Why Volunteer?

By Richard Yates
Vice President, Dads Association
 
I’m so glad I said “Yes”.

It began two years ago when my wife, Mary, and I attended The Illini Parents 101 Workshop shortly after our son Richie started at Illinois.  We were here for two reasons.  First, it gave us an excuse to see Richie without embarrassing him to death.  With the exception of a couple of summer camps, this was the first time that our son was living away from his family and we (his mother) needed to see that he wasn’t wasting away, neglecting himself while slaving away at his studies (he wasn’t) and we (his father) also wanted reassurance that while he was enjoying campus life, that he wasn’t enjoying it too much (still not sure).
 
The second reason was that we had questions, lots and lots of questions.  We attended Summer Registration before school started, which gave us a handle on the mechanics of attending Illinois, but we still had questions concerning the more personal aspects.  What was our son going to be going through?  What were we going to be going through?  How could we help?  How should we not?

During the Illinois Parents 101 Workshops, we visited with members of the Boards of Directors of the Moms and Dads Associations and University faculty and staff.  We learned that not only were these organizations for the parents but we were already members!   We learned about other programs co-sponsored by the Associations and the Illini Union Parent Programs Office, such as: Dads Weekend, Moms Weekend, the Summer Registration program and the many other volunteer opportunities that enrich the Illinois community. 
 
These organizations significantly enriched campus life, and they do so through volunteers (see “Parent Volunteer Opportunities” sidebar).  When I asked if I could help I was invited to attend a board meeting, and at the board meeting I was invited to become a member of the board.

Since then, I have manned information booths, assisted with the annual Dads Weekend Pre-game party, discussed separation anxieties with parents of incoming international students and written this article.  The activities have been interesting, the people have been wonderful and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  And, volunteering gives me an excuse to see my son more often and make sure that he isn’t enjoying campus life too much.

I’m so glad I said “Yes”.

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Move-In Week Info Booths - August

• Welcome families to campus
• Answer questions/concerns

Orange and Blue Days- Fall

• Give short presentation on Associations
• Answer parent questions
• Share your experience

Dads Weekend- Fall

Banquet on Friday evening: Host a table, check in guests, present awards.
Tent Party Saturday: Collect meal tickets, greet families & mingle with crowd

Latina/o Family Visit Day- Fall

• Welcome families
• Share information about Associations
• Must speak Spanish

Moms Weekend- Spring

• Moms Association Info Table: Direct Moms Weekend guests to different locations, answer questions.
• Explore Illinois on Friday evening: Welcome guests, greet exhibitors
• IUB Craft Fair on Saturday: Sell crafts, mingle with Illini families

Presidents Award Program- Spring

• Distribute information to parents of admitted students
• Encourage parents and students to accept offer of admission
• Share your insight and experience

Summer Registration-May to July

• Weekdays, 8 am - 4 pm
• Give information to new parents
• Collect parent contact information
• Address concerns of new parents

Please consider volunteering time for any of the above events. Your story might just be the one that someone else needs to hear!