by Kimberly Chitwood

Created on: August 12, 2008

Usually when you sign up to be a volunteer of any kind, you are interested in whatever it is for which you're volunteering. Let's say, for example, that you're volunteering at your child's school. If you work and have a day off, you might be seen aroung the school doing something, whether it's hanging glyers for the Halloween Carnival or turoing after school. Are you sitting down, twiddling your thumbs? Nope. You're trying to find any way that you can be involed.

Now, let's consider certain characteristics that every volunteer must possess or show to be effective.

WEARING A SMILE
When someone smiles at you, doesn't it just warm your insides. You might be thinking, "Hey, I matter today because someone acknowledged me with a smile. It makes you feel good, doesn't it? Of course, it does. When you smile, you send a signal to all those around you that you are enjoying the world around you, you're happy to be where you are (location), and you're ready to work. A smile from you can brighten someone else's day, too. You never know when you're going to have an impace on someone, just with a smile. So, keep a smile on your face when you're volunteering, no matter how stressed you feel!

ALWAYS POLITE, RESPECTFUL, AND KIND
When you're rude to someone, they're less likely to want to work with you. They're also less likely to want your help. I mean, the reason you volunteer is to help others. No one wants someone around who is rude to everyone without discrimination and unmannerly. I say that you always get further when you respect those around you, you're polite, and you're kind (even to those you don't particularly like. You get better results every time.

NEVER IDLE
Most volunteers are always doing something. Unless the volunteering that they're doing requires sitting down, they're always moving around. Also, most volunteers, when they happen to run out of projects or things to help with, will invent ways to volunteers. They will say, "Maybe we should try this..." or "Have you done this in the past? If not, how about if we try it now?" or any number of other statements. Volunteers are always thinking of ways to help out.

GOOD WITH PEOPLE AND UNSELFISH
To be an effective volunteer, you must be good with people. Usually, volunteers work together. There is an organizer, there is someone who keeps tabs/a log on past/present/future events for future reference, and there are people who carries out these activities/events/projects. Everyone works together. Even if you and Mary don't necessarily

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