FORT RUCKER, Ala. (January 29, 2015) -- People often search for a way to make a difference in the beginning of a new year and Fort Rucker offers numerous opportunities to improve the community through volunteerism.
"People volunteer for a lot of reasons," Mirian Houston, Fort Rucker Army Volunteer Corps manager, said. "Volunteering allows the community to provide more services, especially with the economy and hiring of paid personnel. I have realized that when a person volunteers, they are more conscientious of what they are doing.
"Volunteers offer their time, not for compensation, but to give back to the community," she added. "Volunteers support the community with a wide variety of skills and caring attitudes."
According to Houston, volunteerism is an important tool for helping a community continue to grow and for personal or family development.
"Giving back to your community is important," she said. "Without volunteerism, communities would falter.
"It also allows families and their children to see the benefits of providing a service without the expectation of a reward or compensation," she added. "This, in some many instances, allows the family to see and help meet the needs of other individuals and families.
Volunteering also provides excellent additions to a resume and can be a usual tool during interviews during a search for employment, Houston said.
"Volunteering is a terrific way to network with people, which can lead to everything from getting a great job to making more friends," she said. "It shows a caring, selfless, nurturing side of you."
High school students can also use volunteer opportunities to beef up their college applications and prepare for their first step into adulthood.
"Volunteering as a youth teaches organizational skills and the importance of giving back," Houston said. "It teaches independence. As high school students, it helps them obtain business skills. The skills acquired are beneficial when completing college application and will assist in landing a part time job while in college."
According to Houston, the wealth of volunteer opportunities available in and around the local community may be accessed through the Volunteer Management Information System.
"VMIS training is a requirement for all volunteers," she said. "To be able to manage their volunteer hours and other information, they must be aware of how it works. So VMIS is the one requirement."
VMIS training is conducted monthly by the AVC manager for any individual who wishes to access the system and view volunteer opportunities, Houston said.
"VMIS provides the tools to manage volunteerism in the local Army community, including online recruitment, volunteer records storage and easy communication with volunteer staff," she said. "It allows individuals to manage their volunteer service record, locate an Army volunteer coordinator, apply for volunteer opportunities, and record and track volunteer hours."
According to Houston, there is always a need for more volunteers.
"A community can always use more volunteers and more hands to help lift it up," she said. "Fort Rucker has more than 700 volunteers currently registered. It is the most I've seen in my career and experience at other posts. It speaks well of Fort Rucker and the community."
For more information about volunteer opportunities and VMIS, visit myarmyonesource.com or call 255-1429.
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