1.
Benefits of
Volunteerism
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2.
Reasons People Volunteer
•To build personal and professional contacts
•To build your self-esteem and self-confidence
•To develop new job skills
•To make a difference in the world
•To make new friends
•To increase personal satisfaction
•To add experience to your resume
•To develop people skills
•To develop communication skills
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3.
Reasons People Volunteer
•To do something as a team or family
•To explore career possibilities
•To feel needed and appreciated
•To share your skills with others
•To be challenged
•To do something different
•To improve your health
•To have fun!
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4.
Benefits of Volunteering
It Will Boost Your Visibility (for Free)
You can market yourself and/or business while giving back to the community and not
breaking the bank.
You’ll Sharpen Your Business Skills
With so many volunteer opportunities within the GVFHRA, you can select the ones that will help
you improve certain business and personal skills. Leadership, project
management, marketing, inter-personal, financial, time management, and many other skills will
become more proficient.
The Time Commitment Is Flexible
Start small by volunteering for a one-time event or scheduling just a couple hours per week.
Check out volunteering opportunities across the various committees and events offered by the
Greater Valley Forge Human Resource Association.
www.GVFHRA.org

5.
Benefits of Volunteering
Make Meaningful Community Connections
Volunteering is a way to connect with others who share a similar interest or cause. Through in-
person conversations and projects, one can build meaningful relationships that could never
have been made via email or phone.
Expand Your Professional Horizons
Volunteering may open the door to a new professional or business niche or help you uncover
a new path for your career. Volunteer opportunities can also teach you about a business
specialty, such as going green.
Better Appreciate What You Have
When you see how families live without heat, electricity, and running water, you’ll appreciate
the everyday luxuries you take for granted. Volunteering may spark changes in your life to
broaden your world view, work to keep up relationships with loved ones, and appreciate the
small things in life.
Feel So Good About It
A growing body of research links volunteering with better health. One study, The Health
Benefits of Volunteering: A Review of Recent Research, by the Corporation for National and
Community Service, says volunteering improves longevity, lowers depression rates, and
reduces the rates of heart disease.
www.GVFHRA.org

6.
Learning Opportunities from Volunteering
Develop and Enhance Skills
•Opportunity for personal growth
•Discover new skills and capabilities
•Learn more about yourself and other people
•Overcome personal challenges
•Enhance self-esteem and confidence
•Develop more intensity and personality
•Experiment with new skills in a safe environment
www.GVFHRA.org

7.
Challenges of Volunteering
Although most people are happy in their volunteer jobs, there are some factors
that can be a turnoff at one time or another:
•Disorganized management
•Lack of board support
•Staff indifference
•Limited training and orientation
•Lack of contact and support
•Wrong assignment
•Perks that are withdrawn
•Insufficient funding
www.GVFHRA.org

8.
How One Can Make A Difference
The issues and problems facing our region are often large and complex. Our community
members can often become overwhelmed by the challenges facing us and believe that
there is little they can do personally to make their community and/or workplace a better
place to live and work. While individual volunteer projects may not be very visible, they
are a huge help for the HR profession, our community and professional
development, or that one person where the volunteers made a difference.
Some challenges in our community and places of work do take millions of dollars and
years to resolve. But, if more people incorporated volunteerism into their personal
values, lives could be changed and our community and places of work would be a
different place.
www.GVFHRA.org

9.
How To Determine the Right Volunteer Opportunity
Think about what you’re into
What are you passionate about? What’s out there in the world that catches your interest? The
answers to these questions will help point you to a volunteer role or group you’ll like being part of.
Think about what you’re good at
What skills do you have? What kinds of jobs do you do best? Try to find a volunteer position that
will let you make the most of your strengths and talents.
Look for need in your own community
Glance around. What needs to be improved in your town, city, or school? What types of volunteer
projects would do the most good?
Think about time
How much of a commitment are you willing to make? How much of your day, week, month, or year
do you want to spend on volunteer activities? Do you have just a few hours now and then, or are
you looking for a bigger project?
Ask around and do some research
GVGHRA has many opportunities for you to get involved. Sometimes there are things that need
improving or committees that need help, but we can’t see them by just looking around. Try asking
our board members, committee members, colleagues and friends about value of volunteering.
www.GVFHRA.org

10.
Committees
Community Outreach/Workforce Readiness
Membership College Relations Diversity & Inclusion
Compensation & Benefits Organizational Development
Recruiting & Retention Professional Certification
Employee Relations Public Relations/Social Media
Ambassadors HR Summit Programs
Organizational Development Legislative & Government Affairs
www.GVFHRA.org

11.
Get Involved
Contact us today on
610-551-4736
for additional information
Ambassadors HR Summit Programs
Organizational Development Legislative & Government Affairs
www.GVFHRA.org