VOLUNTEERING
“To really capture the Lifespring
experience, you need to be a volunteer.” –Norman B., Volunteer Lifespring is an all-volunteer organization, which means that every single aspect of the experience—the coffee service between classes; the presenters; the hosting on Zoom; the catalogs; etc.—are created, coordinated, and executed by Member volunteers. Some people volunteer for one task, others for a committee, still others for several tasks and committees. Each team or committee is headed up by a volunteer Coordinator.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
FIND OUT MOREReview the Committee descriptions below.
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEESAudio Visual (AV): Be part of the team that sets up AV equipment like projectors and loudspeakers in classrooms for presenters to use. (Training will be provided.)
Class Managers: Help ensure that classes run smoothly by taking attendance, making announcements, and interacting with the presenter. Curriculum: Help create our course offerings by recruiting presenters, developing new courses, and participating in the selection and organization of courses for each semester. (Contacts not necessary.) Events: Help plan and execute special events that occur during the year, including the annual meeting. Membership: Help welcome new and returning Members each semester and work on membership issues. Registration and Online Program Support: Help organize and manage the enrollment process for all courses and programs and help maintain a database of all current members. Basic email skills and Excel knowledge helpful. (Training provided.) Onsite Program Support: Help organize the classroom spaces and supplies and assist with hands-on tasks during the class day. (Chair set up is done by the WJC staff.) Publications: Assist in organizing aspects of the catalogs and preparing the catalog for publication. Hospitality: Help on either of two teams. The morning shift unloads supplies, prepares food, and sets up the hospitality room. The afternoon crew is responsible for cleaning up the hospitality room. |
let us know how you can help!There are many ways you can support Lifespring. Email [email protected]
indicating which committee(s) interest you. |
STORIES
RIGHT TIMING"I first heard about Lifespring in a newspaper article. I had just stopped working and had been influenced by my parents, who were lifetime learners. So, I decided to join. I was so pleasantly surprised. There were many choices for classes and all were interesting.
The next semester I invited a couple of friends to join. And the next year, I encouraged other friends to join. After a couple of years, I was asked to be a class manager. I found that it was a good way to meet people and a helpful way to participate in Lifespring. A few years later, I was asked to coordinate the class manager program. I have been doing it ever since. What came next was, “Will you consider being on the board?” How could I say no, since I had benefited so much from being in Lifespring. I never would have initiated being a volunteer, but each time I said, “Yes.” I discovered that I could stand up in front of a group and talk. I found out that I could organize a workshop. All these skills I discovered about myself, only through participating in Lifespring. Of course, I learned a lot by taking the courses too. I think that LS is one of the best things about living in Saugerties." —Lee G. PUSHED BY A FRIEND"I was motivated by my friend, Susan Puretz, shortly after we had moved up here. She nagged me to join—she said that Harvey and I would like it. So, we tried it. We liked it.
Then—I actually can't remember how I became involved with the Curriculum Committee, which was my first involvement with Lifespring. Probably, again, Susan P. must have asked me and I thought, "Why not?" and joined the committee. After that, one of the leading people, the woman who had been instrumental with Susan P. in starting the organization, left abruptly. By then, I was deeply involved with the CC. This other woman had been in charge of the catalog and she had also created a newsletter. Somehow - at that time - I was involved enough that I stepped up and agreed that I would "do" the catalog, and after that I tried my hand at the newsletter. Ultimately, I really enjoyed doing all that I did. I'd have to look back at the records to see when I actually started, but I'm pretty sure that I wound up doing my various jobs for many years. I think I remember telling you that when I retired, I was always saying that I wanted to volunteer for something, but I certainly didn't want to wind up doing what I had been doing for a living. So much for such statements. Of course, I wound up using many of the skills that I had honed in my various careers, and that was fine, as it turned out. Quite rewarding overall." —Susan G. WANTED TO BE INVOLVED"For me, Lifespring has been a way to be involved in the administration/organization of a successful collaboration of people, many of whom are from very different backgrounds, but who share an interest in building, maintaining, and advancing opportunities for a community of people who are interested in learning, however that is defined. In general, my work on the LS Board and some of the foundational committees has been as rewarding, or perhaps even more rewarding than the classes I’ve taken!
Initially I was a new student/member (back in 2010). Soon, I was invited to serve on the Curriculum Committee. A couple of years later, I was asked to run for election to the Board as a Member-At-Large, and then asked to be the membership coordinator. I never felt “pushed” or “rushed” or “guilted” into taking on more volunteering that I wanted to do; had that been the case, I would not have responded favorably! Entry level positions (just a little bit of volunteering with a limited time commitment with good leadership provided) has always been a good way to offer members a chance to test the waters of what it means to be a volunteer for Lifespring. If their experience is positive, they are often willing to try something more! (Or maybe just continue doing a good job where they feel comfortable and appreciated!)." —Susan D. IT WAS SERENDIPITY"Maureen and I arrived in Glenford in the spring of 2014. We did not know anyone. We took a garden tour early that summer. At one venue during the conversation with the person checking tickets, I said that I had been a university professor before retirement. The person I was speaking with was Susan Puretz and she encouraged me to do a course at Lifespring What a wonderful way to meet people and I taught several courses until the pandemic.
I was extremely impressed with Lifespring and was delighted to accept an invitation to be a part of the Lifespring team, first as a member of the Curriculum Committee and then as an elected member of the Board. Working with the Board was a pleasure and I accepted membership on a number of Board Committees. Volunteering enriches the Lifespring experience. To really capture the experience, you need to be a volunteer." —Norman B. RESTLESS AND BORED"I had too much time on my hands, was recently arrived in town, and didn’t know a lot of people in the area. I thought dipping my toe in LS by volunteering as a class manager would help me meet people and not be too demanding on my time. That first experience was relatively painless and I enjoyed meeting new folks, so it became easier to then move to the Task Force, become a Member-At-Large and, most recently, take on the job of Publications Coordinator.
Benefits? I have made some lovely, new friends. Basically, a non-joiner, I found I actually liked being part of a group as intelligent, gracious, and interesting as the LS folks. While I will never have the shared history of many of the Board members, the little I do makes me feel more a part of the community and that feels very good." --Anne M. A NATURAL FIT"It seems like I have been volunteering forever at LS! When looking back at my files I find things dating back to 2018…but when you have multiple semesters each year there are lots of activities. I don’t remember how I actually learned about LS.
But I do remember when they would put out requests for volunteers. One such request involved working on the web site. I worked at several schools & rehab centers during this time. At all of these I helped design/maintain their web sites. When I saw LS needed help in that area, it was a natural fit. After many years working at IBM and other such companies, when I saw the need for helpers in the technology area, here was another natural fit. So, I volunteered for helping out in that area that Rich Davis was setting up. In those days we had to set up each classroom at WJC with equipment (projectors, screens, sound amplifiers, etc.) depending on the needs of the instructors…different instructors used the same room for different classes, meaning we might have to change the equipment setup for another instructor using the same classroom. Of course, there was the end of a day which required breaking down all the classrooms & storing the equipment. When Covid came along & Zoom et al., there were no more individual classrooms to be setup. All of these tasks were interesting to me and I got to meet the AV team & the instructors. The web site touched many areas which I got to know. Attending all the various classes through the years gave me many opportunities for learning new materials & meeting new interesting people from all over the area!" --David C. |