You are visiting http://geocities.datacellar.net/SoHo/Workshop/2096
To see an archive of the articles on this site, click here.
Sentenced to community service
By Tim Wood Published Aug. 31, 1997 in the Columbia Daily Herald
From time to time one reads stories about convicted criminals who have been sentenced to do community service time.
In some cases the "community service" is never performed, or it is meaningless work. This is often the case when high profile celebrities are involved.
There are many people in this community who have been "sentenced" to perform community service. However, they are not criminals. Their only "crime" is their willingness to give up time to better the town in which they live.
You may not even recognize these people, but they are out there. They're parking cars at Maury County Stadium. They are coaching and refereeing in youth sports. They keep the doors of churches open. They read to students. They run agencies for troubled youth. They produce concerts and shows for the public.
These are just a few of the area in which volunteers work in Maury County.
A few months ago, several former U.S. presidents gathered in Philadelphia to promote volunteerism. The event received national news coverage.
Volunteerism must increase in order to solve the problems of this nation. Here are a few reasons:
The government is cutting spending. Many services previously funded will need support from the private sector. Cash contributions will be needed, but volunteer work will be the biggest need. One advantage of getting the government out of these services is the loss of red tape. If the government is involved with a project, an endless list of regulations must be complied with. Volunteer organizations have much more flexibility, and thus be operated much more efficiently.
The needs of this community and others across the nation are increasing. At a meeting Thursday night, a Maury County Fair official said that 10 years ago, an officer could tell troublemaking youths at the fair to go on their way, and the youths would say "Yes, sir." Now, youths want to talk back and refuse to cooperate.
Youths need good role models. Forget about professional athletes. The rare pro athlete who is a good role model doesn't get much press because he or she doesn't wear a different hair color every other day or otherwise make headlines.
Youth programs, whether sponsored by churches, sporting organizations, boys and girls clubs, or others, are badly needed to help youth. Many children do not have strong parental influence, and in some cases, even conscientious parents don't have the answers. This is where volunteers can help.
Volunteering benefits the volunteers. It's hard to get in trouble if you are doing good works. Volunteering builds self-esteem in children, youth and adults. If you help others, you also help yourself.
How do you volunteer? There is no shortage of ways. If you are have a religious faith, your church offers many ways to help others. Many people who volunteer in non-church related organizations are motivated to do so by their religious beliefs.
There are numerous civic organizations in Maury County. Indeed, much of the volunteer work done here comes from civic club members. These organizations seek out community-minded individuals to help them perform public service work.
If you read this newspaper, you can find many opportunities to volunteer. Both the news stories and features such as the Community Calendar and Bulletin Board list meetings of groups that need volunteers.
There's an old saying in churches that 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. This ratio also could apply to the community as a whole. It doesn't need to be this way.
Everyone has talents that can be useful. Volunteer work can help you discover abilities you never realized you had. You also can develop new skills and grow as a person.
Considering "sentencing" yourself to some community service. The real crime is in not offering your considerable talents to help others.
| Search this site! |
Home page||Send me an e-mail ||Click here for great deals on CDs!
||Tim Wood's Rocketry page ||Tim Wood's Music Page, featuring Chicago (the band)