Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Volunteers Recruit Other Volunteers In Organizations

Do you feel your days are so busy you don't have time for work and family, let alone see your friends? When your organization pleads "volunteers needed" do you think, "Who has the time?"

We all know that the busiest people seem to be able to squeeze the most things into their schedules. One reason is that they have learned the art of 'doubling up.' They make sure that at least some of their activities accomplish more than one goal.

You can approach volunteering that way, too, says Diane Jones, Family and Consumer Science Specialist, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. Consider making a commitment to volunteer with a good friend. This allows you to spend time with someone you like while doing good for the community.

Volunteering with a friend can be an occasional or a long-term practice. Lots of volunteer activities have a recreational component to the work, such as staffing a fund raising bazaar, providing the entertainment for a party in an institution or cleaning a nature trail. Instead of planning dinner and a movie, ask your friend to spend a Saturday with you helping a good cause.

If you and your friend share a concern for a community need, seek out a volunteer opportunity that lets you work together to address it. Make it clear to the prospective volunteer organization that you are coming as a pair. If you are both already active as volunteers you might barter an exchange of services you offer time for your friend's cause and he or she gives time to yours. You'll be sharing the same experiences.

Some of the best recruiters for volunteer programs are the volunteers themselves. They recruit friends and relatives to help with the job. They usually like the same kind of activities and have similar interests. It's a great way to do something together.

Extension Homemakers is a great way to volunteer with a friend. Many of the members have joined because a friend invited them.

If you are interested in joining an extension homemakers club (EHC) and, having the chance to volunteer with a friend, contact the Clark County Extension office at 246-2281.

You may call the president of one of the clubs in the county. The president's name, date and time of meeting and a telephone number follows:

• Clara Joiner of Caddo/DeGray, second Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m., phone 246-2962;
• Ruth Boyd of Hartsville, second Thursdays, 1:00 p.m., phone 246-5533;
• Ima Rainwater of Manchester, third Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m., phone 366-4305;
• Ruie McCallum of Oakland, second Tuesdays, 8:00 a.m., phone 246-8832;
• Betty Lowther of Pioneer, second Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., phone 246- 5107;
• Tootsie Dempsey of Red Springs, second Thursdays, 10:00 a.m., phone 353- 2684;
• Jennifer Pickle of South Central, second Mondays, 7:00 p.m., phone 353- 4939;
• Betty Jo Wells of South Fork, second Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m., phone 353- 6415;
• Nedra Williams of Whelen Springs, third Thursdays, 1:00 p.m., phone 353-4243; and
• Marie Gravett, member of the Quilters Guild, first Thursdays, 10:00 a.m., phone 246- 7367.