Chair's Message
George Cohen, CPA
Making a Difference Through Volunteerism
Do you make a difference in your community?
CPAs who volunteer in our community add value to the integrity of our profession and positively impact it. Lending our time, business and leadership acumen not only provides immeasurable and much needed help to many organizations and agencies, but also helps with our own personal development.
It is in our nature to step up to help in the face of disaster. In reaction to these sudden catastrophic events, we fill the coffers with money, food, supplies and labor resources to help others. I was moved by the response of CPAs around the country this past year to answer the call for help in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. We reached out to our fellow CPAs, their employees and businesses in an effort to help get their lives back on track. Clearly, being members of the AICPA and our respective state societies provided the connectivity and platforms to help, but our individual efforts made things happen. It is these individual efforts, these “labors of love,” I wish to discuss.
Without the sense of urgency in the aftermath of disasters, it is easy to dwell only on ourselves and think about the demands and stresses of our own business, family and personal lives. When asked to volunteer, we more often than not need to connect with our good intentions. So what pushes some of us to say, “yes,” and help others in need?
• Familiarity with Job Skills — Certainly, being familiar with the work needed helps us feel comfortable to volunteer. Many of us got our feet wet by serving as treasurers of grassroots organizations or as participants on the finance committees of larger organizations. Our skills as accounting professionals are needed and appreciated.
• Gratitude or Familiarity with a Cause — Sometimes it is gratitude to a cause that has a positive effect on us or someone we know that causes us to step forward to help.
• Rainmaking Opportunities — Some people volunteer in order to promote themselves in hopes of generating business. This can be a win-win situation for both the volunteer and the organization.
• It Feels Good — Sometimes we volunteer just because we know it’s the right thing to do.
Whatever your motivation, I can assure you that volunteering will be a rewarding experience in the long run. Whether you volunteer for arts programs, social welfare agencies, or educational activities within the profession such as our push for financial literacy, giving back to the community is beneficial to all.
By the way, it doesn’t have to be a hardship. You can actually have fun. You may stick around long enough to rise to a leadership position and be part of an organization’s growth and success and feel pride in mentoring those who follow.
Allow me to share a personal experience. I had heard of an organization serving children and young adults with special needs. I thought they could help me with issues one of my children had, but they couldn’t. I was so touched by their cause, I got involved (yes, as treasurer). It was an incredible experience that felt so good. I hung around for years, became part of the leadership team and left a humbled and thankful individual for all of the good health and happiness in my life. The warm, fuzzy feeling of bringing even a moment of laughter or hope to someone’s life, and the pride felt as the organization gained stability and grew, are feelings I will always cherish. I think that was a great return on my investment.
Take the plunge. Don’t wait to be called. Not all volunteer jobs may be right for you, but I know there are some that have your name written all over them.
Talk to you soon.
AZ CPA - November 2006
