Courtney Burkholder

That’s right, ladies. You read the title correctly. There really is such a thing as a Happy Volunteer. It’s not an oxymoron.

But if you’re like me, you spent the summer pretending that all those jobs you so willingly agreed to last year, were somehow taking care of themselves, had disappeared all together, or someone else had jumped in and begged to take over your duties.

Unfortunately, cancer has not been cured, the school fund raiser is still in the planning stages, and all those people who swore they would serve on your committee have either moved to Tahiti or are avoiding your phone calls. The Happy Volunteer may be feeling a bit frazzled.

As a mom that works from home, I have always taken my volunteer work very seriously. It’s my way of giving back to the community and staying involved in my children’s school activities. Volunteer work makes a good school, great. It makes a fun, social club, meaningful.

The world we live in needs volunteers – people that do for others without expecting something in return. I am a firm believer that the volunteer who stuffs envelopes, sells raffle tickets, or delivers hot meals to shut-ins, is just as important as the volunteer who chairs an elaborate gala that raises millions of dollars. It’s not the job you do, but how you do it that makes a difference.

Yet even I, in all my infinite wisdom, find myself drowning in a sea of volunteer work … committees, phone calls, e-mails, and endless meetings. It can all be just too much. And that is when the Happy Volunteer is at risk of throwing up her hands and screaming enough is enough!

So what can you do to ensure that you remain a Happy Volunteer, and not the grumpy, eye-rolling, complaining volunteer that no one wants on their committee? Here are some guidelines to keep you on the straight and narrow path to successful volunteering.

The Happy Volunteer is passionate about her cause. Volunteer for something you really care about. Does someone dear to you suffer from multiple sclerosis? Does breast cancer run in your family? Chances are if you feel a connection to the cause for which you are working, you will be much more apt to give it your all. If you have never attended the symphony and the ballet puts you to sleep, then pounding the pavement for the fine arts may not be the job for you. Last week we found our passions; this week we’re putting them to good use.

The Happy Volunteer is not overextended. Accept only what you feel comfortable taking on. Now, it’s good to challenge and extend yourself, occasionally breaking out of that envelope-stuffing comfort zone. Everyone who chairs a major event is scared the first time. But don’t accept more jobs than you can handle. It’s important to do the jobs you take on to the very best of your ability. Important lesson: Don’t be afraid to say no. Another important lesson: Don’t be afraid to say yes, either!

The Happy Volunteer utilizes her strengths and talents. Are you a people person? Dedicate a few hours a week at a nursing home. Do you love to garden? The Botanical Gardens offer wonderful volunteer opportunities. Do you sing, or speak a second language, write, paint, or are you highly organized? Utilize your talents through your volunteer work.

The Happy Volunteer surrounds herself with other Happy Volunteers. If we all do our part, and do it passionately, we all benefit. No one wants all the responsibility all the time. But when you do accept a job, do it happily, not begrudgingly. As my father-in-law always says: “Many hands make light work.”