Greatly Outsized Expectations
Posted at 5:46 AM on January 21, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(25 Comments)
A new day of startling possibilities has dawned.
I woke up this morning and ran downstairs, gleeful and primed for a surprise, but Barack Obama had not come in the night to replace my water heater as I had hoped.
I did hear the new president say he could not make everything better by himself, that we would all have to pitch in, but I thought that sort of do-gooder language was intended to let everyone else down easily and he was really intending to hike my quality of life personally, and right away.
Now I guess I am going to have to take him at his word and get my hands dirty, making an effort to improve the world through my own efforts. Oh, and not my own private world of my basement and my plumbing, but rather, the world that we all inhabit together.
Fine.
But it would be nice to have a new water heater anyway.
The wider call for responsibility and volunteer action makes me wonder about the possibilities. People seeking a place to apply their talent and energy may not know where to look or how to begin. What community-spirited things you have done that you found to be especially satisfying?
Comments (25)
BUY SAVINGS BONDs.
We supported WW2 this way. Obama raised funds for his campaign this way--$20 or $50 at a time.
This system is all set up. Just go to the bank. We buy savings bonds for our grandkids instead of toys they don't play with. If many do this we can raise money for many things, including infrastructure.
Lobby for reduced use of plastic bags and refuse to use them!
Also, give to the food shelf, support your church, mentor a kid....
I went to a bar last weekend and allowed perfect strangers to hit on me. It had to have boosted their self-esteem.
Do you have, I Feel Pretty, in the library? I don't care who the artist is, as long as she's pretty.
Morning Heartlanders! Over the years I've noticed that I gravitate to community projects that feed folks (cooking for shut-ins, Feed My Starving Children, Loaves & Fishes, Food Shelf). Also love Jacques idea of personal community projects - reducing use and bonds.
Laughing out loud this morning at some of the music choices. Thanks Dale!
I kinda like the idea of Donna's---go to a bar...driving for Meals on Wheels is a great way to help your community. Chatting with folks who may not have any other visitors for the day and providing that human connection that is community sure makes some of my neighbors happy. Ever donated platelets? When you wait for check in (Red Cross Apheresis lobby), on the white board is this list of people----community members (somewhere) who your are helping that day. The list tends to wipe away petty complaints.
My dog also appreciates a little extra play every day.
Oooh, just heard the note about the Homestead Pickin' Parlor support. Waa hoo! But this leads to a question. Is there a difference between underwriting (like Bursch) and supporting (like Homestead). Homestead is a great place - I stop there often, so was just wondering.
Good morning Heartlanders! Somehow that word - Heartlanders - takes on a new meaning to me today. We are, for this moment, one country, supporting a new president while holding our breath that the expectations are not too high. Our hearts were out there yesterday with the President as he tried to find a way to bring us together as a nation. Although there was no specific soundbite for us to rally around (thankfully), he has called us all to action. We all need to find, in our communities and the country at large, ways to make a difference. And they don't have to be big. It doesn't have to be expensive. A lot of things require only an investment of time.
And Dale, the whole water heater thing is not too difficult - my husband and daughter tackled this themselves and did a great job. Sorry that the President didn't sneak in your house and do this for you, but he is asking us to be self reliant. Or if this task is beyond your abilities, remember that when you call in the plumber, you will be helping the economy, and ensure the plumber has a paycheck this week!
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
In our home, we had a similar experience with the dishwasher and water softener. ;-)
I give to the causes that I support and at holidays to the drives for food, clothing, and toys in my area. Also, I have devoted a significant amount of time and attention to some of my children's friends, the ones who have noticeably been in need of a place to be, eat, or just feel important in the world. While I don't think the importance of the direct impact one has on others' lives can be minimized, I do wonder about ways that people such as myself (a busy mother of 4 with a full-time career) can find ways to make small but consistent contributions that will fit into their crowded schedules. This must be something a lot of people are wondering in this economy in which people are generally overworked and over-scheduled.
Thanks for the ideas, Bob and everyone.
Meals on Wheels is a great program that helps forge important connections in the community.
One of my favorite projects was a playground - building effort at the local elementary school.
We planned for months to put up the addition in one day. A local construction company donated some necessary excavation and dozens of people showed up on a Saturday to make it all come together. Amazing. I suddenly felt handy and capabale, like I could build anything as long as dozens of people would come help for free.
Especially that carpenter guy with the tool belt.
Good Morning!
Shortly after waking up this morning, I enjoyed a deep belly laugh from Dale's comment saying that a leader using song lyrics in a speech was great but perhaps starting out with "I've been to the desert on a horse with no name" would be over the top.
I like this morning's thread following on the service gauntlet thrown by our new President yesterday. I have had a certain concern that folks think that with his election we can sit down to a gourmet meal when in fact we only have a great recipe and it's now up to us to go to the grocery store and then cook up the meal before we get to eat it.
I think Erik Brandt's song "Get Into the Boat" is a great tune to support the concept. It's time for us to get into the boat!
For those who find themselves with more time than money these days, being a volunteer Big Brother or Big Sister is a great way to give back to your community. I've been a Big Brother for more than 8 years and it has been the most rewarding activity I have ever done. There are so many kids who only need a mentor in their lives on a regular basis to be able to overcome whatever obstacles their home situation has confronted them with. Every community has at-risk children. Check with your local BBBS office and find out how you can help one of those children. It is well worth the effort.
Another choice is buying local -- at farmer's markets and your food co-op. Great food, fresh food, friendly people, and supporting your neighbors, too, just like Lindi pointed out about the plumber.
In my day-to-day, I'm lucky to have a position teaching students how to do research. Students are learning how to find out about their communities, public policy, human rights, environmental justice... If we can find out what we need to know to make good decisions, we can keep our democracy strong. So, during the day with young adults and in the evenings on the co-op board. Life is good.
The John Gorka, TC Higgins concert in Marine on St Croix was a huge success. Thanks for your help. -
From the Volunteer Firefighters and Rescue Workers of Marine on St Croix.
I've had the good luck to be selected to do volunteer work overseas in agriculture for ACDI/VOCA. I think any one who gets a chance to do overseas volunteer work should seriously consider doing this. It was similar to the experience Eric talked about this morning on this show.
I don't know where to volunteer. I've been looking around but haven't found anything yet. I used to volunteer at a food pantry and that was fun but would like to try something new.
Will Radio Heartland be having a pledge drive?
Yes, Pat, Radio Heartland will be having a member drive in February. Surprise!
You will hear more about it shortly. And in a few moments I'll put up a new post to answer Sherilee's question about underwriting.
Good Morning! Even though the day is grey it seems alright to me after the excitement of yesterday! And I stayed in MN and watched the coverage on tv.
Regarding good things to do in the community, I volunteer in the library of my son's former elementary school a couple mornings a week (he graduated, I didn't!). We have parents, seniors, and others in the community that come in to read with kids that are new readers or struggling readers 3x/week. With budget cuts, there are often things that schools can use help with, either short term or long term commitment. Call and ask what they need! And if one nearby school doesn't need help, try another!
I also volunteer with AFS, an international student exchange program. I work with American students to prepare them to study abroad, but we have also hosted several students from other countries for varying periods of time. It's a great exchange of information and culture! The best hosting exchange programs don't pay their host families in order to make sure that the families are doing it for the right reasons. We've learned many interesting things from our exchange students from Brasil, Egypt, Switzerland, Thailand, Paraguay, Venezuela.
Our church has been an emergency overflow homeless shelter for Project Home during the month of December for several years. We have individuals and families volunteer to be evening hosts from 5:30-8:30 and then we have others volunteer to be overnight hosts. Our family has been evening hosts -with our son and our exchange students- several times and we've met lots of interesting people and played games and sports with kids. Makes you appreciate the basics even more. I hope this ministry can be stopped someday soon, but until the problem of homelessness is taken care of, I am glad it is there for those in need.
As usual, I’ll draw this down to goats. My little herd is a microcosm of our country and our world. The whole herd, boys and girls, are together in one big pen now, since breeding season is past. And they’ll be together until kidding begins in about two months. It took me 45 minutes to feed five goats this morning because there are greedy goats who want to hog everything. It’s not “survival of the fittest” out there; it’s “survival of the greediest” which does not select for good, kind, gentle goats. My good, kind, gentle goats have to defer to the greedy, forceful goats. If the greedy goats get run of the pen, they will get fat, will become infertile and die of bloat, and the kind, gentle goats will starve. No more goats. So I, as president of this goat herd, have to take the greedy in hand and try to guide them into sharing. For a week or so, feeding time will be pretty rough. There will be strife and butting. But, with just a set of guidelines and following these gently but firmly, the greedy start to behave. And pretty soon everyone is doing better, eating quietly and waiting patiently until everyone has had their ration. The herd will prosper, the president will have no more bruises, and it will be summer.
President Obama is right to encourage volunteering, but the greedy goats, who probably are not sharing much, need to be taken in hand – firmly – for the good of us all.
Dale,
In answer to your question about how we are applying our talent and energy, I had the honor of being elected mayor of Albert Lea on Nov. 4. It is a part-time position, in fact I am at my day job now. Despite the budget challenges we are looking at, I am still optimistic.
Mike from Albert Lea
Love to hear the goat stories, Barb. Sounds like you're the Goat Whisperer! And a great metaphor for the times.
doing my part for the future caring for my twin grandsons, age 5 1/2 and in kindergarten, while my daughter works
they've been coming here since they were 7 mths old and we have a no tv rule, which leaves lots of time for games and puzzles and reading and listening to the radio and dancing!
they miss jim ed too but the 24 hr service has been wonderful for us (their favorite cd is the first Keepers)
I heard about an organization called volunteermatch.org that can link people to organizations in their community. I heard they have a connection with google-earth that allows you to locate groups within walking distance of your home. I haven't checked it out, but it may be helpful for people like Pat looking for a volunteer opportunity.
I sing in a community chorus whose mission is "Building community and creating social change by raising our voices in song." (One Voice Mixed Chorus; look us up!) I volunteer 3 or 4 hours a month outside of rehearsals and perfomances doing office work for my chorus. But that seems a little self serving, since I am supporting my own selfish need to sing. SO I also read to a 3rd grader on my lunch hour one day a week at Anderson School in Minneapolis. It's part of a program partnering with employees of corporations to mentor students, called "Everybody Wins." It is very rewarding.
Try this for ideas:
http://www.usaservice.org/
and let's not forget all the birds and animals that are in the boat along with us!
many of my most meaningful volunteer experiences have involved animals at shelters or in other rescue situations...an elephant sancturay, a stray/feral kitten, a no-kill shelter in utah...
the local humane societies, animal ark, and many others need both people's time and financial support---that would make a good thing for those who are very busy, as one listener noted--choose a cause you believe in, go to their website, and send in a donation. Takes about 10 minutes.
and many of the families and other folks who are having financial problems these days have or did have pets---but now can't care for them, so the shelters and rescue orgs could really use a bit of extra help from us.
I generally do a fair amount of community-spirited things, but thought I'd share one act I engaged in recently. I ran in the Santa Run in December to benefit the Mid MN Legal Aid organization. This is an annual fun run where all participants dress as Santa and frolic down the Nicollet Mall. I raised a bunch of money, and had swell fun, but that's not the story. After the run, I was walking down the mall, thinking about stopping in to Brits for a pint of goodness. As I got closer, I could see that the pub was chock a block with families including small children, waiting for the Holidazzle Parade to start. I contemplated the possibly traumatizing vision of Santa quaffing an alcoholic beverage with gusto, and moved on, thirsty and cold. Did I mention it was cold out? It was about 10 degrees, with a windchill far below that. Then I chanced upon this fellow playing Christmas carols on his trumpet, standing on the mall. I had heard him during the run, and he was quite good. I walked up, deposited the cash I thought was earmarked for beer, then got an inspiration-I took off my Santa suit, and bestowed it on the musician, saying "Here, you need this more than I do-you'll get good tips this way". He thanked me profusely, and as I walked away, he was putting on the suit and smiling broadly. Even though it was cold out and I was now reduced to my sweaty running clothes, I felt warm and on top of the world.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock