I was on the web site of a leading West Michigan company this morning and saw this statement regarding their philosophy on helping to make the area a better place: "Our employees and associates are encouraged to become engaged in their communities." I've been thinking about this statement, particularly as Volunteers In Service is continuing to work with businesses and companies, and how best companies can "become engaged" in their communities.
When companies think of serving or volunteering, they typically think of things like "Days of Service" or United Way's "Day of Caring." These are days set aside for collectively "caring" or "doing good" things. Alley clean-up, lawn work, and painting are some of the usual activities which groups perform during these activities. But, invariably, the alley becomes trash-strewn again, the weeds reappear, and the paint begins to chip. Good work is done, yes, but is it what really needs to be done? Maybe. Maybe not.
What if, instead of a day of caring, we made it a lifetime of caring? Might this look just a bit different? I think it would. One of the ways Volunteers In Service approaches serving is, instead of assuming what is needed in a particular area, we find out what is needed by asking the people who live there. Who better to know? Not only that, but what if the people we're asking are also willing to get involved by contributing what they can? Would this be a way to develop significant, effective, sustainable ministry in a particular place? I think it would. What do you think?
I think all of us, at one time or another, have been involved in organizational change. Perhaps we've been the ones who've initiated it. Or maybe we've on the "receiving" end, being told that our company is changing, and we've been invited along for the ride (or maybe we've been told that the ride will not include us!). I've become extremely convinced recently that every organization, both business and nonprofit, must change to survive.
We're beginning to explore some of those things here at Volunteers In Service. All I know, at this point, is that I don't know where all of this will lead and what opportunities, of the many available, we'll be doing. But in the midst of thinking about change, and how to do it, I came across this video from The Chronicle of Philanthropy about organizational change, particularly for a nonprofit.
"Let's find what's working and use our resources to scale up those things which are working." What's "working" for you and your organization? Even if it is something small, maybe that is where the resources need to be directed. We're looking at such an opportunity here at VIS. We've recently had the opportunity, on a small scale, to develop "service projects" for businesses and other organizations. So far, it seems to be an open door. We're beginning to walk through the door. Extra work?-Yes. A little scary?-Yes. Do we know how its going to work?-Not entirely, but we're encouraged by what we see. So we're moving forward.