Stewardship in the Community

Last evening highlighted the blooming opportunities for YPs through the event “Stewardship in the Community: A Panel Discussion on Civic Involvement.” Panelists were Charles Eby (loaned executive & community volunteer, Martin K. Eby Construction), Sheryl Wohlford (President & Co-Owner, Automation-Plus, Inc.), Christine Schneikart-Luebbe (Dean of Enrollment Services, WSU) and Bev Morlan (Executive Director, American Red Cross Midway-Kansas Chapter), and Sean Balke (Senior Consultant, The Arnold Group) was the moderator. This group provided a variety of viewpoints about becoming more involved in non-profit boards.

Some of the key themes for the evening were:

• Completely understand the commitments, expectations and roles.
• Boards are a great way to network, both professionally and socially.
• Find involvement opportunities you are passionate about to have the best experience.
• Community involvement opportunities provide a development opportunity beyond what is provided at the workplace.
• Boards often have a formal intake process, so one of the best ways to get involved is to begin networking and volunteering within the organization.
• The tasks encountered on a board vary by age of the organizations. Board members of younger organizations typically do more hands-on work, whereas board members of older organizations typically serve accountability and governance functions.

As a YP involved in a couple of community boards and some other volunteer activities, I can honestly say that I feel good about the difference I have made in the Wichita area while at the same time developing my own leadership skills. Panelist Bev Morlan, Executive Director at the Miway-Kansas Red Cross Chapter, states, “An organization cannot provide services and support to a community without the leaders of that community being their voice and helping set the direction and culture for an organization.”

I’m often asked ‘What do the YPs think about this topic?” Organizations in the area are seeking YPs more than ever before. If you’re wondering how you can connect with organizations seeking YPs, the following options offer a variety of ways to educate yourself on what opportunities exist. The upcoming Visioneering R3 launch on Feburary 12th will allow YPs to learn more about Visioneering. The Board Placement section of the YPW website is a place where area non-profit boards have reached out to YPs for more involvement. In the near future, there will be a new feature on the YPW website listing volunteer opportunities. Take the initiative and get yourself out there in the community. It’s not so much a resume item as it is a real chance to make a difference and have your voice heard.