A Positive Workplace Means Volunteerism and Community Service

Since we last “connected,” a lot has happened!  On Sept. 9, I was officially welcomed as a new board member for the Housatonic Community College Foundation in Bridgeport, CT.  I have been a business department instructor at HCC for several years and really believe in the community college system.  Coming from a hard-working, middle class family, the community college gave me the opportunity for higher education and opened new doors for me.  I am very grateful for this appointment and look forward to serving the college in this new capacity.

Also, on September 24, I attended the Fulton-Montgomery Community College Alumni Awards dinner in upstate New York where I received “The Distinguished Alumnus Award for Lifetime Achievement.” It was a terrific evening and what chills I had when my name was announced as the first-ever recipient in the seven-year history of the alumni awards.  Wow! I was truly humbled…What a night it was!

Not only is this great news to share, it is also a testimony to the importance of community service and volunteerism.  As I completed the detailed FMCC award application earlier this summer, I realized (when I saw it in black and white!) how much of a role community service and volunteerism has played in my professional world and personal life.

I thought back about where this “service” mentality came from… My parents!  Jane and Carl were terrific role models. Mom was ever the “groupie” and fundraiser for the church’s women’s group and Italian festival, the PTA, high school booster clubs and, on a regular basis, was on the phone inviting people to meetings or had tickets to sell for some fundraising event. 

Dad, the much quieter type, also gave many hours of quiet service to the church as an usher and collector at the 10:00 a.m. Sunday morning Mass. He was the man with the big smile and friendly spirit that greeted everyone and was the face we looked forward to seeing each week when the basket was passed. That Mass just wasn’t the same after he died… Dad could also be found helping to set up the booths at the festival and making deliveries to and from the church store with donations for the less fortunate of the community.

So with DNA like this, how could I miss?  From the time I was in grade school (Brownies, Girl Scouts), high school (yearbook committee, dances, fundraisers), college (yearbook business manager, sorority founding member & treasurer, homecoming committees) to the present, I have been a community service/volunteer “groupie!”  

A few years ago when I worked in the corporate world, I led a volunteerism project for the financial institution I worked for at the time.  It was amazing to gather the information about the staggering number of employees who gave thousands of hours of their time each year to community organizations!  For many, their volunteer efforts were positive outlets to channel workplace stress.

Giving changes everything!  Attitudes shift, skills develop, engagement and productivity shoot up, service excels and results improve – for employees, community organizations, and the workplace environment. (CLICK to view/download our Positive Workplace visual) It just makes cent$!

This is yet another way to look at the “P2P” connections I speak about… Positive workplaces are made up of people who either live in or nearby the physical location of our businesses. Attracting and retaining quality employees is an on-going challenge.  As America continues to evolve into more and more of a service economy, the next 10, 20, and 30 years will present greater challenges in finding qualified sales and customer service people. Why? The shrinking workforce and a maturing population…

Dana Borowka, Principal of Lighthouse Consulting Services, LLC, and author of “Cracking the Personality Code” says, “When it comes to finding and keeping employees, pay is secondary for top talent. But if you build up an outstanding reputation, people will line up to work at your organization.  You have to realize that reputation matters. People talk. Images get established. Web postings take place. Today no organization can afford to have a bad reputation.”  

As employers and managers, we shape our reputation through actions and words.  We are the face of our business to our employees, customers, and competitors. We set the tone - right example - that encourages our employees to get involved in the communities we serve.

People want to work for community-minded organizations; our customers want to do business with community-minded organizations; our shareholders (public companies) see the return as a CRA component; and the recipients of the volunteer efforts appreciate our contributions in ways we can’t even imagine.  It’s a win/win for everyone and just makes cent$!  (CLICK to read “Ten Commandments of Human Relations”)

What is your organization’s community service reputation? How does it stack up against your competitor’s reputation?  What’s the “give back” factor in your life?  How do you serve to the community where you live and/or work in?  Say you have no time?  You don’t need to spend a lot of time…Most people who volunteer give one or two hours a week across a wide range of sectors and activities. 

A recent article on the U.S. Government web site, www.volunteeringinamerica.gov, noted some very interesting information.  Here’s an excerpt…
Nearly 61 million Americans volunteered in their communities in 2007 giving 8.1 billion hours of service worth more than $158 billion to America’s communities, according to the Volunteering in America report released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The report reveals an increase of one million volunteers over five years…

• On average, Connecticut's 830,000 volunteers dedicated 110 million hours of service per year (between 2005 and 2007). The estimated economic contribution of the volunteer hours served is $2.1 billion annually.
• In Connecticut, more than 12,000 people participate in national service each year through 53 projects and programs.

Where People in Connecticut Volunteer (2005-2007):
30% – Educational
23.7% – Religious
15.9% – Social Services
Civic – 9.7%
Health – 9.1%
Sports – 4.7%
Other – 6.9%

Main Activities in Connecticut:
Fundraise – 29.2%
Professional Management – 19.5%
Collect/Distribute Food – 18.9%
Teach/Tutor – 16%

Come on out, meet some new people, do some good and join me as a community service/volunteer “groupie!”  Many organizations (right in your own backyard) need good people like you!  Check out my web site, www.posimpact.net, for some of the organizations I currently serve… We’d love to have you!

In closing, some slogans, lyrics, and words of wisdom come to mind that seem fitting for the topic of community service and volunteerism.  Maybe you can think of some others…

• Rotary International: Service Above Self
• Bee Gee’s: 1970’s hit, “…If you give a little more than you’re asking for, your love will turn the key…”
• Let it begin with me
• Do Small Things with Great Love
• Make a Difference
• Msgr. Bob Weiss: “If we all do a little, we can do a lot!”

When people – your family, friends, employees, colleagues, customers, vendors and competitors – see the example you set, positive “P2P” things begin to happen – for them, for those served, for the workplace environment and bottom-line results.  

Time is a precious commodity… Just like a smile, give it away and see what happens!

A Positive Workplace Means Business!
It Just Makes Cents! ™

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Stay tuned for next month’s edition…

MJ Paris

P.S. Do you know someone who needs "Positive Energy" in their workplace? Feel free to forward this issue to friends, family and colleagues!

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About MJ

Mary Jane (MJ) Paris brings a broad base of experience in management, leadership and employee development gained from more than 25 years in sales management, retail banking, training, recruiting, project management, event planning and community leadership.
Her common sense approach and practical experience combined with her dynamic presentation skills provide a solid foundation for understanding her client’s needs and challenges.

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