Doing Good Work
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By Cathy Severson, MS
Roseanne knew she would never retire in the traditional sense of the word. Always active and involved, Roseanne decided to combine her love of books, art and people to establish discussion groups. Since retirement, Roseanne facilitates groups at book stores and cultural centers every week in Southern California.
While the new crop of retirees reports a desire to engage in meaningful activities, not everyone wants to make the time commitment Roseanne has chosen. The good news is there are an abundance of volunteer opportunities and paid jobs where retirees can make a contribution.
According to a recent survey of adults conducted by Civic Ventures, 78 percent of respondents were interested in helping others in need, over half were interested in health issues, 55 percent wanted to teach or support education and 45 percent were interested in working with youth.
With almost 2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States, as well as public and educational institutions, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities to find the best fit for your needs and desires. The key is to finding the right experience is to think about what you want and do your homework.
Start with a self-assessment about your interests and skills. What kind of work do you want to do? Think about what topics you’re passionate about. What do you rant and rave about? What would you like to change about the world? Now is the time to go out there and make a difference. As the boomers transition to retirement, they are more likely to seek out situations where they can have a direct impact. Today’s volunteers are less willing to just stuff envelops and answer phones.
Think about what kind of time commitment you want to make. Are you looking for a few hours a week or are you able to donate your time on an ongoing basis? Are you more interested in projects that require a commitment for specific duration of time?
Take the time to research the organizations of your interest. Many organizations have a volunteer coordinator who will give you brochures, take you on a tour and answer questions. You should plan on spending time observing other volunteers in action to see if this is what you want to do.
Be willing to be flexible, but don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage. Don’t be afraid to get outside your comfort zone and try new things. See if you can start off on a trial basis, but be assertive enough to say “no” if it’s not a good fit for you.
Finally, and most importantly, don’t give up. If the first activity isn’t a good match, keep trying others until you find the right place for you. People who feel like their life matters and are making a contribution are healthy, happy and live longer.
As the boomer generation looks for new retirement goals, they will seek out volunteer opportunities. There is a wealth of work to be done. New retirees may be the ones to do it.
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