Beaconfire Survey: Summer Volunteering

Editor’s note: Periodically, we do a survey of Beaconfire staff to get impressions on a variety of non-profit technology issues. All opinions expressed here are solely those of their authors. This week, we thought we’d ask: How will you be volunteering this summer?

John Brian, Marketing Consultant: I’ll be going door to door and phone banking for the Obama campaign. Here’s to Virginia as a swing state!

Kristin, Project Manager: I will be participating in the Ocean Conservancy coastal cleanup in September.

Erika, Operations Manager: I will be volunteering for Quotidian Theatre Company, a local non-profit professional theater company, where all Board members are unpaid volunteers.

Elizabeth, Senior Consultant: I’m stepping up from chair-elect to chair of the Greater Washington Network’s CAE Action Team, continuing as part of the Greater Washington Network’s leadership council, and continuing as a member of ASAE’s Membership Section Council. I’m also proctoring the social media lab as a resource on wikis at the ASAE annual meeting. Finally, I’m serving as a judge for ASBO’s (the Association of School Business Officials International) Eagle awards.

Jeff, Principal Consultant: I’m the president of my neighborhood civic association. While this might not typically count as volunteering when folks are asked about this, in this case, we are a very active community so the effort is substantial. Trying to work the District government to come up with a plan to re-use the neighborhood elementary school building/grounds that the government just closed is a huge effort. So, I’ll spend my summer wrangling with the Mayor, his various deputies and agency heads, and our great councilmember to get commitments to what we’ve asked for and then to ensure they are honored. Fun!

Andy, Project Manager: I will be helping to generate attention and interest in the Power of One Solar Car Project. Right now, they are attempting to set the world distance record for a solar car by driving from Buffalo, NY to Inuvik, Northwest Territory (Canada) and back – a roundtrip distance of 10,000 miles.