There’s a request circulating on Nextdoor Linfield Oaks from Wojciech Koszek asking:
“I work in a software company which encourages volunteering, and I'd like to do it in Menlo Park area, since I like the neighborhood a lot. I'm a software engineer, so I could also offer my skill set at pro-bono basis (I've worked with different technologies over the years; might be able to help you)
So far I know about:
- Menlo Park Library (they need volunteers for sorting books etc.)
- Little House / Rosenberg House (many roles)
Any other ideas where I could volunteer?"
What caught my attention was the emphasis placed by his employer: “I work in a software company which encourages volunteering”.
That’s great, and coincidentally, is with one of the over 15 modalities of a topic I present, CareerPreneurship, activities that occur through life that expands your people networks, and experiences.
While it wasn’t my motivation for applying for the planning commission long ago, the serving experience was invaluable in broadening skills: I say jokingly, ‘I was guaranteed to piss someone off every two weeks.’ But in reality the ability to evaluate complex zoning, and many times with parties in conflict with each other, with no clear ‘winner’ forced oneself to take and convey a stance. And the time as chair of the commission gave opportunity to run a meeting; the pace of the meeting and forcing issues where the outcome was inevitable and punting to the council quickly. We were volunteers – but acquired knowledge and skills.
The City of Menlo Park has many such opportunities. Here
I can think of more, but please offer your suggestions, and I’ll add it to the post.
