Several years ago, the Lawn Tennis Association was deeply concerned with amateurism. No one could compete in the prestigious U.S. Open Tennis Tournament who had been tainted by money received as a result of his or her tennis efforts. Watches received as prizes were acceptable up to a certain dollar value. What the Lawn Tennis Association lost sight of was, well, good tennis.
Now we have voluntarism, a subject your newspaper has editorialized upon in light of the recent President's Summit. Now for many of us, it is a small sacrifice to give of a few hours, a gallon of gas or a missed dinner to better our communities or to assist our fellow citizens. It feels good. Yet there are people who have much to offer but can't find the time; good folks who would gladly give of themselves but gas and meals and other costs are difficult to budget for on meager incomes.It would be wonderful if people volunteered for the pure joy of seeing others benefit with no thoughts as to personal gain. But frequently kids volunteer to have fun, youth to be with friends and meet other youth, young adults to add to their resumes. Most Peace Corps "volunteers" could not afford to go to struggling countries to help, and VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) volunteers could not serve struggling low-income Americans without a small stipend to enable them to live while engaged in full-time service.
Foster grandparents and senior companions, who are themselves low-income older persons, gladly serve troubled youth and frail elderly, yet are humbly grateful for the little extra needed stipend they receive.
Voluntarism, like amateurism, can be an ennobling personal trait. Yet let us not lose sight of the myriad pressing human needs in this country that require consistency, that require caring, committed people to help resolve. Let us not quibble over titles while there is work to be done.
Rick Crawford
State director, Corp. for National Service
Salt Lake City