wrote, “After two weeks of partisan swagger in Tampa and Charlotte, Washington harked back two decades Friday to the kinder, gentler vibe of George H. W. Bush,” whose call to service inspired Points of Light.
The event honored several who have gone above and beyond –
and bid on items including golf with Mutombo, a signed book collection donated by President George H. W. Bush or a VIP experience at a Linkin Park concert. The auction will be open until Friday, Sept. 21.
In service,
Michelle Nunn
CEO, Points of Light
Change Notes: Every Day I Serve
Friends,
Last year, on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks,
Matt Segneri
rose before dawn to help plant 3,000 flags in Boston honoring those lost. He joined hundreds of other volunteers from Points of Light’s HandsOn Network affiliate Boston Cares. The event was held in total silence.
“It was a powerful shared experience on a sorrowful but inspiring day,” he writes in a
. “And it provided the spark that would change the next year of my life.”
Just a few months later, on New Year’s Day, Matt, a 31-year-old who leads civic and social innovation projects at Bennett Midland, decided to devote at least an hour every day to service. As he writes,
“I’ve created fun quizzes for classrooms and pushed my mentee to chart a new career path. I’ve created blankets for families in need and advised executive directors on organizational strategy. Heeding the wisdom of E.B. White, I’ve gotten up every morning ‘determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time.’
And, for the last eight-plus months, I’ve lived up to my goal. With the demands of the day, it’s not always easy. But sacrifice is part of the point. One night, I couldn’t complete my service until 4 a.m. That was the night after we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Riley, into the world.
This project – which I’ve taken to calling Every Day I Serve – has been a deeply personal one. Until now, I’ve kept it to myself and those close to me. But, today is a day to pause and reflect – not just on what we lost but on how we came together and how we can continue to unite through service.”
Yesterday, on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Points of Light paused and reflected, too,
then honored the victims and the heroes of that day with service projects to improve disaster preparedness and support veterans around the country. A few examples:
HandsOn South Alabama mobilized more than 3,500 individuals – including first responders, veterans and the business community – to support those who protect us in times of emergency and learn the best ways to help the community prepare for a disaster
Volunteer Arlington in Virginia canvassed door-to-door to share preparedness tools including a mobile app
GenerationOn, Points of Light’s youth service enterprise, worked with My Good Deed, Mission Continues and Volunteers of America to build hygiene kits and write cards to active duty military deployed oversees
As Matt writes, “The beauty of service is that ordinary people, in ordinary pursuits, can make an extraordinary difference. I am often reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words: ‘Everyone can be great because anybody can serve.'”
I’m so moved by Matt’s example and by the knowledge that he is joined by so many others who put their time where their hearts are. Eleven years ago, on this day, Americans stood united and responded with resiliency and commitment.
On The 11th Anniversary of 9/11 Day Answer the Call To Serve
Today’s guest post is written by Matt Segneri, who leads civic and social innovation projects at Bennett Midland in New York City. He previously served as a senior advisor to Mayor Thomas Menino, whose office he joined as a Harvard Business School Leadership Fellow.
My alarm sounded well before dawn, as it did for dozens of citizens all over Massachusetts. We each found our own way to the Boston Public Garden, driven by a common desire to help, to heal, to honor.
Few of us knew each other but we gathered that day – the
– to build something together. With help from above and a few flashlights, we planted nearly 3,000 flags in the Garden of Remembrance to commemorate the victims of the 9/11 terror attacks.
It was a powerful shared experience on a sorrowful but inspiring day. And it provided the spark that would change the next year of my life.
I used to keep a handwritten sign above my desk. On one side, I wrote, “Make big plans.” On the other, “Elevate the everyday.”
I haven’t had that sign up for years, but those adages stick with me. I constantly strive to follow them and, even more so, to reconcile them. How can one do both?
In service, I found my answer.
We all yearn to be part of something bigger than ourselves while still being ourselves. That yearning was answered alongside my fellow volunteers that morning. It was answered throughout the day, as we readied books for school libraries and assembled care packages for our troops. I was fully part of a community and a country committed to giving back and doing good. I felt fulfilled, because I find the greatest happiness in serving others.
I knew if I could continue that service and incorporate it into my daily life, my everyday would be elevated. And, more importantly, I’d elevate the lives of others.
So, I made a big plan for 2012: to do one hour of service every day.
I’ve found great meaning, purpose and adventure in this pursuit. And I’ve found so many different ways to give back – everything from physical service to board membership to mentoring to
. Through service, I experience the world as a citizen of one big community. I’ve worked with neighbors nearby, across the country and all over the globe.
My experiences have been diverse and those with whom I work dynamic. I’ve created fun quizzes for classrooms and pushed my mentee to chart a new career path. I’ve created blankets for families in need and advised executive directors on organizational strategy. Heeding the wisdom of E.B. White, I’ve gotten up every morning “determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time.”
And, for the last eight-plus months, I’ve lived up to my goal. With the demands of the day, it’s not always easy. But sacrifice is part of the point. One night, I couldn’t complete my service until 4 a.m. That was the night after we welcomed our beautiful daughter Riley into the world.
This project – which I’ve taken to calling “Every Day I Serve” – has been a deeply personal one. Until now, I’ve kept it to myself and those close to me. But, today is a day to pause and reflect – not just on what we lost but on how we came together and how we can continue to unite through service.
Next to the work of our true servant leaders – great Americans like police, firefighters, EMS, educators, AmeriCorps members and, above all, our men and women in uniform – my sacrifice is a small one. I give an hour. They build and defend the best of our country and never rest.
Still, the beauty of service is that ordinary people, in ordinary pursuits, can make an extraordinary difference. I am often reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s words: “Everyone can be great because anybody can serve.”
So, on this 11th anniversary, be great and answer the call to serve. It doesn’t matter if it’s day 255 or day one. Renew a proud tradition – perhaps the purest source of American exceptionalism – and devote yourself to your neighbors and your nation.
Each year, volunteers come together to rekindle the spirit of unity that existed immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. This day brings together cultures, bridges differences and unites citizens of goodwill around the world.
–Michelle Nunn
Last year My Good Deed launched The I Will campaign for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. The result was extraordinary. A remarkable 33 million Americans, from all 50 states, engaged in good deeds and charitable service as a constructive way of observing 9/11 last year, according to independent research conducted in 2011 by Horizon Consumer Science for 9/11 Day.
Join the movement this year and pay tribute through positive action. Write your “I will” pledge or view other pledges on the 9/11 Day quilt.
Today, six of our HandsOn Network affiliates will collectively mobilize 15,000 people in disaster preparedness training and building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to equip and mobilize volunteers in times of disaster. Read the our full 9/11 day press release here.
Please join us in observing 9/11 as a day of good deeds, a day to pay tribute together by promoting worldwide unity, compassion and peace.
Celebrate Daily Points of Light
So many people across the U.S and the world are doing good in their communities. It’s really amazing how creative, courageous, and compassionate humans can be. Read some recent inspiring stories:
People continue to amaze and inspire us every day. What are your friends and family and people in your community doing out of their goodwill? Share the good with us. Nominate them for the
On Labor Day and throughout the year, we celebrate our Nation’s workers, and we commit to supporting their efforts in moving our economy forward. Labor Day has always been a time to remember and celebrate achievement. The United States Department of Labor describes Labor Day’s founding as “a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” However for a lot of Americans, there isn’t labor to celebrate.
A large group of citizens who are facing employment challenges are our nation’s veterans. The HandsOn Network Community Blueprint is set up to help communities help veterans. Though veterans often acquire unique and valuable skills during their military service, they are disproportionately unemployed when compared to comparably qualified civilians. According to the most recent statistics released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate of post 9-11 veterans is 13.3 percent, compared to a non-veteran rate of 9 percent. Read more about veteran employment statistics.
Here are community solutions for military and non-military unemployed:
1. Give Job Seekers Opportunity by facilitating introductions. Help people network.
2. Help Job Seekers Market themselves by improving their online presence through Social Profiles.
3. Give Resume, Cover Letter, or Interview Counseling. Hold resume or mock interview workshops in your community.
Find more tools and resources for you community on the Community Blueprint page.
The “Give Labor Day” Initiative from Smart Recruiter urges everyone to take tangible, specific actions to help the unemployed and underemployed. Urge your community to combat unemployment, a challenge facing many of our nation’s citizens.
Friday Volunteer News Round Up!
It’s Friday! We hope everyone is staying safe and out of harms way of Hurricane Isaac. Here are ways you can help and stay prepared for hurricane weather through the Red Cross. We will continue to update our Handson Network disaster web page as we receive new updates.
The 10 Youth Summer Service Projects to Know About
GenerationOn is the global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids to make their mark on the world. As Points of Light’s youth service enterprise, generationOn inspires, equips and mobilizes youth to take action through generationOn service clubs, schools, youth organizations, campaigns and youth leadership initiatives. It also provides tools and resources to youth, families and educators to help kids change the world and themselves through service. To learn more about how to get involved, visit www.generationon.org.
When you think of youth and summer, you might imagine lazy days playing video games, fun in the sun at sleep-away camp or ice cream-scooping summer jobs. Would you imagine that 14,000 youth would lead meaningful service projects in their communities? Well, they did.
This summer, we collaborated with Hasbro on The World Needs More Community Action Heroes campaign which asked kids and teens to join forces to do good. It turns out that youth are eager to use their free time to make a difference. We received service stories from around the globe on projects ranging from neighborhood disaster preparedness to human rights. After reviewing some of the most amazing service stories we’ve ever read, we selected 10 projects to receive $500 grants to continue their work.
NetZero Environmental Club at Fairview High School, Colorado
The Saylor Family, Tennessee
Natasha Suri & Siena Spitzer, New York
Raygan Sylvester, Arizona
Isabel Talarico, Pennsylvania
2012 TeenImpact Campers, Virginia
YouthRAP (Resident Activities Program) Summer 2012 Participants, Rhode Island
Read more about the campaign and find ways for youth to make their marks on the world on generationon.org.
We hope these projects have inspired you as much as they have us. We also hope that you’ll ask youth to serve. When they’re asked, they always go above and beyond.
To our 14,000 Action Heroes out there, we’d like to say thank you for making the world a better place and, as always, for knocking our socks off.
***
Learn how to increase your capacity for youth volunteers with the Ready-Set-Go! Guide.
Marketing: It’s Easy When You’ve Got Cool Stuff to Say
Today’s guest post is written by Meredith McPherson, Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications at Points of Light.
I don’t know about you, but I love seeing my little Skype icon blinking on my computer screen. To me, it says, “Somebody needs me for something.” It’s kind of like the Bat Signal for Gotham, except my weapon is my pen (or keyboard) and I don’t have nearly as cool a car as Batman does.
So, a few weeks ago, when Skype pulled me out of the depths of invoices and other boring but necessary tasks, I selflessly answered the call. It was my colleague (and friend) Lori Jean, who manages all of the content, workshops and programming for our annual Conference, letting me know that she needed my marketing skills to launch the Call for Presenters (CFP) process for our 2013 Conference. Unbelievingly, I blinked at the screen for a beat and the following conversation ensued:
Me: U r funny LJ. Cuz I’m still trying 2 get vendors paid 4 ‘12 and I haven’t even finished my thank u notes. Where r we going 4 lunch 2day?
LJ: How about Firehouse? And, no, it’s August, so it’s time. <smiley face>
Author’s Note: Lori Jean was an English major and is fastidious about punctuation, spelling and grammar, even over Skype. And she’s addicted to emoticons.
Me: I was thinking Mexican. How does this happen? Every year I feel like the CFP sneaks up on me!
LJ: Mexican sounds good. I know! The CFP is like a <ninja emoticon>. I am excited about it, though! We are making a few changes to the tracks for D.C. … <thumbs up emoticon>
Me: K. I got skillz 4 what u need. Talk about it over lunch
And here we are a few lunches and weeks later, launching the CFP. There are many things that I love about Points of Light’s behind-the-scenes work on Conference, and this is one of them. Everyone’s still high from the last Conference; rejuvenated, feeling creative and full of possibilities. And that goes doubly for the extremely smart and talented people who want to be part of the teaching and sharing. From the hundreds of practitioners, thought leaders and innovators who want to share their experience and expertise, we get the most interesting, thoughtful and fun proposals. And what’s even better is that I get to dream up ways to tell everyone about all of awesome things happening at Conference.
So, to all of you, the 2013 Call for Presenters is here. Tell your mama, tell your friends. But, most of all, tell us and be part of the best Conference on volunteering and service out there.
Change Notes: Tromping Westward
Friends,
One of the things I sometimes read about is the homogenization of our nation’s communities. After travelling across the country for five weeks, I am happy to report that we continue to live in a land of great regional character. Even volunteer experiences vary across the country.
A perfect example for me was participating in my first-ever Human Cattle Drive in Sheridan, Wyo., (also known as the Trail Tromp) to break in a gorgeous new 12-mile trail. The pathway was created through voluntary conservation easements and orchestrated by a team of volunteers with the Sheridan Nature Conservancy. The community volunteers literally stomped the trail down and simultaneously raised awareness and enthusiasm for this amazing new community asset.
In Minneapolis, I experienced the strong, unique legacy of corporate social responsibility with companies like Target which, in 1946, set a precedent of giving away 5 percent of its pre-tax profits. That philanthropic leadership continues to be the high-water mark among corporations nationwide and has influenced many other Minneapolis-based companies to give back at similar levels.
From Crater Lake to the Badlands, I marveled at our amazing National Parks. My son, Vinson, became a devotee of the Junior Ranger program (and their badges) – a program to cultivate a new generation of volunteers to value and protect these extraordinary national treasures. I learned that the story of our National Parks is the story of amazing citizen leaders who became the protectors of these places for the ages. This tradition continues – the National Park Service has 22,000 employees, but ten times as many volunteers- 221,000.
In Portland, I waited in line for 30 minutes for Voodoo bacon maple donuts (worth it) and talked with civic innovators like Dani Swope, who created The Children’s Book Bank to share her love of books and her own children’s beloved library with other kids. The Book Bank is now distributing 96,000 books each year. This visit with Dani and other Portlanders made me ask what the spark is that fuels the fire of civic innovation.
In Seattle, I enjoyed a city that has created extraordinary “third spaces,” gathering points for community connection ranging from a Sculpture Garden to a new Innovation Hub to Starbucks. These connections are helping citizens act in concert to accomplish extraordinary things.
Across the country, I have met innovators who are creating new ways of using their time, talent, money and voice to tackle critical issues and enrich their communities. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll take a minute to join my family trip and read about the amazing people I met on the Points of Light blog.
