Volunteers make the World go “round in Clear Lake!
BY: RACHEL WUMKES
Well, it’s that time of year again my friends. The time where we repeatedly beg and plead on social media to get volunteers for our many spectacular events. While we gear up for the busy season ahead, planning all the activities to ensure a lifetime of memories are made at the Lake, the task of procuring volunteers to help can often be a bit daunting.
Everyone is busy. I totally get it.
Between work responsibilities, taking care of your house, rushing to the countless activities for your kids, spending time with family and friends and yet, somehow, still trying to find ‘down time’ to take care of yourself.
It’s not easy.
But trust me when I tell you, the benefits reaped from carving out a slice of time in your busy schedule to volunteer is worth the effort.
Volunteering is defined as the contribution of time, effort and talent to a need, cause or mission without financial gain. It is all about you being able to contribute some of your own time to help people in our communities. Volunteers not only support the countless events in Clear Lake but improve them in their own unique way using a wide variety of skills, knowledge and experience.
The popular job search website, www.indeed.com, has listed the top 10 benefits of volunteering.
- Provides you with a sense of purpose
- Provides a sense of community
- Helps you meet new friends
- Increases your social skills
- Improves self-esteem
- Teaches you valuable skills
- Provides job prospects
- Brings fun into your life
- Can help you be happier
- Gets you out of your comfort zone
It’s easy to sit back and watch all these wonderful events unfold around Clear Lake. Trust me, when my kids were little and we’d just moved here, I did that very thing. I never realized the amount of manpower it took to plan, organize, and execute such things!
Since Clear Lake is a tourist town, we count on volunteers to help our events run smoothly. It’s what makes us known for being a Premier Midwest Vacation Destination!
There would be no Thursdays on Main, no fabulous fall day of Harvest Festival to sample wine with your girlfriends, your kids wouldn’t get to line the streets in hopes to stockpile candy, candy and more candy during the 4th of July Parade.
All these things take time to prepare, to plan.
And then it takes volunteers to make them happen.
So, what do you do? How do you get signed up?
In Clear Lake, we love our tribe of volunteers something fierce. In a sense, they are what makes the world go ‘round, what keeps us chugging along, providing such incredible events year after year. And it just so happens, we’ve got a few opportunities coming up just around the bend!
Earth Day offers a wide array of volunteer opportunities for community members who strive to make Clear Lake even better than it already is! Simply follow this link to sign up for the Trash Bash –> https://earthdayclearlake.org/events/trash-bash/ OR to help with the Earth Day 5K/10K –> https://signup.com/go/kqvabcn
TRI Clear Lake is probably one of my most favorite events to be involved in as a volunteer.
I mean, we all know I am not an athlete!
With this event, as there are so many options, you simply choose the one best for you! The two biggest areas we are in need is Bike Marshall and Run Marshall. These people help control traffic at intersections, and direct athletes at corners to keep them on the correct course. Exact locations/intersection assignments will be given the week of the race.
Grab some friends and go to –> https://signup.com/go/gTbZBbX and get signed up today!! Year after year, we hear feedback from athletes all over the country about how TRI Clear Lake has the absolute BEST volunteers, so let’s keep it up!
I’ve lived a lot of different places around the state during random periods of my life. I’ve always been involved in some way, but nothing… and I mean absolutely NOTHING… compares to the outstanding activities that are held in Clear Lake.
Don’t you want to be a part of that?
I know I do.