Palatine Park District | Volunteer Voice Newsletter (Fall 2018)

VOLUNTEERVOICE

FALL 2018 • PALATINE PARK DISTRICT

Gratefully acknowledging the many individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference in our community.

TRANSFORMING THE STUDENT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Palatine Park District Volunteer Program Addresses the National Association of Colleges and Employers Core Competencies Established in 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) connects more than 8,100 college career services professionals at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide, more than 3,100 university relations and recruiting professionals, and the business affiliates that serve this community.

NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.

NACE’s mission is to empower the community of professionals focused on the development and employment of college-educated talent with relevant data, resources, training, insights and relationships, while serving as the collective voice for the profession.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers developed a definition for career readiness and identified core competencies associated with career readiness. Palatine Park District Volunteer Program Activities successfully contribute to NACE core competencies. Let’s look at how: 1. Critical Thinking – Community service has an impact on critical thinking ability. Sometimes it seems like there’s no way to accomplish a project from start to finish. Then, you’ll think it over, talk with your team and collaborate to tackle the project.

2. Oral and Written Communications – Palatine Park District volunteers communicate with children, teens, adults and seniors alike. They assist with public image and relations, as well as customer service.

3. Teamwork and Collaboration – Every project involves working with others in one way or another (collaboration, taking direction, training our peers) enhancing one’s ability to collaborate and work well with others.

4. Information Technology Application – Our volunteer onboarding process (application, screenings, training) as well as some volunteer assignments are completely online.

5. Leadership – As our volunteers rise above to help lead a group during a project or show other volunteers how to do a certain part of a task we see their leadership skills at work!

6. Professionalism and Work Ethic – Those who serve us, represent the Palatine Park District to the community, which requires individuals to be both professional and courteous while seeing their assignments through from start to finish solidifies a stable work ethic.

7. Career Management – Timeliness, time management, professionalism, confidence, organization, following instructions, problem solving, and planning are needed to successfully manage one’s career and are traits developed through service.

8. Global/Intercultural Fluency – Our volunteer events provide opportunities to meet people from other parts of the town or the world who have different cultures and /or interests than one’s own.

Acknowledging and understanding others is a valuable life skill and one needed to navigate cultural fluency.

Palatine Park District’s Volunteer Program Leadership is proud to offer student volunteers assignments that develop the skills needed to make them bankable in today’s competitive college and career markets.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Palatine Park District, please visit volunteer.palatineparks.org or contact Alissa DePue at adepue@palatineparks.org or 847-496-6212.

Sources: 1. National Association of Colleges and Employers 2. New York University 3. Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities Public Lands Day Clean Up – September 29 Goody Bag Stuffing – October 9 Fall Festival – October 13 Sign up Goody Bag Stuffing – October 23 online today!

Halloween Party – October 27 Turkey Trot – November 22 Allegro Winter Performance – December 7 It’s a Wonderful Life – December 21

Spring Volunteer Highlights Thank you to the many volunteers who have provided service to our community over the summer.

Below is a collage of the wonderful work done in our community at the following events: Girl Scout Planting Project; Fling, Swing, Kick Fundraiser; Story Time in the Park; Palatine Classic Disc Golf Tournament; Family Days at Arlington Park; Hometown Fest; Friday Family Picnic Concerts; Canine Carnival; Outdoor Family Movie Night; and Feet Fest Family Adventure Run. Many thanks to all our volunteers for providing services which have included mascots, mascot handlers, concession workers, craft table attendants, game leaders, photo printers, photographers, coat check attendants, greeters, goody bag stuffers, environmental stewards, ushers, raffle table attendants, golf course marshals, and more!

If you’re interested in learning more about volunteering at Palatine Park District, and the roles available, visit volunteer.palatineparks.org.

BENEFITS OF GIVING BACK

Giving Back Helps Others, and You! Volunteering makes an immeasurable difference in the lives of others. But did you know how much you help yourself by giving back? From lowering stress to boosting self-confidence, volunteering offers many health benefits.

Following are a handful of benefits you receive, by giving: 1. Decrease your risk of depression. Volunteering with and for others increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common commitment and interests—both of which have been shown to decrease depression.

2. Enjoy a sense of purpose and fulfillment—and increase your self-confidence while you’re at it!

3. Stay physically and mentally active. A study released by Johns Hopkins University in 2009 revealed that volunteers actually increased their brain functioning. Volunteer activities get you moving and thinking at the same time.

4. Reduce stress levels. By savoring your time spent in service to others, you’ll feel a sense of meaning and appreciation—both given and received—which can be calming.

5. E . xperience “The Happiness Effect.” You know that feel-good sense you get after a vigorous workout? It comes from a release of dopamine in the brain.

Helping others has that exact same effect—so the more you volunteer, the happier you become!

Source: createthegood.org

PALATINE CLEAN UP INITIATIVE

Palatine Jaycees and Palatine Park District Collaborate to Organize a Civic Day of Service The Palatine Clean Up Initiative’s inaugural volunteer event was successful, promoting community engagement and civic partnership while tending our natural resources.

Groups participating in the cleanup at Reimer Reservoir included American Legion Post 690, Knights of Columbus, Palatine Boy Scout Troop 188, Palatine High School, Palatine Jaycees, Palatine Kiwanis, Palatine Park District, Rolling Meadows Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Palatine, and William Fremd High School.

THANK YOU MIKE!

With Gratitude With gratitude, we wish Mehran “Mike” Mokhtarian and his wife a blissful retirement.

They’re moving from our area and though we will not regularly cross paths, we are ever grateful for the service he provided so often on behalf of the Palatine Park District.

Thanks, Mike, and Best Wishes!

Remembering the Volunteer Efforts of Marilyn Pedersen

Where do Volunteers Put in the Most Hours?

The George H. Clayson House at 224 E. Palatine Road was purchased as a 1976 US bicentennial project by the Palatine Historical Society. The Palatine Library purchased the house for $48,000.00 with the proceeds of the sale of its Brockway Street facility, thus creating the George H. Clayson Historical Museum and Library.

33% Religious Organizations

Volunteer Marilyn Pedersen joined the society in 1975 and became the major force in the restoration of the building, which had been converted into apartments and was dilapidated both inside and out. Marilyn and other volunteers raised more than $200,000.00 to hire a restoration architect and then restore the house.

25% Educational and Youth Services

Marilyn oversaw the extensive restoration. She and a group of volunteers provided a lot of the actual labor and raised money to furnish the house, which finally opened in 1979. Marilyn did all this as a volunteer.

Eventually, Marilyn went on to take a role as Museum Coordinator and years later, Museum Supervisor. She was always the go-to person for information on the history of Palatine and its residents. Conversations with her were interesting and filled with bits of Palatine trivia. She will be greatly missed.

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During this time of Thanksgiving, I’d like to express gratitude for our volunteers. Their efforts enable us to provide quality programming and are appreciated by staff, other volunteers, and the public. ~Alissa DePue, Volunteer Coordinator

14% Social and Community Services Source: United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics

WE CAN HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT CORPORATE SERVICE PROJECT Corporate Social Responsiblity: A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in the interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis.

Employees who volunteer their time to company service projects believe their service: • Benefits them personally • Improves their ability to perform their work duties • Improves their ability to cope with job challenges • Develops contacts and skills that can be used on the job

How Palatine Park District can help: We can assist in organizing company service projects which demonstrate your company’s mission, values, and philosophy.

• Environmental Beautification Projects (plantings, landscaping, etc.)

• Stable Stewardship Programs • Corporate Clean Up Projects (graffiti, trails, parks) • Health and Wellness Events • Special Event Assistance

• Improves self-esteem and sense of pride

Benefits of demonstrating corporate social responsibility: • Altruistic intentions—good global citizens • Means of recruiting, motivating, and retaining employees

Alissa DePue Volunteer Coordinator Email: adepue@palatineparks.org Phone: 847.496.6212

• Customer and public relations

Volunteer Voice is a publication of Palatine Park District, 250 E. Wood Street, Palatine, IL, 847.991.0333, palatineparks.org.

Would you like to submit a comment or question or suggest an article idea to the editor? Contact Alissa DePue at adepue@palatineparks.org or 847.496.6212. For more information about the volunteer program, or to sign up, visit palatineparks.org/rccms/volunteer.