By Trudy Hamilton
I’ve been trying to think of a top-notch, really exciting and inspiring topic to blog about this week. I’ve been left with “Blog Blank”, or perhaps “Blog Blahs”.
I’ve also been reading Brokaw’s “The Greatest Generation”, and recently had the opportunity to visit Washington, DC. So, here we go…the book often speaks of the civic life led by veterans after World War II. These outstanding men and women who became civic leaders in their communities, whether it was to counsel other veterans, start Little Leagues in their towns, join the Rotary, serve on school boards, lobby for hospital funding. This generation is often thought of as the “builders” of volunteer infrastructure as we now know it, the doer’s, if you will, developing voluntarism to a higher degree in society. They did so many wonderful things, that it is easy to forget what was there before them.
In Washington, DC, pre-World War II reminders surround you. The American Red Cross dates back to 1881, The Salvation Army in America 1879. Girls Scouts of America, The Audubon Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. The Civil War left an unprecedented number of volunteers, who moved west and volunteered their time, the efforts, in creating an expanded territory, new states, and budding infrastructure.
The difference, from what I can see, is how so much was accomplished by these two very different generations. The post-WW II generation seemed to focus on long-standing efforts at the local level, making their communities more pleasant. Sometimes this involved joining with a national organization, other times beginning their own grassroots programs. The pre-WW II group seemed to be more focused on efforts at a national level, often rigidly organized, often with such frenzied energy needed to sustain a national effort in the days before telecommuting, telephone, and telegraph.
Fast forward to the 1980’s, and the creation of so many volunteer-dependent social service non-profits created to fight the ills of society. Often without even a budget for staff members, these non-profits have made great strides in community healthcare awareness, fighting poverty and hunger, protecting the vulnerable, conserving the wild lands. What I note with this generation is a true passion for what they want to volunteer to be involved with. Not that prior generations didn’t have that passion, but it seems quieter, more reserved.
The latest group, current college student age, are also volunteering in ways that fit their lifestyles, about things they are passionate about, and building a whole new model. Think about the service learning opportunities now encouraged, or the FeelGood movement (one cheese sandwich at a time to end world hunger). This generation has the access to all the traditional methods of volunteering, and is also creating new ways for their peers to get involved when it fits their schedule.
When you look at all the changes over time, the different pieces each group has added, how well what they have done has worked, as a building block for the next group, it is truly stunning. It also makes me wonder what we’ll see from today’s kindergartners, 30 years from now. If history repeats itself, it should be something to marvel over! Any ideas?
Trudy Hamilton is the Manager of Volunteer Resources for SeniorsPlus in Lewiston and a featured blogger.
