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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Why Do I Volunteer?


April is National Volunteer Month. In celebration, the MCC Daily Tribune is featuring the individual answers of more than 20 faculty and staff members to the question:

“ Why Do I Volunteer?”

by  Peter Collinge, professor and mathematics chair

I like the quote I once heard, that helping others is the rent we pay for our space on this earth.

Why do I volunteer for the Boy Scout organization? Scouting (for girls and boys) probably does more to introduce youth to the outdoor environment than any other organization. My primary role as Vice President of Camping for the Otetiana Council (Monroe County) is to make sure that we have excellent camp facilities and programs available to local youth at a reasonable price. That’s an ongoing challenge, especially given the struggling local economy and the resulting decline in financial support for local non-profits. I don’t agree with all of the policies of the Boy Scouts of America (or any other organization), but I do know that in the past I personally gained leadership experience and confidence from Scouting programs, in addition to outdoor experience. Today I enjoy working with excellent, dedicated volunteers who believe that today’s youth should continue to have these same opportunities.

Peter Collinge
Mathematics
04/14/2009