In the year 2000, my 16 year old daughter did an eight week service project in the Dominican Rep promoting healthy households, reforestation, and clean water projects. The number of people that die every year from lack of access to clean water is astounding.

I got dragged, kicking and screaming to an information meeting and a year later, I was a volunteer at the local chapter. I never looked back. The organization is called Amigos de las Americas, and each year, they send between 500 and 600 volunteers, most of them between 16-18 to 8 countries doing various service projects in 8 Latin American countries.

The really great thing about this particular program is that it gives back to the volunteers as much, if not more, than the communities they are helping. Its more a cultural exchange than “going to help the poor people”. The kids get a mini-peace corps experience, and when they come back, many bring back the motivation to do great things in their own communities.

I spend time fundraising (which this year is the worst I have seen including the year post 9/11), and I work on keeping their books, and my experience there has helped me to get a job in my field of choice.

In years past, I have worked in food kitchens, a community newspaper, actions that led me to career choices and job opportunities. Recently I set up a website for my best friend who has founded an organization to provide ice skates to children who cannot otherwise afford to indulge in such luxuries.

I think if you look around at the current state of our finances in this country, much of it is the result of some very selfish and narrow minded people that think the way NoVolunteer does. NV is trying to create controversy and animosity where there is none.

As far as volunteering, I too am VITA certified and do tax preparation. I go to two different sites once a week.

I also tutor once a week at a homeless shelter.

These are really opposite environments, but I love them both.

While I doubt that a narrow-minded person would care, I adore these two quotes:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead.

“The privilege and penalty of your education and the position you hold in your community is that over the coming decades, as in past decades, you will be the pace setters for political and social thought in your community. You may not accept this responsibility, but it makes no difference. It is inescapable for, if you decide to set no pace, to forward no new ideas, to dream no dreams, you still will be pace setters. You will simply have decided there is no pace” – Adlai Stevenson.

If you choose not to participate, you get no say. Which is OK with me.

While I agree with Jim that tipping is completely irrelevant, you certainly understand the economics of it: we could all stop tipping, and restaurants and other services would just raise their prices to compensate their employees. You’re going to pay for it either way. Tipping gives you the ability to pay for the service commensurate with its quality. If we abolish tipping, all service employees will be paid the same whether you get outstanding service or lousy service.

Now that my younger son is in high school I volunteer at the school, and for the soccer team booster club. My first priority has to be time with my kids.

Once my younger son graduates, I’d love to work with Habitat for Humanity (we’ve done a lot of home renovations ourselves) or with tutoring/mentoring kids who need extra help with reading, which has been very important to our lives.

I have no idea why you brought up tipping.

I never ever, ever volunteer, nor do I believe in tipping. My tip? Go back to school and get educated, like I did, and use that education to get ahead in life, like I did. Maybe then, you would not need to rely on “volunteers” or “tips” to get you through life!

Much of it is a mindset that I hope we can instill in our kids.

Jim, thanks for writing the post.