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April is National Volunteer Month, and I want to take this
opportunity to express my appreciation to all of our TIP
volunteers. In a past My View, I talked about three qualities
that every TIP volunteer possesses — a cool mind, a warm heart
and a steely spine (courage). In this My View, I want to talk
about a fourth quality of TIP volunteers ― leadership. One of
the joys of my involvement in TIP over the years is seeing how
TIP volunteers rise up to become TIP Leaders of their local
affiliates. They step up and take on significant roles and
responsibilities. TIP volunteers are fundraisers, board members,
dispatchers, public speakers, briefers, debriefers . . . and the
list goes on. In other words, TIP volunteers are part of the TIP
Leadership Team. They have a sense of ownership of their local
affiliates, and they are willing to do what it takes to help
their affiliates survive and thrive.
There is a lot written these days in nonprofit publications
about the importance of involving volunteers in all operating
aspects of nonprofit organizations and about the wisdom of
treating volunteers as “unpaid staff” not “just volunteers.” In
TIP, we have had that philosophy for 25 years, and I think that
is the primary reason we have been able to grow.
Those I talk to outside of TIP are always amazed at how TIP
affiliates are able to do so much with so little. They wonder
how we can offer comprehensive 24/7/365 services with only one
or two paid staff persons, or in some cases with no paid staff
at all. All of us in TIP know the “secret.” It’s because our
volunteers aren’t “just” volunteers. They are TIP leaders who
are passionate about our mission, and who are willing to do what
it takes to help us accomplish our mission.
Bravo to all of our unpaid leaders!
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