Jack Anderson:

"Volunteering is at the soul of community, the glue that brings and holds us together.  Not a sacrifice of your limited time, but, rather, it feeds a deep need created within us which, left unfed, leaves us emotionally malnourished.  It’s not for “them,” it’s for me – and you.  Studies abound on the positive effects of helping others.

Within the Linganore community there are many opportunities to give - Friends of the Lake, Trail Blazers, Scouts, committees, events….  Further, there are seven of us asking for your votes so we can spend evenings and weekends not only hashing through difficult issues, but also being more involved in all aspects of the community. Enthusiasm and engagement need to be visible starting from the top.

What is often forgotten are the “spontaneous,” self-generated volunteer opportunities. Look for ways you can help.  It can be as simple as picking up that bit of trash as you walk around the lake.  Identify and use your God-given talents.  For instance, with my love for computers and math, I have a wealth of opportunities to help explain computers to those intimidated by viruses, worms and ransomware - or guiding young people through the mysteries of our tax code or the quandaries of a job search.  Whatever your talents, search for ways to use those talents by serving others.

So, does Linganore need you to volunteer?  Well, you need you to volunteer."

George Schwab:

"Active and engaged volunteerism is an essential part of any thriving community. In order to have the activities and committees we need and want, all the residents of Lake Linganore must contribute to some degree to the volunteer efforts of their community. This does not mean that everyone needs to take a turn on the board or even a committee. It does mean that every resident has a responsibility to make an effort to provide constructive feedback and participate in some of the activities their neighbors have planned and organized for them.  I also think it’s important for residents to read the information that is sent out to them from the LLA, in order to stay informed. Many questions and concerns can be addressed by staying informed with the information that is sent out on a regular basis.

I believe people are either motivated or not toward certain activities. When we survey our neighbors and ask if they are interested in an activity, we should also ask them if they plan to participate or not. If we don’t get enough commitment to participate we should probably not waste our time, money and energy on that activity, at that time. Not every great idea gets great participation.  In addition, not every activity needs massive participation to be considered successful. When an activity is proposed, we should manage expectations by being clear about what participation level would make this activity a success. The Trailblazers is clearly a successful group, however we usually only have 12 or so people who participate. 

I volunteer with the Trailblazers and Finance Committee. I also recently started going to the Strategic Planning Committee meetings. I enjoy learning about the dynamics of our wonderful community and always learn something new when I go to these meetings. I usually don’t feel compelled to contribute my opinion but feel I can learn a great deal by listening to other people’s point of view. "

Robert Stadelman:

"Last year I worked with the LLA staff to complete a trail that connects the Woodridge neighborhood  to Lake Marian.  This required a few meetings with the LLA and some time on a Saturday morning where my family and I volunteered to mark the trail that was eventually cut through the woods by the developer. This volunteer effort was very rewarding for my family and I.  We were able to get a new trail for our neighborhood while getting to know the LLA staff and fellow community members.

I think that volunteerism is important in our community but I think that the lack of engagement is due to a variety of factors.  The single biggest reason people are reluctant to volunteer usually comes down to the time commitment involved.  Many of us are busy during the week or on the weekends.  Whether it is because we are busy with our kids or we are already have other commitments outside of our community.  Additionally, most of us want to feel like our volunteer time will actually accomplish something and make our community better.  If we are asking volunteers to serve on committees that will decide or create policies on issues like environmental compliance or strategic planning, etc. we need to make sure their efforts are appreciated and recognized. At the end of the day I think individuals that step up and volunteer want to feel like they are making a difference. If we recognize these factors and change the way we treat our volunteers, I am confident that more of our residents will get involved in the future. "