As chapters struggle to revitalize and come back after Covid I am reminded to go back to the river and streams that got me volunteering in the first place. The disappearance of volunteers was a normal occurrence during the pandemic. We all sought refuge from a virus by stepping back from activities that involved being with others or sharing even outdoor space together with anyone outside our immediate households. But now that we are slowly resuming our lives more publicly, I wonder what is holding volunteers back from joining the ranks again to help fish and watersheds? Is it that they have filled their lives with other activities and now don't have the time? Is it a form of 'quiet quitting' (the phrase often tied to the pandemic's disruption of traditional office culture), and it has spilled over into volunteerism? Many experts thought volunteerism would come roaring back after the pandemic.......but we are still waiting.....
If you have dropped back from previously giving a little of your time, or maybe you've never volunteered to help your chapter do something fun, partake in a conservation project or just get out and clean up a river, beach or lake. Maybe it's time for you to visit those places again that made you want to give something back for the fish and their watersheds, in the first place, after all those are our watersheds too......it's time to re-think giving back! As we enter the season of giving please consider giving the gift of your time to your chapter or council again or even for the first time.
We need you, we need all of you!
TU staffer and writer Kirk Deeter looks at a similar question....
"Do I still love fishing anymore?" Read it HERE
Pat Hesselgesser - Chair
