Communities across America benefit from volunteerism by federal employees. Federal agencies encourage volunteerism through community outreach and partnerships.
Agency newsletters and other internal communications highlight the important community volunteer work by employees. This generates employee interest in volunteerism. Volunteerism can contribute to increased employee morale and professionalism.
Microcomputers were new to government offices when I began working as an economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Agencies offered training courses to all federal employees. I sought additional training from other sources.
I was among hundreds of highly motivated federal employee volunteers with the Capital Personal Computer User Group (CPCUG). I learned about CPCUG from a newspaper article. Federal employees from many agencies met for monthly meetings to discuss and share new government technical applications for offices.
CPCUG’s meetings and training were free. Federal employees brought spouses and children to the monthly meetings. I volunteered as a contributing writer for CPCUG’s monthly magazine called The Monitor.
My articles, reviews of commercial, government, and academic software programs, appeared in other publications, including Ziff-Davis’ Government Computer News and Social Science Computer Review, an academic publication.
CPCUG was a great example of federal employees volunteering to improve other federal employees’ and family members’ skills and qualifications with new office technologies. It was feds helping feds and others, as well. CPCUG’s federal employee volunteerism greatly contributed to my professional education.
In 1987, my CPCUG work was cited by Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige when he awarded me one of three agency productivity awards. This was proof that federal volunteerism improved federal job performance. Federal colleagues became more tech-savvy with the knowledge and skills I shared with them.
My government training flowed back into the community when I learned about the need for adult education instructors at a D.C. area library. Technology classes were in demand. I taught 3-hour classes Monday through Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings at several area high schools.
Managing a 9-5 job and my evening classes was challenging. I had great professional support from the adult education managers. I worked with program managers to develop successful lesson plans for my courses. I managed my time wisely. Most importantly, I enjoyed the work.
As an adult instructor, I accommodated my students. At times, moms brought their kids to the evening classes. The kids did their school homework or read books in the back of the classroom. Often, they were asleep by the end of the 3-hour classes.
My passion for volunteerism began as a youth in rural groups like 4-H. In my small community, neighbors helped neighbors with physical labor involved with small farms. My 4-H activities included collecting stamps, public speaking, and typing. I helped small farmers with administrative work, including filing forms with government agencies.
While an undergraduate at college, I volunteered with campus food drives for needy families and charities. My professors and ministers encouraged me to seek volunteer opportunities in my field of study (economics) that proved personally and professionally rewarding.
My spirit of volunteerism continued during my federal government career. Managers and colleagues inspired and encouraged me to teach adult education classes, to volunteer at food banks, and to contribute articles about volunteer opportunities to agency publications. I volunteered in the spirit of feds helping not only fellow feds but others, as well.
In these challenging times, federal employees must volunteer in their communities. Community volunteerism by federal employees is a great way to counter critics who disparage government workers.
If you have a passion for helping, there are organizations and individuals who need you. See your personnel office for volunteer suggestions. Local libraries, churches, and community websites are also sources for volunteer opportunities.
James E. Patterson is a former U.S. diplomat and a life member of the American Foreign Service Association.
