Jay, who has lived in the Waukesha area for nearly 20 years, is an active volunteer who serves on numerous local boards and committees. He’s married to Colleen with three kids having gone through the Waukesha schools. He is the VP of a local distribution company and currently serves on several area Boards.
HELP WANTED – VOLUNTEER BOARD POSITIONS
Where are our next Waukesha Community board members going to come from? What will motivate them to run for various Board positions? And…Are they the “right” people for the positions open?
Volunteerism and Board participation can be a rewarding experience. My wife and I have met many tremendous people in our endeavors, and we have experienced the personal fulfillment which can accompany giving-back to the Community. In fact, we are also now (proudly) seeing our children mirror these efforts with their own participation in a host of activities.
Board membership, be it a School Board, City Common Council, County Board, Non-profit Board, or one of the legions of opportunities out there, takes time, dedication, and demands sacrifices. These 3 requirements immediately rule-out most who feel their lives are already overloaded. The remaining “potentials” must now sense they have something to offer, something to give back… something to make a difference. Translating one’s personal thoughts into actions often requires a kismet-like intervention. “Hey – your professional work experience would really help us out on our local Plan Commission…” or “You really should, given your knowledge and expertise, consider serving on such-and-such Board…” or the most common “I spoke with so-and-so and they are looking for someone to get involved and I think you would be great at that…”
At that point, most pass, but many “take the plunge” and get involved. If the opportunity is a good match-up between their personal skill set and expectations, people will stay involved and eventually realize the satisfaction from their efforts. If the person and Board position are a bad fit, for whatever reason, resentment and negativity can follow. These situations do occur and should not necessarily reflect poorly on either the person or the position – It just might not have been the “right” fit. Also, the person should not be dissuaded from considering future, different opportunities.
Sidebar: The “wrong” fit can and does happen when the “wrong” person jumps in. Negative, disrespectful, non-compromising, closed-minded individuals who only get involved because of a single-issue often poison the effectiveness of an entire group. Unfortunately, these few can taint the experiences of many. Remember, anyone can be a critic - not everyone can be a leader…
This is where the “Right Person” aspect enters. Regardless of what anyone tells or promises you, volunteerism is spelled “T-I-M-E”. Nowadays local Boards don’t need people who attend monthly meetings, offer comments, and leave saying “See you next month”. Boards desperately need “Doers” willing to offer time, energy, and fresh perspectives. Assuredly, if you volunteer in a personally meaningful area, you will magically find the time to make significant contributions. …And you will volunteer again!
Why? …Why write this column? …Why reach-out? Because too many of the same people are being repetitively asked for their time and monetary donations; Because too many Waukesha-area volunteers are (OK - only mildly) showing their age and starting to look to look forward for other life-opportunities; Because the area’s many needs for new, fresh volunteers is ongoing; And finally, because the lifeblood and spirit of our Communities is a direct reflection of the people behind the scenes making it all happen.
”Help Wanted – Apply now! Full benefits!
