 I'd like to welcome everyone to Ignite the Spark. My name is Shar Speck-Pakdiak. I'm the founder and CEO of an organization called Horizons for Girls. And I like to visit with our viewers and share different information I've come across that has helped me as I'm working with students and really trying to help them become more impactful in whatever it is they decide they want to do. I'm excited about today's topic. And I could probably talk about it for days but we'll try and squeeze in as much as we can in a very short time. Real quickly, a couple of statistics I pulled up last night that I found interesting regarding being a volunteer. This is from last year and they said the value of a volunteer per hour is $24.62. So every hour you're volunteering, that's the value of your time in whatever it is that you're doing. And then the other statistic they posted is they said currently 63 million volunteers in America and that they are giving back to whatever they decide they want to work on. But it's a total of eight billion hours. Eight billion hours. That is like, wow, that's really making a difference. Now what I'm really excited about today is being able to introduce my guest. I've known this lady for a long time and she and I enjoy coffee together on a regular basis but I wanted to make sure, I'm gonna take the bifocals off because I can't see with them, but I wanted to make sure I covered some of the things that she's involved in. My guest today, Linda Cates. She is a local development professional and she first came to Sheboygan 12 years ago and she came here to help raise money with the late Joe Richardson, the second raising money for the Sharon Richardson Hospice in Sheboygan Falls which is really where you and I met. After eight years she took a brief professional hiatus. We all have to do that. During which time she served as the founding board member for Love in the Name of Christ, Sheboyg County. And today she continues as their chair of the Resource Development and Communications Committee so she's still involved with that. Over the past two years I found this very exciting. Linda has assumed the role of board member, investor and PR specialist for Sheboygan based Vipe Tech, a highly innovative NASA startup company utilizing applied vibration technology for therapeutic purposes. I've met the gentleman that Linda works with. Absolutely fascinating. I'm intrigued with what they're doing. Now as it relates to volunteer activity, another area that Linda and I've worked together, she has been recognized for her leadership in the Sheboygan Early Bird Rotary. She's recognized as past president as chair of the Public Relations Committee and she served for over a decade embracing the service above self. That's the International Rotary Commitment. That to me is very powerful. I look forward to being able to visit with Linda today and talk about volunteering and what's important about it. Volunteering, welcome Linda. Well thank you, thank you Shar. I can't tell you how thrilled I am. I've been looking forward to this on my calendar since we talked about it a couple of months ago and also for the viewers to know that what an inspiration you are to all of us in leadership across the county with what you have done with Horizons for Girls. So I have an opportunity to publicly say that. Thank you so much. So I have, as a volunteer, had a number of different perspectives and experiences with that. From an organizational standpoint, I was blessed with a loyal long-term group of volunteers, those magical words loyal and long-term. That assisted me in the development office at the hospice and so valuable and it made such a difference for us on the day-to-day business of the Hospice Development Office but also in special events. I mean, we couldn't have done what we did without them and many of them remain close friends of mine today. Also looking back over some of the organizations you mentioned and some I'm still involved with, Love in the Name of Christ was really built. The mission leverages the community Christian involvement and without that involvement, the mission transforming lives and relationship with Christ wouldn't be possible. And so at Love in the Name of Christ, we have 38 partner churches that each have dozens, if not hundreds of volunteers and this creates the whole force to deliver the mission of Love in the Name of Christ. And so to see that evolving over the last several years under the leadership of Katie Popp is just amazing. It's an incredible blessing. So from an organizational standpoint, I have a good sense of the value even though when you said almost $25 an hour with billions of hours, my mind calculator popped right in there. It's an awesome figure. But the impact is absolutely incredible. And of course, as organizations benefit individuals within the community, the community as a whole benefits from volunteering, volunteerism as well. Just making us healthier, more vibrant as a community The benefits to me of assuming responsibilities in a non-profit for no pay have been really sweet to reflect on. And my biggest takeaway after thinking about this and praying about it and reading the research about the benefits of volunteering is that it's really an investment in myself. So that blows my mind to say that because there's this huge stack of benefits and so many of them keep pointing back to the volunteer. And, you know, and they're categorized in a variety of different ways. Everyone talks about the fact that there's a stronger connection to others that it really builds community to be a volunteer. So, and as I mentioned, I've made some of my best friends through hospice volunteers. And now at Love in the Name of Christ and in my Rotary Club. So you mentioned those roles. And I always have to say because I know he'll watch this show that I met my second husband, Randy when I worked at the hospice. His first wife, Dee, had died there in 2009. But I asked him to volunteer to be the speaker at our annual dinner at the end of that year. And of course, the rest is history. So we're blessed in many different ways as it relates to the benefits of volunteering. But that leads me to, I think, an important point is that it ends loneliness, right? It does, it really does. And it just, it completes you. And I say that and I think of that. And I don't even remember the movie, You Complete Me. Oh yes. And in my mind, volunteering completes me. That makes me a whole person. And that's what I really try and instill into our students is that it's not just about you. It's not just about what you're gonna benefit. It's gonna make you feel good and you're gonna be helping others. And I've seen student after student change their perspective on the world as a whole when they take the time to do some type of project that we're working on. They really, really shine. Yes. Well, and just to complete the loneliness piece because it's wrapped around your comments that when you talk about elderly or individuals in life transitions and even our young people, study after study talks about how isolated they feel, how lonely they feel. And this really is a way of losing yourself in the service of others and in some ways than finding yourself. So if you think about what talent, what experience, what do I have a passion for? And then you bring that to a need. There's really incredible things that happen. I always think about my mom, bless her heart, who has advanced in years. She'll watch this too, so I won't give her age, but she's an amazing woman. And she had been as a young woman fairly shy and didn't necessarily like to speak in public. And through her commitment to companion animals, she lives in Northern Wisconsin and Anaita County and there were many needs as it related to the animal shelter and caring for the dogs and cats and other companion animals. And really out of her passion and love for these little creatures that are so much our friends and part of our families, she really found her stride and learned to speak in public about the importance of various initiatives they were involved in. She took up writing, which she has a wonderful gift for. And I often like to think that I got some of her pizzazz, but certainly not all of her talent in that regard, I only wish. But this is what can happen when you have something you're passionate about, you're willing to extend yourself and perhaps move into areas where you haven't been particularly comfortable, but because of your commitment to a cause or the use of a particular skill or talent you're in a position that you really want to go the extra mile. This can also happen, I talk to some of the younger professionals who come to me and want advice about getting into the field of development and communications, there's really no better way to get professional experience than by selecting an organization or a cause that's interesting or dear to you, you have a passion for. And then making yourself available to volunteer and assist. It's a great way to not only build on the things we've talked about in terms of making friends and building community. The value is certainly incredible that way, but it's a great way to build a professional resume, making connections that can be of assistance to you. So I often tell those individuals in my circle who want to extend their development capacity that find an organization, I will often recommend a couple that I'm well aware of and let yourself be swept up in that organization and use, develop that muscle that you really want to be influential in an area. And it's interesting and I say even step out into something you thought you maybe never would ever want to do. And I was telling you before we started recording the show, one of the unusual things that I did, I was very active in the chamber of commerce. And they had a committee that was working on and I forget which tournament it was, but PGA, the golfing event, the first one at Whistling Streets, and they had a committee that was formed to make sure that everything was handled correctly. And they wanted somebody to share transportation. Well, what does Shah know about transportation, highways and traffic flows and all of that? Well, I raised my hand and I said, I'll give him a shot. And I loved it. It was so educational. I met so many people. I learned so much. It was thanks to you that we had those little golf carts that took us to the outer parking areas where the other volunteers had to park. Thank you very much. And then I even had my students, two of my students that had already graduated have the program volunteered out there helping park vehicles, which then raised money for horizons. So it was this paying forward that kept multiplying itself. It was great. I loved it. Well, one of the things that I found over and over again as I was looking at different articles thinking about our time together today, looking at articles about volunteering, is that they say volunteers live longer. Oh, that's a good motivation. I'm gonna beat my mom. The women in our family live a long time. And that they also enjoy mental, physical and emotional health. And I was kind of looking at what are the pillars of those and we've talked about being the social connections and we've talked about feeling valued in terms of having a talent. Sometimes discovering something you're passionate about. We're all learning about ourselves regardless of what stage of life we're in. And it also made me think about how heartwarming it is to receive recognition. Now, not in an egotistical way, I'm not suggesting, but we just wanna reinforce for those of you, yourself and others who are involved in running volunteer programs that time you take to put the certificate together, I was selected as a crusader for Christ in a recent month by loving the name of Christ. And I just can't tell you how thrilled I was to put this on Facebook and I got hundreds. I didn't even know I had that many friends. I got hundreds of responses. And also with my Rotary Club, I was selected as Rotarian of the Year a few years ago. And every time I look at this clock, well, I think, wow, that's pretty cool. So it's an opportunity to, on days when maybe I'm not feeling so cool, to give myself a little pat on the back for when things went really well. So that recognition makes a difference. It helps to kind of warm our hearts and it's some kind of benefit that we won't don't necessarily talk about with others. The type of recognition we received, but it does make a difference. So I think it has a positive effect on self-esteem, right? It's like, oh yeah, I am making a difference. There is a contribution that I'm making, even though some days I wonder, like everyone else. One of the other things that I could glean from all of that benefit information was that it really helps us to age gracefully. And I don't know about you, but that's something I'm committed to. And because we engage others that socializing benefit is so important, the connection. And we also just move a lot more physically, right? I'm not sitting at my home office desk, you know, looking at or thinking about what I need to do on my computer next. So it's really an opportunity to get involved and to look at the life, the organization, the community in a little different way and be part of something that is good that's happening. Well, and I think sharing that experience, that knowledge that you've got, when you can share that, that in itself is paying it forward to future volunteers that, well, if Linda did this, if Shar did this, I guess, yeah, I could help with that too. And that to me is invaluable. Well, one of the things we haven't talked about, we haven't touched on, but has always been in my mind, because I've been involved in various community initiatives. Most of my life had certainly been my career path, community development and one phase or another. My first career was at Wisconsin Gas Company and I worked in community outreach in a variety of different program areas. And my daughter, Michelle, will still tell stories about how she had to show up at the Salvation Army Christmas Party and hand out candy canes, how we spent sometimes Thanksgiving at the serving meals and just different things over the years that we did together, she and I. And as we were preparing for the show today, I was thinking I really do want to put together some type of a project that I can do with my two wonderful grandchildren this summer. Brittany, who is 25, lives in Appleton with her husband, Ryan, and also Brady, who is 17 now, living in Stevens Point. But both of them have that huge, compassionate heart for others. And Brady's already done some mission trips and of course, Brittany has been involved in various things over the years with her mom and as a family. So looking forward to kind of strengthening that value, that shared value within our family and making some memories doing that. There's lots of opportunities here in Chewbacca County and you were mentioning to me, of the Volunteer Center as a resource. And certainly, we have connections at the Salvation Army and the Children's Museum. There's so many opportunities. The ministries of love in the name of Christ, to name a few of my favorites. And of course, Horizons for Girls. Well, and as we're talking before the show, I shared with you that one of the projects that Horizons does every summer is we volunteer at the Elkhart Lake Triathlon, which means we're staffing water stations in different areas throughout the triathlon. And what I've done with that is created a family team opportunity. So that, yes, one of our students and maybe some siblings, maybe a parent family member, they do it together as a team. And last year after we did that, I had many parents that came back and said, thank you. It really gave me a chance to connect with my daughter. So they're communicating in a non-threatening way in something that they really felt made a difference and that they could hand out water to those crazy people that do a triathlon. I'm not sure, but I'll wait as they go by. But again, it's an opportunity, as you said. If you do that with a family this year, I think that'd be great to do with the grandkids. It's just, wow, incredible. But definitely our viewers, if they're thinking, well, how do I volunteer, where do I start? I'm gonna say go to the United Way website. You look at their volunteer page because there's hundreds of opportunities there. Some of them are very event-oriented, such as the triathlon. Some of them are long-term, such as mentoring with Horizons or some of the other projects in the community. So there's a variety of opportunities to be a part of something and to make a difference. I mean, the choice is there. I mean, it goes page after page after page. And think about something that is fun for you or something that you feel passionate about because it just adds another dimension to the experience. And this is every season of the year, there's something going on, even in terms of the short-term volunteer efforts. I think about the rotary-driven making spirits bright. And there's tons of opportunities. I've been involved as a cash counter, but one of the things I had so much fun with, I didn't do it last winter, but the winter before was being Santa's helper where children could come through and we have it at the quarry, right next to Evergreen Park where the light show is and it's available throughout the season and the kids just love it. And they come in and see Santa and get their hot chocolate and all that stuff. And so in that operation, there's so many different things you can do depending upon what it is that you have an interest in what might be fun for you. So I think it's important, even when you're planning something with your family to talk about, it's another opportunity to communicate about what's important to you, but where do you have a particular soft spot in your heart? Do you love companion animals? Do you wanna go over to the animal shelter and the humane society and do something as a family? There's so many opportunities, but you're right, the Volunteer Center is a great place to start and take a look at things, try some things on. You just, you never know. I mean, again, real quickly, I think of something that I only did because I wasn't working at the time, but I was, I ended up being trained as a naturalist educator at Maywood. Oh boy. Oh what a wonderful spot. You know, so again, it was a step out of my comfort zone, but I learned a lot. I was educated on a lot of things at Maywood. I had no idea about, fascinating, and it helped me with what I do now when I'm working with students at Horizon. So, you know, benefits are endless. Yes, and an opportunity, I think what I hear you underscoring is an opportunity to explore something you may not know so much about, but be curious about even. So, there are those volunteer spots that you'll never know. You know, we've talked about companion pets a couple of times. Under the table at our feet, Fabe is one of those companion pets, and I share a group of people that handle certified therapy dogs, and absolutely love it. I mean, Faith and her furry friends go to the library and little kids read a book to them, then we give those little kids a bookmark that my students from Horizons have made. So, again, there's that multiple generational thing going on, and I love it, absolutely love it. There's so much to this umbrella called volunteering, you know, both for the organizations, everything we've talked about, of course, the benefit to the community is so evident. And then to the individual volunteers, you know, it's such a blessing to stay connected, it builds your social skills at a time maybe where you're involved in a life transition and you're not quite so sure who you are. It builds your self-esteem, it exposes you to new information, lifelong learning is such a critical part of being healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally. So, you know, you just can't lose, and if you're involved in something, you're experienced something, it's not, it doesn't quite hit the mark, well, then move on. There's always another opportunity around the corner. It's definitely. So again, please, get out there, volunteer. It's gonna make a difference for everybody, yourself and everybody else. But I look forward to talking to you again next month, and in the meantime, make sure you find a new thing to do while you're volunteering.