What was your experience doing community volunteering?

I am on Park Committe and four of us scraped and painted a pavilion yesterday. I love helping, great exercise, kids will appreciate it. Feels good. My whole body is sore from the benches and painting though. Ouch!

I make bowls for a yearly soup kitchen benefit.
An opportunity came up to do this about 17 years ago and I’ve been doing it ever since.
I have yet to go to the actual event but am told my bowls sell out.Mission accomplished.

Every Monday morning, for the last six, seven years, I volunteer at a nature and environment education center/garden/arboretum as a handyman.
It’s a foundation that works mainly with volunteers (I think there are only two or three paid colleagues); it’s quite fullfilling a little pastime.

Years ago, I contributed countless hours of accounting services to a number of charities and one politician. (For the latter, I was campaign Treasurer for 5–½ years.) I had valuable skills to donate, and I wanted to give back to my community. Here’s what I learned:

1) People have an odd psychology – they truly believe that they “get what they pay for.” Thus, if I were contributing my higher education, extensive experience, and hard work for $0, my services must be worthless. Why bother appreciating what I’d done or even thank me?

2) Because I’m so clearly worthless, given that I’m working for free, there’s no need respect my advice or believe any of the information I provide.

Now, I volunteer in ways that have nothing to do with my CPA abilities. For example, I might ladle cups of fruit punch at a charity’s fundraiser or bring some pastries, but that’s it.

It isn’t “just me.” One of my nearest-and-dearest CPA friends repeatedly warned me not to donate accounting work, because I’d regret having done so. Another friend, a CPA with as much experience as I have, worked tirelessly to help a new charity; eventually the group told her that her services wouldn’t be needed anymore, because it was time to hire a “real” accountant.

@Love_my_doggie That’s interesting. I also have donated countless hours of work, but people really seemed to appreciate it. In fact, I actually have received several job offers and employment by people who were impressed with my work ethic and honesty.

Now the difference between my and your work is significant. I ran a cleaning business while you were a CPA.

Mine is more frivolous maybe than the others listed above, but I teach Zumba twice a week where I live. One is my class, and the other I’m teaching with another instructor who is the lead. I also sub when other instructors are traveling or sick. It costs me about $400 a year actually, because I have to pay to be certified.

We actually take exercise very seriously in my city. We credit it with part of the formula for the health of our residents here. Lots of activities for body and mind all day long. It’s all free (included in the maintenance fee) none of the instructors or leaders or paid. There are 3,000 activities and groups. Exception: Some of the social groups have a $10 fee per year to cover soft drinks or snacks at the events.

I also did a lecture on birthright citizenship at a club here. I’m thinking about doing another lecture.