by Connie McMullen
The Corporation for National and Community Service says a highly educated, skilled, and talented generation of baby boomer's involved in volunteer activities
The Corporation draws its conclusion based on Bureau of Labor statistics collected since 2002, on the volunteer habits of Americans as part of the Current Population Survey, a monthly sampling of 60,000 households. Over 77-million baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, are viewed as essential to fill gaps in social services and work force shortages among professions. According to the CPS, one-third of boomers volunteer today. “Boomers traditionally have a poor reputation for their rate of volunteering and for their involvement in other forms of civic life. Yet nearly a third (33.2%) of all boomers -comprising some 25.8 million people - volunteered for the formal organizations in 2005.”
The survey found that boomers volunteer an average of 51 hours a year, or approximately one hour a week. With the exception of people over age 65, boomers volunteer the most of any age group, and are expected to continue volunteering as they age. In fact, boomer volunteers are highest among those who work part time. “Almost half (46.3%) of all boomers who work part time also volunteer, compared to one third (33.7%) of boomers who work full time and one quarter (24.3%) of boomers who are either unemployed or not in the labor force.” This particular group plans to continue working into retirement. The report says “Targeting boomers through their place of work may be a key to inducing boomers, especially those with professional skills, to devote some of their time and talents to volunteering at nonprofit organizations.”
Boomers with strong community ties play large roles volunteering in community development and school reform. Many own their own business or are homeowners (45 to 34%).
Boomers also engage in diverse volunteer activities such as professional and managerial services for volunteer agencies (23%). Among the indirect services, many favor fundraising, professional and management services, and general labor.
Core Service Organizations are well aware that boomers are key to the next generation of volunteer opportunities. The Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, which recruits volunteers all year long, places members in school districts, local governments, courts, animal shelters, and other community oriented activities. More than at any other time, baby boomers will be a target to help sustain community services especially in times of tight budgets, said RSVP Director Sandra Borrelli, in Reno.
To get involved in Core Service Organizations, call Sandra at (775) 784-1808, or write to 800 Haskell Street, Reno, NV 89509; online at www.unr.edu/hcs/scag/programs/rsvp/rsvp.htm . In Carson City, call Janice Ayres at (775) 687-4680, or log on www.nevadaruralrspv.org