I attended the Arthritis Foundation’s 2005 Development Conference last week in Dallas. I had a great time and learned some new things to apply to my fundraising events this coming year. There are a couple of things that took place that made the trip worthwhile. First, I met some wonderful Arthritis Foundation staff and volunteers from outside my local area. They were a lot of fun (especially those from Virginia) and were full of ideas. Second, the classes I attended gave me new ideas and increased my motivation to do even better things in the future. The training included topics such as committee recruitment, event logistics, and volunteer recognition. These topics may or may not excite you. They were just what I needed to help with the responsibilites that I currently have. If you have a chance to attend an event that relates to a cause you are passionate about, take advantage of the opportunity. Did I mention it was fun?
During one of the sessions, we discussed the benefits of volunteering. I couldn’t understand why anyone would not donate at least a small part of their time when the benefits were considered. My article "18 Reasons to Volunteer Your Time" at http://www.everydaygiving.com/ezine/21SEP2005.html lists several of the benefits you could experience from volunteering. I hope you enjoy it and it makes you think.