I will be at a road intersection.

Feels good, this will become a regular thing for me.


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[adrenalated]

I used to do triathlons in my 20s and 30s, but I am 66 now and slowing down. I still want to be involved though. So I volunteered.

Tomorrow is a small local triathlon, sprint distance. I did a short training session, they gave me some orange cones and a safety vest and I am ready to go tomorrow. I will be at a road intersection.

Feels good, this will become a regular thing for me.


Sent from my island using TGR Forums

Hell yeah. The volunteers standing around in vests are the unsung heroes that make these events work. Seriously.

I'm volunteering at a bike race for the first time in a couple weeks. Technically I'm there as medical support as part of the local SAR team. Really looking forward to it. Hopefully, we're not busy.

[Mazderati]

Nice. I reached out to Parks and Rec last month to see if they would supply bags and gloves if I picked up trash in the green spaces we use a lot. I just followed up after seeing this.

[Danno]

I used to do triathlons in my 20s and 30s, but I am 66 now and slowing down. I still want to be involved though. So I volunteered.

Tomorrow is a small local triathlon, sprint distance. I did a short training session, they gave me some orange cones and a safety vest and I am ready to go tomorrow. I will be at a road intersection.

Feels good, this will become a regular thing for me.


Sent from my island using TGR Forums

You could be a walking safety meeting!

[MakersTeleMark]

You should hand out, "I road by Harry" t-shirts.