Volunteerism

For as long as I can remember, volunteering has been something I have been involved with. More recently, I have felt truly passionate about it and have craved to be more a part of the things I care about. For instance, last year was my first year on the volunteer committee for the American Diabetes Association's (ADA) Step Out Walk to Fight Diabetes annual walk. I am on the committee again this year and will help out with the event here in October (Mark your calendars for October 29th this year!!).

This year I was also asked to be on the Camp Needlepoint planning committee (a diabetic kid's summer camp that I attended as a child, counseled for as a teenager/young adult and not assist with camp staff training - they call me Camp Mom). A slight add-on for this volunteer effort will be that I am going to be designing a new camp logo to be embroidered on t-shirts and things for the camp store. I was just requested to do this the past week!

The next item on my list - to slightly break up the ADA's committees that I am on, is I am the Secretary for our Homeowners Association Board. I really wanted to be more involved and hear more about what was going on with our association than what they had been telling us. I take all of the minutes at the meetings, plan the agenda for meetings and in late summer help plan the association picnic.

I think this is the last of my list - This year was my first year I have signed up to volunteer at the annual Diabetes Gala: Inspired to Stop Diabetes. The event is held at Treasure Island Casino and is a huge fundraiser for the ADA. I thought about trying to just attend the event or see how much it would cost to go, and I will admit, the price was a little out of my price range. Whew! I am just glad that I am going to be able to go and help out at the event - that way I can go and see what it is all about and then maybe some day I can attend as a guest. I am going to be helping out at the Silent Auction area all night - from the set-up, the actual time of the event and then tear-down. It is a black tie event, so I will have to make sure that I have a cute skirt or dress to wear (and clothes to change into later as we tear-down the room).

Yesterday I attended the Styles for Smiles event. A former coworker told me about the event and she was volunteering at the event the whole day. I went to the event, having sort of an idea about the event, but not entirely sure what I would be walking into. I had emailed a few friends to see if they wanted to go, but in the end, I just drove down by myself. I arrived pretty much right as the doors opened. (I was unsure of exactly where it was located in Minneapolis and where or what kind of parking would be available - I get a little anxious about happenings downtown). But all my worries were for naught. I found the location quite easily, and there was ample (free!) street parking around the building. I walked in, looked around and eventually ran into my former coworker. It was so good to see her! Everyone helping out at the event looked beautiful! Co-Founder and Executive Director, Hollie Mae (whom my coworker knows) looked like a glamorous movie star from the 50s/60s! 


There were free mini makeovers with free fake eyelashes! I had one done and LOVED the lipstick color the girl mixed up for me! I wished she could have potted some of that up for me! I got a free mini massage too! The eyelashes made me think of my dance competition and recital days, but was fun for the event! There was part of the building dedicated to selling clothes from the design house we were in: Kokoon. The clothes were beautiful! There was a dress that I fell in love with, but with my current lack of finances, there was no way I could purchase one. I didn't stay too long. I arrived right as the doors were opening at about 1pm and then left after the fashion show ended, around 2:30pm. I will have to keep tabs on both organizations! 


Anyway, that is just an update about things I have or am involved with. I am sure it makes me sound way busier than I am, but not all of the events are constant, or even that often! It just makes me feel good to help out and give back. I meet some of the best people doing these things too, so it's a win-win!


-LD