NCVS Blog - Wednesday 10AM

GIVE ME LIBERTY, OR GIVE ME ACNE CREAM

I'm marinating in all the ideas, conversations, and thoughts flowing around here at NCVS - and I want to take a moment to share one with you that emerged yesterday.

I attended a workshop focusing on encouraging youth to engage in service learning and other leadership opportunities. There was an awesome panel of rockstars who admitted that they were rockstars largely because they were offered leadership roles and service opportunities at a young age. It reminded me of my time with Ann and Laura of Youth Resources - young people who could outshine myself and many of my peers any day of the week.

After hearing from the youth, and going over a little process, the attendees of the session had a chance to respond through small group discussions and report-outs. As a part of the Policy Small Group, we dreamed of ways to empower the voice of youth across the nation and provide opportunities young people to have their voices heard.

We lamented the fact that most people start working (and paying taxes) well before they are 18, yet they have no voice in how their tax dollars are spent. We discussed the injustice of being tried as an adult, but not being able to sit on a jury. All over the board, young people are affected by laws, rules, and taxes that they have no voice in changing or supporting.

So, we are proposing something crazy. Except that it makes so much sense.

We are advocating for lowering the voting age to 14

I would love to hear your thoughts, there's a long road ahead to make this happen and we need your help to make our case the strongest possible. Looking forward to instilling civic behavior at an earlier point in an adult's development!

Cheers,
Sam
"Republicans are accused of abandoning the poor. It's the other way around - they never vote for us."
Dan Quayle

NCVS Blog - Tuesday 7PM

Just leaving a "listening session" hosted by the leadership of the Corporation of National & Community Service. It has been a long and full day of great workshops and really good networking. I even got my copy of The Charismatic Organization signed by the authors. Over all, it's been a pretty banner day. However, something has been nagging at me and I'm hoping that I can better explain it as the week goes on...

All of this focus on service and volunteerism is fantastic, but it seems as though there is a lack of understanding regarding the systems needed to support a volunteer program and the myriad other back office details related to the pursuit of service delivery.

I was in workshops with titles like, "Service as a Solution: Service and the Road to Recovery," "The New Volunteer Workforce," and "Developing the Next Generation of Leaders," but conversations surrounding the actual support of volunteers from an organizational standpoint seems to be lacking.

Maybe it's because everyone has it figured out, but I doubt that. I fear that it is because people, even those with years of experience in the sector, desperately want consequence-free help with fulfilling their mission. That probably sounds really harsh, but I believe that in large part it's true. Volunteers take time, energy, and resources to recruit, train, manage, and retain - yet, so far the focus these last two days have been on the individual volunteer...

I would love to hear your thoughts - and be sure that mine will become more coherent as the conference unfolds.

Cheers,
Sam
"It is wiser to find out than to suppose."
Mark Twain

NCVS Blog - Monday 5PM

So, a big part of my new job is to raise the celebrity of service.

Good thing I came to the National Conference on Volunteering and Service - check out the lineup for the opening ceremony:

Jon Bon Jovi
Matthew McConaughey
Arrianna Huffington
Maria Shriver
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Michelle Obama

In addition, there were appearances by the Glide Memorial Church Choir and the leadership of the HandsOn Network and the Corporation of National & Community Service. Said differently, it was three nonstop hours of celebrity - with a little substance thrown, to boot.

And the night wasn't over. The title sponsor of the conference, Target, threw a huge party for the attendees at Fort Mason with food, drinks, sunsets over the Golden Gate Bridge - and a live performance by Chaka Khan.

Hoping to take a few notes from the experience as we develop the Spirit of Service Scholars Program. Maybe U2 will rock out for our kickoff event - pro bono (jokes for music nerds).

Cheers,
Sam
"As a rockstar, I have two instincts. I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both."
Bono

NCVS Blog - Monday 9AM

I'm headed towards San Francisco, one of my favorite cities to visit. Especially in the summer. I love Mark Twain's quote:


"The coldest winter I've ever had was a summer in San Francisco."

And those that live there or have been there know exactly what Mr. Clemens was talking about. Looking forward to saying goodbye to triple digits for a few days while I hang out with hundreds of people invested in the nonprofit sector.

I got me a fancy laptop now so it makes it a bit easier to do this blogging thing. Stay tuned throughout the conference - I'll be taking some notes on Michelle Obama's keynote and the plethora of workshops that I'll be attending.

Also, any suggestions on what to do about local coffee shops, taverns, and other cool spots are more than welcome...

Cheers,
Sam
"I've never seen so many well-dressed, well-fed, business-looking Bohemians in my life."
Oscar Wilde - in reference to the San Francisco Bohemian Club