Cheers to Margie Flowers, Boy Scouts Volunteer, Des Moines, Iowa,
Troop 22 is a branch of the Boy Scouts club and participates in a number of service and volunteer opportunities. All of these events require tons of support from volunteers, which is where Troop 22 seeks help from VolunteerSpot!
T
ell us about your role as a parent volunteer leader with Troop 22.
I have been involved as a volunteer with Troop 22 since our middle son joined the troop. Our youngest recently went off to college and aged out, but my husband and I continue to stay involved because we believe in the mission of the Boy Scouts.
Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
I found VolunteerSpot in a Google search and was pleasantly surprised by all of its capabilities that were also free! I felt like the programmers must have spent some time with non-computer savvy people to get a feel for how to make the experience friendly and comfortable for those of us who are not as familiar with all the bells and whistles and just want to keep things simple!
What kinds of Scout activities do you coordinate with VolunteerSpot?
We used VolunteerSpot for the very first time when we fundraised at the State Iowa Fair. I’m also using it to sign up volunteers for an activity we do every week – assist our charter organization with their weekly BINGO night.
What other activities are you involved in as a volunteer? How do you handle the parent 'juggle'?
I’m now in “Grandparent Mode,” which is a wonderful place to be! I only do the things that I want to, and when it is convenient for me! We raised five kids and as I look back I sometimes wonder how we managed to do it all but I guess when you’re raising kids you don’t have the luxury of wondering, you just do it!
What’s one piece of advice you have for parents considering volunteering out there?
If I were to offer advice to parents about volunteering, I would urge them to consider the impact their service has on the ability to offer some of the activities their children want to participate in. Many of them are not even possible without active volunteers. The biggest benefit I got from being involved with my kids’ activities is that I knew the other families. I knew which kids had values similar to ours and which kids needed a little more understanding because their families didn’t give them the same kind of love and support that my kids got.
We salute Margie and all the other volunteers making a difference in their communities. Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!
