6 minutes now past 11 you listening to mid-day on the FM news station at Mark's it act like in the Twin Cities today on this Thanksgiving holiday weekend edition of midday. We're going to be talking about volunteering what opportunities are available what types of volunteers are needed the most what are some of the responsibilities that go along with the green to volunteer with me in the studio. This morning is Paul nauman. He's the assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. Thanks for being here Paul on the holiday weekend. Appreciate you coming in. At least you won't be able to get home probably. Thanks Mark if we were doing the show tomorrow, you probably snowed in for the record. I update the weather forecast a little bit later in the program. If you folks are listening and wanting to hear about the snow storm that's developing. I want to get the phone number out right now for folks who want to talk about volunteer opportunities if you're listening in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand is the number to dial to join our conversation about volunteering to 276 thousand. If you're in the Twin Cities outside of the metro area, you can call toll free at one 800-242-2282The toll-free number once again is one 800-242-2828 what Paul none of the first thing I wanted to ask you certain define and explain what the voluntary action center is your with the st. Paul voluntary action center light assembly centers are located all over the region. And basically what you do is you match people want to volunteer with the need in the community, correct the voluntary action center St. Paul Eugene like to start off when I'm talking to a group. I asked people and maybe the listeners could raise her hand how many people have heard of voluntary action center and is General I would say right there's not very many of you ever heard of us. And that's part of what you know, we are as an education process to link people up with opportunities. We've been in existence for about 50 years. Now most people would associate with the voluntary action center by newspaper ads that they've seen and I'll see you a little heart in a column in the variety section of list several different opportunities. Well that's place by our agency. So what we're doing thereIs working for about all 650-700 different agencies here in the Saint Paul Area. We list their volunteer opportunities in there and help in the recruitment of volunteers. So with that is just kind of one method that we do so most people can associate with that column as the voluntary action center briefly. What we do then is I don't work with the agencies to help them in the recruit volunteers. We also spent a lot of time working in the development of volunteer management. We help to make their programs more professional to make sure that the volunteer as a good experience and I think that's what it's about to it's making sure that we utilize the people who give their time and talents a little bit about the history of volunteerism in in this country and then also talked a little bit about percentages without specific numbers. We don't need that sort of thing, but in the United States to people more people volume,The United States than in Canada for example, or than in Europe and how did it all start out? I assume a lot of it came about through religious groups, but well, I think right when I'm wrong, I think that's true that you know, a lot of it did come from some of the religious groups are we look back in history? A lot of grass roots started you back when we needed all the mail delivered since I mean that came early on is the as a volunteer effort people locally here have started self-help groups the orphanages those type of things initially started in a lot of people don't know satiate volunteerism as a title. I mean, we do a lot of Deeds for our neighbors that is really associate with volunteerism self history of it is gone on for years and years and it's $2 into more of a professional field and we don't today. So the other Trends as we see it, you know, they changeI think what you and I talked a little earlier about the misconception that most volunteers are women in the field and that's not true. There's a lot of males there's a lot of Youth and a lot of seniors doing it. So what what are some of the traditionally what were some of the common things people would volunteer for early on we had the well, I say it like working in the the shelter's if you're talkin way back. Let's talk about let's see. You may just grab my little reference sheet here. If I can't we talk about some of the things that the settlers helping each other and clear land build roads aren't neighbors banded together to develop schools and establish libraries. It's such a bill hospital if you know hospitals later individuals banded together to seek social justice to ensure protection of the lion. So s Community needs to increase to change volunteers have responded by developing programs and services for abused children refugees battered women in the homeless and you know now at you with risk, so and that's pretty much what the the voluntary action centers are all about that correct Community needs with people who feel like they have time and want to volunteer. Okay Paul. Now I'm going to seriously assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. And we're talking about volunteerism. What kind of opportunities are available? What are Trends in volunteering and also importantly equally importantly what are the responsibilities associated with volunteering 2 to 7. 6008 forgot the number for a second. I screwed that up at the 2nd of our pledge number for a minute to 276 thousands a number if you're in the Twin Cities outside of the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828. Let's go to the phones now to Kathleen who's listening in Minneapolis. Good morning. I was wondering if the Saint Paul volunteer Center has ever referred anyone to the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living, you know, I can't say for sure, but why live over the we list on our database over 670 different agencies here locally, and it sounds like, you know, one of the agencies we could have maybe I didn't mention we have over 4,000 different opportunities in our database alone. The Minneapolis volunteer Center has probably the like number of agencies, but probably 6000 opportunity. So I just can't say for sure whether we have but if not, and they want to get listed on our database they can call us at 227-3938. And that's in St. Paul, but it's in shape are listening all over Minnesota. So they can just look like it in the phone book their voluntary local volunteer Center we can talk about that. I'll give him some volunteer centers who are located throughout the state later. Okay Goodwill. Let's go back to the phone to another caller. I don't have your name, but you're on with Paul neyman. Good morning. Good morning. I just called to inform you and that is another kind of volunteerism that engages Americans to go overseas and do work in small villages and I belong to an organization called Global Citizens Network. And we do this in Guatemala Belize send Vincent and Kenya. I just hope that you listen to sad aware of this kind of opportunity as well as the volunteer opportunities. They are Global indeed volunteering right now. What is what are popular things to volunteer for first of all, what's popular to volunteer for and then secondly what's really needed what's popular the trends right now, I think course it was we talked about the holidays and maybe Briefly talked about that the trends are they helping the homeless shelters to volunteer their the needs are and let me just say that the needs don't stop with the holidays they continue on and I just like to make it with listeners aware of that the greatest needs I think our for daytime volunteers. However, we're looking to educate our programs to open up their services later on drivers are typically needed office assistants are always in great need people to do database work and computer entry work that continues to need to be a great need. Also first. I stop it right there that because I guess one went when I think of volunteering and I think a lot of people listening when they think of altering some of the same things going to my you think about taking care of the boy scout trooper bringing meals to people who are a shut-in or to volunteering at a hospital and you're talkin about entering database numbers were and what sort of us. Which would that be a volunteer? Okay, even in our own office for instance, we couldn't exist without volunteers out. Our office has a staff of five people and we use 25 to 30 volunteers and they all take as matter fact our volunteers are we called referral specialist? They'll answer calls such as I'm interested in volunteering. How do I get connected with it? We have volunteered to work in our database to make those connections the wrench renew jobs updating the records on agency's. So they're continuing doing data entry type things. There's several different agencies that need that help again. Let me just say that volunteers aren't there to replace staff? It's there to enhance the agency. So it's just a great opportunity for the individual to gain new skills to look at new opportunities and often cases. So they're people who are volunteering for variety of reasons, and I just want to say too and some of the tree We see according to the Gallup poll that volunteerism is at its highest level. We found that over the you know the country. Why does 98 million people volunteering? It's like 54% nationalwide Minnesota speaks a little higher. We're at 58% I believe it is compared to the 54% So Minnesota is one of the top giving states of that 54% of people who volunteered you have any idea and statistics about how much time I'm going to spend volunteering on an average weekly Nationwide. It's about 4 hours per week here in Minnesota. We're still running about 4 hours per week. So we have 58% of the the people giving that amount of time which if we take some of the value of that nationally, it's it's averaged out at $11.58 per hour or so, I think Nationwide it's like a The hundred seventy billion dollars worth of time is Spencer Minnesota. Like I said ranks are run the top in the nation and we have over 58% of our youth are volunteering we have over 60% of the seniors volunteering at this time American public apparently sent a message to lawmakers that they want. They want a smaller government. Do you think that if the government does actually shrink that there will be an increased demand for volunteers? Well, I believe that'll be true. I mean is that has something people in your industry are talking about a lot right now and the boardrooms. I don't think that's come out so much. I think one of the key things that are happening right now is that one of the key trends is for family volunteering and probably it has the same effect, you know, if they start cutting programs it's going to adversely affect families. And so we're working very hard in the metro area to find. Remedies for families to volunteer together we see it as a way of strengthening families. And of course families are defined as you know, how everyone defines I could be brothers and sisters. It could be, you know, stepfather and a child. However, that is it doesn't necessarily go back to that nuclear family of mother father etcetera, but we're looking for opportunities so they can volunteer together. Spend some time together seems to strengthen relationships are there is a big Movement. We are working very hard to prepare agencies to use families. And so that we can get those structures built up yesterday on Saturday. Midday. He's the assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. If you would like to ask Paul a question about what volunteer opportunities are available in your area or what responsibilities are associated with volunteering or people comment about volunteering. We love to hear from you 2276. Thousand is a number if you're listening in the Twin Cities this morning to 276 thousand the number to join the volunteer conversate. I'm here. If you're in the Twin Cities anywhere else, you're listening. You can join in on the conversation toll free at one 800-242-2828. You mentioned Paul the maybe when are they drawing areas are hot areas of volunteerism right now is finding things for families to do talk about some of the things that families might be connected to if they if they reach us at your like yours in the end request a volunteer just recently we had the had the family. Well there was an article in the Pioneer Press about one of the newswriters a chef. I think it is just some family volunteering and he brought a very good article in the paper yesterday about it. His situation was with a five-year-old. I believe in a seven-year-old where they went out to the food shelf and help bag groceries. And this is an ongoing need the the program. We have fair share has a regular weekly or monthly giveaway on Where are there that need for people to go in and help pay groceries other things that families can do and one of the program's called family to Family Ties where there's some mentoring things going on between families. And so that's one way of the families getting together. We're exploring other things where you can bring your children some of the programs have yet to been, you know to be developed and I think it's a rather new thing and there's only a few probably that are encouraging at this time, but we're working real hard to do that for kids if parents are kids themselves want to volunteer what can kids volunteer for what areas are they needed in when we have several different opportunities for you? No children to get most of them, you know, I'm escorted have to be over like 14 or something about there's a lot of things in the nursing homes. They can do there's a lot of special events where children can do such as for the cleanup group. So we got a lot of Girl Scout Boy Scout Troops Looking for things Church groups. There's just a wide variety of things and like I said what environmental issues there's the mentoring there's tutoring we get a lot of say 12 or 14 year old kids who are going in and working with the younger children. It just provides a good relationship for them. So there's a lot of them entering going onto in the end. There's a big push for the mentoring program here in the metro area as well and buy mentoring programs. What exactly do you mean? Well, it's an opportunity for for somebody to work one-on-one with somebody and it could be in his in it is small group even but it's a provide some kind of a relationship for those who are without somebody to rely too. So there's a lot of those programs out there that are in need st. Paul schools are doing some mentoring programs. There's just, you know, like I set up a wide variety of programs that are looking for some mentoring thing. Okay. Well, I have a lot more questions for you, but let's go back. Phones and Julie who's in Minneapolis? Good morning. I'd like to ask about volunteering opportunities in Minneapolis and specifically the areas that I'm interested in would be environmental with one. You just mentioned a couple seconds ago and then any cross cultural opportunities for Minneapolis to be specific I don't have those as I said, there's like four thousand things in here, but I can give you a phone number of somebody in Minneapolis to, she can just look it up in the phone book at the voluntary action center in Minneapolis. Is there people living in all of The Ragin and I do have volunteer centers all over the region what happens when somebody calls you volunteer Center disposal you ask them what their interests are a lion and then what would what process do you go through a ride for the collar in our office? We would go through a an informal question. Are we to ask you to look for your name at cetera? But one of the things we like to do as you've mentioned a couple of areas of Interest we can also search in our database for a time of day preference that you have. There'd be days evenings or weekends. We can also search it by our ZIP code and the type of people you'd like to work with. So it's out there and I can't be specific as to what opportunities are available in there. But I do know that we can give you some references to different opportunities here. So you mentioned at the onset of the program that volunteering to do something to improve the environment. Is it is it increasingly popular what types of General things are available ended toward that in will I know in the state? They're the DNR has a lot of different programs were there looking for people Adopt A Highway and even millfoil to do the boat checking at the ramps was volunteer-driven checking they were doing Moon counts earlier this year or so. There's a lot of things that you know, the people can do together, you know. Cleanups they have park cleanups in Central like that. So other environmental things plant a tree if you call one of these volunteer action centers and tell him what you're interested in there going to have a database of information will be able to match up with so I am very likely, you know, there is a volunteer Centers located throughout our state Wisconsin South Dakota North Dakota and I say, you know just afford a wide selection of volunteer opportunities that people can you know find there are you folks swamped during the holidays with people who call up to between Thanksgiving and Christmas and yeah, we really want to volunteer to help the homeless or or elderly people or something like that to the point where you don't even have enough things for them to do but you really could use them in June or July ride. And I think that's the key. We we filled our Thanksgiving serving meals in a week ahead of time and I think one of the points there is that Those programs rely on a on a regular volunteer basis. So special needs for them are you know absolutely to help, you know in the Sorting of clothing and things like can we get in a wide variety of opportunities throughout the holiday opportunities other than the meals are men, so there is a great need for that. But like you said the drop off after Thanksgiving and Christmas is significant the needs continue and there's just so many things to do out there last year alone. We had throughout the year about 5,500 callers in our agency alone. We gave out about 12,000 referrals. I believe this year were seen it, you know an increase in that numbers and we continue to grow the needs are there weed help agencies in their own recruitment. We certainly don't replace what they do. But a lot of what the volunteer centers will do is to help Develop professionally managed volunteer programs and I think that's the key to as people the listeners author. I know that when they want to give their time they want to feel like they barely made a difference. And so part of what the volunteer Centers do is to help these agencies develop programs that will be inviting in, you know use effectively the people's time and talents that we do give so I think that's a key also already Paul. Norman is here. He's the assistant director the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center and it would be an understatement to say that we have room on the lines right now. So if you have a question or a comment about volunteering wheel I would like to hear from you join the conversation by calling 227-6000. If you're in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand in the metro area anywhere else, you're listening. You can call toll-free with your question or comment about volunteering the toll free numbers one 800-242-2828. It's about 27 minutes now past 11 will take a break here from midday for a moment. Update you folks on this winter storm that's moving into the region. We have a winter storm watch in effect for all of Minnesota tonight and Sunday the forecast for today becoming cloudy with snow developing West in the afternoon occasional snow showers along with her along the North Shore of Minnesota and a chance of light rain mixed with sleet or snow in the South highest today in the twenties North to around forty in the south. Then tonight it all starts happening tonight snow north and Central mixed rain sleet and snow far south changing to all snow later tonight increasing winds causing blowing and drifting snow in the North End in the west will have Louis tonight from the team's Northwest to the lower 30s in the Southeast for tomorrow. Winter will be be here for sure tomorrow snow continuing and most areas on Sunday possibly heavy at times in the south and east Gusty North Northeast winds causing blowing and drifting snow will see highest tomorrow in the team's Northwest to the middle thirties in the Southeast a winter wonderland, so to speak on tap for the region. 628 inch or more of snow is possible in Central and Southern Minnesota. So get your shovel ready today. Let's get back to the topic of volunteerism on midday with the phone almond who's with the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. Let's go to the phone to Jean-Marie who's in St. Anthony. You're on the mid-deck morning and I wondered why I don't have kids of my own and I wondered if you can describe what sort of things you can do. You know, when what the responsibilities are venturing think were you work with it a kid, I guess who need some supplement to their family and I guess you just sort of hang out with them. Well solid people I've known people have gotten involved with that and frankly, we're a bit surprised about how much it does take when you commit yourself to spending time with the the child meeting. Child family. Well, I think for you and your friend. Again to access some opportunities for you to do you can just call one of the volunteer centers you think about some of the things you might want to do in a mentoring relationship perhaps it's just doing some things are some special events working on a one-time thing and you can then expose that friend of yours, maybe to something they've never done before some type of a volunteer experience. So you can enjoy your time together or there's many special events. There's the bike Ms. Bike. There's different walkathons that are marathons that they can do together. I think there's more to know how old this person will be. You'll be volunteering with him for digital tips on how do you how do you go about building relationship? That I had been talkin about off are the idea that when you do volunteer for a particular organization, you may want to shop around a little bit as I started volunteer consumer to make sure the organization trains you appropriately and provides you with the support you will need is a volunteer and I would assume that that's going to happen for Jeanne Marie when she goes through this agency. Well, I hope Jeanne that the agency that you are doing is going to have that orientation. And they will give you some guidelines. There are some certain rights and responsibilities and you have a right to to find out what those guidelines are. And I'm sure that they would have some more appropriate programs for you. Some guidelines are things that you can do or can't do which are appropriate and you know that they've done some screening. I hope that answered the questions you may I guess he's Foster to say and talk to the people you'll be volunteering for and they may have some tips for you. Thanks for calling. Is there some sort of a I don't know the Better Business Bureau. So to speak that that people can call who want to volunteer to make sure the organization are considering volunteering. Is reputable and it is legitimate. Is there any way to screen out anything? Well, I think it's part of their screening process is to talk with the volunteer coordinator find out if they do have some job description on file. Is there a training is there an orientation. In what is the mission of the organization? Those are some of the things you want to find out about an organization. And with that most of those organizations are listed, you know, I think in the Attorney General's office. So if there is a question, but I believe again to to spend your time. They're volunteering you do have the right to expect that the program would be run professionally and that there are some people to whom that you can relate to so now that is a very very good key Inn in a program. Okay. Let's go back to the phones into Marla who's listening in Lakeville. Good morning on the FM news station. Require volunteer service for the kids and the parents were going to take the school board to court or something because they didn't think the kids should work without getting paid with added Minnesota to remember hearing something about that too. I don't know if it was me also and we have the the Clinton Administration now with the national community service is one thing but I we find out in a lot of school districts where it is required for students to be involved in some community service. I haven't heard about the particular incident that you've talked about but more and more we find that it is becoming a requirement. We do try to work with the schools in the district to to not only educate the students about what they're going to be getting involved in but also there's a lot more to just going out and doing things with the agencies is a lot more preparation that we need to work with the teacher. So that's an ongoing education process again so much of what we do is an education so I can't really say whether or They should be paid if that's the argument or not. Most of our volunteer opportunities are not paid. There are some stipends and reimbursements. But you know, it's it's the fact that we're giving time. So I think it's a good idea that we do get the youth involved and we start young we build that kind of it. That's the way the nation was built in sore need to keep reinforcing that throw a few tips out Paul to if you have a parent's listening and they would like to encourage their their children to get involved in some way in some sort of voluntary effort. What kind of things can a parent student to Peek Kids interest in doing something that I suppose it might start with the parents volunteer themselves somewhere. It's like damn Odd Parents when they're involved in different activities and we find that's very true. We see it in the younger grades. We've been working with the Early Childhood family education and they're starting with you know, the very small infants up to five years old to doctor talk about that volunteering. And so that would be modeled in many people aren't informal volunteering programs and maybe it's talking about the way they give their time. I mean, obviously a lot of people give a lot of time at church and the this one of the big big areas that people are volunteering but I think a parent can also help that child as I said before about asking a few questions about what it is why they want to give their time questions to ask yourself about you know, before you even call. It's like how much free time do you have available? How much time are you really willing to give and you know, it might be willing to make a commitment agencies need your commitment. They expect you to be there. Once you made the commitment, they need you to have some follow-through. You need to come on time to dress appropriately. I mean, there's some basic guidelines and I think that's good for the Youth in itself to Edisto start to establish some responsibilities 25 minutes now before 12 noon. Listening to Saturday midday from the FM news station. I marked it actually in the Twin Cities and with me here this morning is Paul nauman the assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. We're talking about volunteering what's available? What are the trends and what are the responsibilities associated with becoming a volunteer? If you have a question or comment you can join the conversation to 276 thousand is a number in the Twin Cities to 276 thousand in the Twin Cities anywhere else, you're listening to the broadcast. You can call toll-free with your question at one 800-242-2828. Let's go back to the phone since Jeff who's in Minneapolis. I guess. I have a couple comments and a question that the relates to volunteering as maybe a little more broadly-based and just immediate area volunteer work in rural Kentucky 3 years in rural Alabama in the late eighties and one of the biggest challenges that I found for that whole Enterprise was simply getting in touch with people who are doing things that were the sort of thing. I was interested in doing And I want to make the comment I wanted to make was there a couple of occasions and I came across it will help her for me for that one is something called the internet has a good call the international liaison job based out of Massachusetts. And I think it has some affiliations with the Catholic church. So that might be way of getting in touch with them. I I afraid I couldn't find the address but the other one is a newsletter Jeffrey. It's tomorrow. It's like a book like that. I think they update annually and it lives probably about eighty to a hundred opportunities nationally and internationally. Okay, go ahead. A lot of it is working with agencies of the Catholic church, but it's includes others as well. And basically anyone who's interested I think is welcome to show up for those Augsburg publishing house or the Augsburg Fortress here in Minneapolis is called the overseas list and it's like two or three hundred pages of opportunities, and it's just amazing. Anything you want to do anyway, you want to do it anyway work with and if someone was really looking for something like a longer-term experience. I'll be when I would really recommend and like I said, it was $12, so that would be no one place. They can start that I guess I was wondering if your guests had any other recommendations for people who are maybe trying to look for a longer-term thing. And where would you start to simply trying to get in touch with them then? Are you just looking for out of the region? Okay, okay, working for a little place that no one had ever heard of and I found out about almost accidentally and it turns out they were doing exactly what I wanted but you would never find them. And so I imagine there are other people who are in this is like the voluntary action centers where you call up and say what you're interested in and all the sudden bang their matching up with something. I don't know if you can add them. Well, I think that's the thing and East touchdown it again. It's awareness with the resources that are available and that's one of the key roles your volunteer centers with play Nationwide just to address some other things that he talked about in looking at Global issues. There's the you know, there's a Vista program of the Peace Corps that we can connect people off with there's the global volunteer. So the needs are great, you know globally, but again, it's just getting connected with the resources and I think One of the biggest issues we've always faced here is voluntary action center. It's that people just aren't aware of us as a resource not knowing that there's over 4,000 things for them to do and we talked like I said, it's some it's amazing but there's a mannequin field needs out there and we just need to get the message out. Okay, though. I wish I was volunteering for something but I just don't have the time to do it. Are there any volunteer programs set up so that almost in the in the spirit of a temporary employment agency. You could call them up on a Saturday morning and say look I'm available for 5 hours this afternoon or Sunday afternoon. Do you have something somewhere I can go in and then just start a check in and help out for for 5 hours and and leave it on the spur of the moment. I think. I don't know of anything like that. But that's the way it when we originally started out the voluntary action center. The volunteer puerile, right after World War II was set up. We had a pool of volunteers sitting at the office who were on an on-call basis, but back then it was Juno to fill those needs right away. I don't know of anybody that would be able to fill that thing. Hopefully our programs as we say and develop some kind of professionalism to him and that there's some special events of course for one-time needs and we're always able to fill those I mean a call or if they know they're going to be available for 5 hours in the next weekend or in a they can call us we developed are in process now of doing the skills bank and what is the skills make means that if Mark if you had a special interest in helping somebody out to build houses for instance up you can put your name and our database and then if an agency called us we can help fill that need real quick. We can look through there and search are skills. You know, do we have anybody so that's something new that we're developing but that may be as close as getting that immediate response as we can. Once again Paul assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. It is a regional office. The voluntary action center is likely in your region is well weather in Fargo or Duluth or Minneapolis and what you can do if you are interested in volunteering for something and I you don't know at where to go necessarily you can look the voluntary action center up the phone number up in your local phone book call them. They'll tell you that I asked you what your interests are and then they'll try to match you with some sort of volunteer activity. Let's go back to the phone Steve's in Forest Lake. Good morning by group kind of form. I wonder if you might be involved with that her or know something about it and a second question. Is this kind of relates to your sister talked about earlier. Kill people to use their skills and volunteer opportunities that something that has the technology is been developed to what are databases that we had some matter fact. I just spoke with a software person yesterday about getting a bulletin board access eventually we would like to do that so that people can just get in on the internet. I'm not real computer literate but I think would be a great way for people across the state to get access not all volunteer centers have that elaborate database my do if there are some that are small just you know, small Grassroots type organizations, but your luckily I think that's the way we're going in the future. We haven't developed it yet. But anything that we can do to make it easier for people with lactose, you know, we're looking at kiosk so that we can try to have something in the libraries that people who are interested in volunteering we work with several corporations now into developing Surveys online we're trying to look at those type of thing so we don't have it yet. But if you have the skill to help us develop it you can certainly give me a call. I'd love to do that. But there are great needs for people with skills. They can be short time opportunities will use volunteers, you know Financial Volunteers in our office will use computer software people who are volunteers. That's a great neat most agencies couldn't afford to hire that and again it only helps to enhance our program some to grow up. That's how we effectively use our volunteer. So yeah, I'm sure we can link you up with that. And if you call in to our number or any one of the volunteer centers, we be more than happy to search. Is there an effort being made by folks in the volunteers Ministry to tap into the groin pool of retirees and some more and more people with a greater percentage of the population is Retired people. Well, I think that it is a great, you know pool of volunteers. There are some effective programs being run already at the RSVP, which is the retired senior volunteer program here and across the country. They have effected programs for working with volunteers. A lot of the corporations have developed retiree groups and they're very active in their volunteer programs in your local. You have the same Paul companies have 3M and I know I'm going to miss some other ones but they come to mind right away is having very active programs. One of the greatest things that will you fail to do with volunteers. He can seniors is to ask and to get the word out. So statistics say that now there's probably 60 or 70% of the people out there who would be if they were asked so I don't know if we have time but I was off the trans here, you know the top 10 trends of what's happening and And one of them is we talked about earlier is volunteerism is at its highest level ever baby boomers are more than any other age group volunteering between 25 and 44. I believe it is 62% of the people are volunteering. It's just significantly the majority of people that are volunteering are working people volunteers give more money to charity than on volunteers marry people volunteer more than single women still volunteer of slightly more than man. I think the statistic was 56% of the women volunteer compared to 52% of men somewhere really gaining in over really gaining volunteers by minorities weekly on the rise again, when we look at different cultures and I've done some training on how to you know, access the diversity in our you know across the board. It's many people are volunteering but they don't call it on two different communities do different things. So but the fastest growing pool of people that I think the train say is from the business Community more and more businesses are looking for ways to give back to the community. Especially those were local they promote it. There is a corporate volunteer console made up of you know, people within the metro area who are devoted to supporting volunteer programs within our community. So in the opportunities are more diverse than ever we are working to do some short-term volunteer opportunities. A lot of people. I think you said it earlier just don't feel they have the time to commit there's a lot of one and two time opportunities and that's a good way for them to explore different agencies and to find out what it's like so and number 10 or the top reason I think to try and his family's so I think it's critical we re Spending a lot of time trying to develop those programs and I think as a nation. We just need to get that support back again. So especially if you're some significant Cuts in our program, so I guessed on Saturday. Midday today. If you have a question about volunteerism to 276 thousand is a number to dial if you're in the Twin Cities outside of the Twin Cities one 800-242-2828 and there is some room room on the line Becky's in Minneapolis. Thanks for waiting on the FM news station small private school in Minneapolis parents tried to get together and develop a volunteer program. And we we tried to form a partnership with a an organization that helps homeless people transition into housing and we found that it really fell apart within the year because the the storm wasn't really set up to to use this school at all of the resources there and I wondered if you know are either of these kind of collaborative Partnerships between volunteering organizations that needs, you know, hooking up with a school. Community of people who want to volunteer and and using that resource now your your question was to develop Partnerships an organization. It's looking for volunteers or is in need of volunteers it in need of this program needed clothing and they needed household goods. They were helping people get into household. So we were trying to help do that as a school but the organization didn't really seem to tap into all the resources in school had very well. They weren't used to really using this community. They were more used to getting volunteers one-on-one and I wondered if I was kind of partnership that exists between organizations and programs that need volunteers. There are here in St. Paul there as part of the Chamber of Commerce efforts to work with the public schools. There's a big effort there. I am in they are they have successful Partnerships with schools. I don't know about your particular area, but There are research resources available through that and perhaps your Minneapolis volunteer Center would be able to help you in that direction. If you give them a call they have resource people available who can help you make those connections out there in in in the business section, Oregon to community to Okay, let's go back to the phones dance in Duluth. Good morning. Good morning and Volunteers in the past and supervise volunteers and mental health settings correction settings and environmental groups bedtime. I really think would think it could be very exciting as this new program where they're trying to get senior citizens to come into the classrooms, especially in the Elementary classroom, and that the class was basically adopt a senior and a senior what kind of follow them through the the, you know going through school and it's very preventive type of thing for you. No crime and stuff. I think of these kids need that identity identification with a grandparent and I think that's very very positive and I hope Morty loves do that. We as a society right now are taking advantage to the extent we could take advantage of the the pool of senior citizens. That's out there right now the growing pool. No, I don't think so efficient the rural areas and where there's a little distance issue, but fishy out here in the country. I think that there's a lot of senior citizens that have a lot to offer and we're not tapping into that and and you know, the family system is deteriorated where the grandparents many times are not with the grandchildren in those grandchildren need that grandparent image in their life to encourage them to respect life and respect people and I think that's part of our problem with crying that the grandparents are not in the kid's life. So by replacing lift in the school system are allowing a grandparent to come into the school system. I think that where it's kind of a long-term preventive approach to In a dysfunctional kids I work with juveniles in the criminal justice system. And I think that they they lack of eye contact with positive senior citizens and I think volunteerism in the in the school system is just really helped the whole problem with crime podcast. And you know, I support that wholeheartedly that the intergenerational need is there for your information. There is an effort again here Metro why there's an organization called staying power which is doing exactly what you're talk about. So if you need to tap into some of that resource, there is a good effort here and it is accessible again. So you're right on that seniors have a lot to offer in the youth have a lot to offer the senior. So it's a good it's a good mix the idea that and rural areas. It's it might be more difficult to coordinate volunteer efforts because people are spread out a little bit more than they are in a place like in st. Paul or Minneapolis or even Duluth where Dan is calling from for that man? What are some of the differences are between opportunities for volunteering in rural Minnesota or in rural parts of the region versus urban areas? I think the the needs probably are there the same as that we have in the metro area, but there are you know, one of the things they have is course the distance problem in and those type of things but you'll find that all I know when to Lowe's in Wadena in different areas are our Senators that can help organize those they may not be officially the the volunteer centers but there are agencies out there that are quite a coordinating those type of efforts. And so maybe they need to get connected with the County Human Service office and see what's happening. If there isn't anything there you have the State Department of Human Services, which is very active in promoting volunteerism the supporting agency. So the network is out there and I think the needs are certainly is great and roll as they are in the Hilarious and I believe they are organized. They have very fine coordinators out in those areas. Do you think that we talked about this a little earlier 30-40 minutes ago about the idea of American saying look we don't want the government doing as much as the government is doing right now leave it up to churches and leave it up to volunteer organizations. Do you think that the role of volunteerism is going to be increasing sharply in the very near future? In this country, we all night. I think it could have that effect by the more we work on, you know, promoting the professionalism of volunteer administrators. I know we work very hard that volunteer program management is the key and we work hard to advance the professionalism of volunteer coordinators and volunteer director. So to answer that question, or are they going to play a more significant role? I believe so because we'll be using the talents in the skills of those volunteers of a little better. Okay. It's about 6 minutes now before 12 noon, you're listening to Saturday. Midday on the FM news station assistant director of the Saint Paul Area volunteer voluntary action center and I were talking about volunteering and what kinds of opportunities are available to people will go back to the phones and to Tom who's listening in Minneapolis on the FM news station. Good morning. Paul have a question. I'm a Communications professional. Take me to the Fairmont of public speaking and got writing skills. I'm interested in knowing tapping into the youth Market from C O. I don't know 16 through 20 and how can I use my skills and in helping with you know, just be more communicative Communications literate. I don't think I'm really would be very effective with a group much younger than that. And can you give me some pointers and contact what exactly are you trying to do Tom? Well, it could be, you know, like mentoring for for college College Prep. It could mean just being better as a is a is a communicator maybe as a speaker maybe as I think there are some programs onto her that we certainly use public speakers for us to help promote different programs. If you find an area that in your Communications background that you would like to help promote. I know you know, the public radio's and TV cable stations all have access for public and they need people that were willing to go in there and to help either teach a class or to take group of Youth and show him how to do different things. So there are different things and is a public speaker. You would be very welcome in many agencies and so we can certainly help you there too. And once again another question coming up Tom has interest in a particular area. All he needs to do is call one of these voluntary action centers and you can likely match him up with someone who needs it and I daresay they help that Narrow that search down. We we use like 20 to various categories, you know and just rented under his group instruction category. For instance. You would find Opportunities like to teach educate share information with group. So you can do Financial age. You can teach you up or a system Courtney programs. I mean, there's so many different things under these categories but again for anybody looking to find opportunities as it's a matter of getting it connected in telling us some general area of interest and we have to go through the process to find that match. But okay well toward the end of this hour before we finish here. Maybe you could go through until folks listening across the region where voluntary action centers are located and they can then turn to their phone books and move on from there if they need the phone number. Okay. I'm not sure how broad the listing hurry up. I'm going to read through the list of there's an association of volunteer Center. So there is one in Brookings. It's the Brooking volunteer Service Bank. There's one in Cloquet the volunteer services of Cloquet Central Iowa. As one in the United Way of central Iowa volunteer Center Duluth is the voluntary action center of United Way Fargo St. Volunteer Center Grand Forks. The United Way volunteer services Grand Rapids has the voluntary action center and we have one in Hibbing lacrosse Minneapolis Rochester St. Cloud St. Paul Sioux Falls Stillwater, Virginia Wadena Yankton, and then there's local Minnesota offices on volunteer services in the state of Minnesota or in South Dakota. Okay, so pretty much wherever you are. There's got to be an opportunity to volunteer Riley to match up with something and you had said I think it's important to repeat this for people looking to volunteer. They oughta is sort of approach and almost like they're they're they're getting a job and they should look at who they're volunteering for to make sure the responsibilities are defined. So they're not wasting their time and a good program. I think it is, you know being a good guy Le tiras giving time and talent light show. Having a good experience. Okay. Well Paul nyman was with me this morning here on Saturday. Midday fall is the assistant director of the Saint Paul Area voluntary action center. As you know, from what you just heard. There are voluntary action centers all over the region. Thanks a lot for coming in on this holiday weekend and sharing your information. Thank you for allowing us to come on and talk about it and it's great to be here. All right, we'll have a good time shoveling your driveway tomorrow. John Bishop was a producer of Saturday. Midday today. We had technical direction from Clifford Bentley and Michael Osborne. Thanks to those of you who listened and of those of you who called in unmarked sat act like midday on Saturdays ported by the oriental rug company celebrating its 10th anniversary year at 50th and Bryant in Minneapolis.