The magic of volunteers - true stories from Sierra Club life

At the beginning . . .

Arlen sat behind the other participants. That's how he thought of himself: `backup' for the heavy hitters, a sustaining voice when numbers became important. He wasn't a source of details and discussion-ending facts, but he knew what he felt was right. All of his compatriots engaged in this debate were more experienced, more knowledgeable. They were, nonetheless, volunteers, like him - people who cared about how outstanding natural features in the city would be treated, how they would be allowed to benefit the residents' quality of life.

After a while . . .

Arlen was greeted as a colleague (or at least co-conspirator?) by the others, and he sat at the table. He was a familiar face to most of them, having consulted with them several times over the last months. He had developed into an informed participant. Through listening (from the back row) and then informing himself through conversation and reading (he couldn't bring himself to call it research - his investigations were casual, personal, but not, he thought, `professional') he had become able to speak knowledgeably on some phases of the negotiations. He had benefited from the mentoring of friends and acquaintances who had started earlier. It was good to be recognized and appreciated, even though he didn't think he contributed much. He had learned that a willing volunteer could find support in most any endeavor. The beauty of volunteerism is that you can advance the things you are interested in.

Until finally . . .

Arlen called the meeting to order. As chair of the committee he was in an excellent position to influence the city's policies. His years of participation on the committee and related subcommittees had made him one of the most knowledgeable people in town. There had been some remarkable progress in how positively natural features were seen and valued, even in the parts of the populace whose main interest was development. Thinking back over the years he had been participating, he had to smile. He looked around the table. He saw other former back-row volunteers. There could only be one explanation for how they had come so far: magic, volunteer magic.

This story is at least partly autobiographical - and it is, with slight variations, similarly biographical for many Sierra Club leaders. The magic of participation is available to all. Some take a bit longer to blossom. Some choose not to be up front leading, but contribute in other meaningful ways. Some lead for a while and then don't - it all adds up. The magic of volunteers is that they accomplish enormous influence, action, change, and enlightenment. Not by a profit-driven agenda, not by political ambition, but by regular folks who are interested enough to add their voice and hearts and hands and talents for the common good.

Throughout this issue are volunteer opportunities. Choose just one to begin your own adventure in volunteer magic. Please join us, for as much or as little time as you wish. The magic adds up to a better world for us all. The following short essays are examples of how some other volunteers have experienced volunteering.

Kim Waldo

Volunteer magic - Suzanne Brucker

Every so often, the realization hits me: I spend a great deal of my time indoors - and not nearly enough out in nature. When I saw a notice for a Sierra Club hike a couple years ago, I grabbed my shoes and ran out the door, and I've been part of the Sierra Club ever since.

The outings are my favorite part of the Sierra Club. They get me out in nature, meeting new people and learning something new. The outings are a great way to see parts of the surrounding area that I had never taken the time to explore.

The Sierra Club also gives me an outlet for helping with environmental issues. Some of my favorite ways to take action include service days, Shopping For the Earth, and letter-writing. There are so many different activities and opportunities that there is truly something for everyone. I also appreciate the casual, supportive atmosphere that allows me to scale back my efforts when the rest of life gets crazy, and jump back into the mix when I have more free time.

The word "activism" is loaded with connotations, and it's not a word that resonates with me, but I am someone who likes to help out with causes that I believe in, when I know that even small contributions of my energy can make an impact.

Volunteer magic - Jennifer Jacobus

The strength of the Sierra Club's national organization always seemed obvious, but it took some time for me to realize the strength of local Sierra Club groups - and the role that I could play in facilitating change locally.

I was a member of Sierra Club groups in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California, primarily participating in outings, but not until joining the Huron Valley Group in Ann Arbor did I become interested in stepping up my level of involvement. This decision partially coincided with my personal development and growing interest in environmental issues as a graduate student of aquatic ecology and the environment.

In addition, the leaders and members of this group were so welcoming and encouraging that it was impossible to resist joining with them. I had always assumed that it was difficult to become part of a board or assume a position in a popular, prestigious organization such as the Sierra Club. But the Group constantly invited members to join the leadership, take initiative, take on a position, join the ExComm. Ultimately I was asked to be program chair - a seemingly simple, pedestrian, not time-consuming responsibility.

The importance of programming, however, quickly became obvious. I had underestimated how interesting and influential this function actually was. It was incredibly rewarding to be associated with a wonderful group of motivated, passionate individuals with a history of making significant changes in the local community. As I move back to California, I can only hope to take this energy and knowledge with me and apply it to Sierra Club groups in the Los Angeles area. There is no shortage of problems to address there!

Volunteer magic - Pauline Mitchell: how I decided to "get more active"

I grew up in small-family-farm country, where the night was dark and quiet, and you could see the stars. I miss seeing the stars.

We lived by a small spring-fed lake, which was cold and clear. The first year we moved there the lake froze seemingly overnight; there was no snow and you could see through the ice down to the bottom as if looking through glass. I went back a few years ago and rowed around. The water was cloudy and filled with sediment. Small lake or not, someone was allowed to put a trailer camp on one end, no sewers of course.

I had played in the barns on the two farms across the road from us, and helped drive the cows down the road back for milking. I perfected my "sooey" to bring the pigs running, a few pigs on each farm. When I went back, even driving with windows up, the stench was overwhelming, with lots of pigs, and seemingly only pigs now, on both farms. You could smell it all the way across the lake. People who lived around the lake complained, but were told the farmers were here first, live with it. It's not a place I could live any more.

I had a wonderful environment to grow up in. Perhaps even without these experiences I would be drawn to outdoor things, but I'm sure they intensified my appreciation. We can't all be raised in small-farm country, and many wouldn't like it as much, but we all need to go to something similar at times or at least feel a little reassured by knowing that it's there if we choose to visit it.

For most of my adult life, gardening has been my main way of interacting with the natural world, with some trips and some camping to get to the "real thing", which I assumed would be there when I could get to it. One of the great values of the Sierra Club is to call to our attention that the crystal-clear water, the bright night skies, and fresh county air won't be there without some help.

Several years ago, I took part in some organization activities. Then I read a notice for a Sierra Club meeting, came, and found folks with similar concerns and a willingness to do something for the environment, and here I am still. One fall day I decided to give up sleeping in on a Saturday (a very large concession for me) and went to a "fold `n staple". The "regulars" were a little surprised to see a newcomer. I also did some accosting of people to hand out postcards to be mailed in, and some phone work during an initiative campaign a couple of years ago, along with selling a lot of Sierra Club calendars. Small steps - which made it easier to say "yes" when I was asked if I would be the Group publicity chair a couple of years ago. I decided that I should put my time where my mouth was.

adapted from the Lookout, newsletter of the Sierra Club Huron Valley Group