Communities don’t build themselves.

My friend Chris Cavs wrote about unity & community in this great post, and I was one of those he tagged to continue the topic.

I’m taking the idea behind his post and moving it a step further. If there’s unity in community, how do you keep that community thriving? Step up.

My husband and I have volunteered in this town since we moved here over twelve years ago. My involvement began in the capacity of “warm body,” filling in when help was needed. More recently I handle the website for our PTO and I’m treasurer for our Cub Scout Pack. I’m not one to leap at every volunteer opportunity I see, but it’s important to me to step up when I see something that I can do that will help or make a difference.

Similarly I try to help out when the online communities I belong to need a hand. Am I going to run a PodCamp? No, but I’m happy to do little jobs here and there to help things run smoothly. When someone on Twitter posts a question about WordPress and I think I can help, I respond. I can’t help myself .

My husband Pat is even more driven to help where he sees a need. He’s been a leader with our Cub Scouts for almost twelve years, and he’s been a CCD (religious education) teacher, of mostly fourth and fifth graders, for almost eleven. He was a baseball coach when our kids played, and he’s currently president of our local Lions Club. In fact I’m proud and thrilled that he’s being recognized this year by our town as Volunteer of the Year.

All this isn’t entirely selfless, of course! I hope we’re setting a good example for our kids. And talk about community- we’ve made some wonderful friends through our involvement over the years, people who also give back and try to make a difference. We work together toward common goals, even simple ones like making sure the kids of our town have a fun scout program, and that is what builds communities and creates unity.

I love this topic. Let me see if I can keep it going. Tagging my pseudonymous friends Bluegrass Mama, Sprite, and Tink *~*~* . Take it and go wherever you want with it, ladies!