Disneyland just celebrated its 55th Anniversary (can you believe it?). The motto for this iconic landmark just up the road has long been “the happiest place on earth”. Who can forget the five-story plunge down Splash Mountain, the thrills of Space Mountain, the chills of the Haunted Mansion, whirling around in teacups, or the sweetness of floating through It's a Small World (and having the song float through your head for days)? From the youngest to the oldest, all agree it's a load of fun. Happy place, yes. Happiest place? I wonder.
So many of our people here in Carlsbad have found both happiness and fulfillment in volunteering to improve the quality of life, benefit our community and help our neighbors in need here, across the country and around the world. In Dr. Schweitzer's words, they have sought and found how to serve. Most of them have enjoyed meeting and volunteering with like-minded people and have had fun doing it too.
Sue Irey, Community Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Carlsbad tells me that last year there were 2,061 community members who enriched their lives and the city by giving a combined total of 96,222 hours of service. Although the program takes staff time and money, the net benefit to the city in that time was $1.8 million. Amazing! These figures do not include the many citizens who serve countless hours on the various city boards, commissions and committees. “Volunteers are continually telling me that they get back more than they give,” Sue said.
I recently met Kim Wolf, an energetic, independent teacher and tutor who has lived in Carlsbad barely a year. Kim met with Sue Irey and discovered various positions that suited her strengths as a teacher and is now excited to be giving back to her community as a volunteer at the Dove Library. Kim enjoys helping families and building relationships. “Education is my gift to a child; an educated child is a gift to our community,” Kim said.
Employees of our local companies also find that volunteering in communities where they work is very satisfying, fosters camaraderie and leads to team building. In January, Life Technologies, a global company, launched a volunteer program for their 9,000-plus employees worldwide. The goal for this year of 25,000 volunteer hours was surpassed in June and stands at 29,000 hours and counting. More than 16,000 of those hours were volunteered during the company's Global Volunteer Day of Service.
Carmen Rene, Finance Director at Life Technologies, said the local employees' activities included sprucing up Batiquitos Lagoon and hosting a science festival and bike giveaway for Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club. The company is also working on expanding their community outreach programs, bringing in school and community groups for tours and hands-on activities, and placing its employees out into the community to speak on various science-related topics.
Across our community, it's hard to imagine the number of people who are helping others — certainly many more than we have talked about here. Studies show that volunteers find more joy and purpose in their own lives, and are happier. So maybe Carlsbad, with our extraordinary culture of volunteering could be the happiest place on earth.
For more information on the city's volunteer program, call 760-434-2929 or go to www.VolunteerInCarlsbad.net where you will find 146 separate volunteer positions.
I also want to thank the Charter Underwriters for their generosity in supporting the Starfish Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement presented to Mayor Bud Lewis at the State of the City Luncheon August 27.
• The Leichtag Family Foundation
• NRG Energy West, Inc.
• John Haedrich Tip Top Meats
• Poseidon Resources Corp.
• McBride Financial Advisory
• Animal House Pet Care
• Joe Charest
• Jim Comstock and Tracie Avis
• John and Leslie Lechleiter
• Carlton and Sandy Lund — The Lund Team
• Lynn Forbes School of Sculpture
• Sylvan Learning Center, Encinitas
• Knox and June Williams
“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
— Albert Schweitzer, medical doctor and humanitarian
So many of our people here in Carlsbad have found both happiness and fulfillment in volunteering to improve the quality of life, benefit our community and help our neighbors in need here, across the country and around the world. In Dr. Schweitzer's words, they have sought and found how to serve. Most of them have enjoyed meeting and volunteering with like-minded people and have had fun doing it too.
Sue Irey, Community Volunteer Coordinator for the City of Carlsbad tells me that last year there were 2,061 community members who enriched their lives and the city by giving a combined total of 96,222 hours of service. Although the program takes staff time and money, the net benefit to the city in that time was $1.8 million. Amazing! These figures do not include the many citizens who serve countless hours on the various city boards, commissions and committees. “Volunteers are continually telling me that they get back more than they give,” Sue said.
I recently met Kim Wolf, an energetic, independent teacher and tutor who has lived in Carlsbad barely a year. Kim met with Sue Irey and discovered various positions that suited her strengths as a teacher and is now excited to be giving back to her community as a volunteer at the Dove Library. Kim enjoys helping families and building relationships. “Education is my gift to a child; an educated child is a gift to our community,” Kim said.
Employees of our local companies also find that volunteering in communities where they work is very satisfying, fosters camaraderie and leads to team building. In January, Life Technologies, a global company, launched a volunteer program for their 9,000-plus employees worldwide. The goal for this year of 25,000 volunteer hours was surpassed in June and stands at 29,000 hours and counting. More than 16,000 of those hours were volunteered during the company's Global Volunteer Day of Service.
Carmen Rene, Finance Director at Life Technologies, said the local employees' activities included sprucing up Batiquitos Lagoon and hosting a science festival and bike giveaway for Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club. The company is also working on expanding their community outreach programs, bringing in school and community groups for tours and hands-on activities, and placing its employees out into the community to speak on various science-related topics.
Across our community, it's hard to imagine the number of people who are helping others — certainly many more than we have talked about here. Studies show that volunteers find more joy and purpose in their own lives, and are happier. So maybe Carlsbad, with our extraordinary culture of volunteering could be the happiest place on earth.
For more information on the city's volunteer program, call 760-434-2929 or go to www.VolunteerInCarlsbad.net where you will find 146 separate volunteer positions.
I also want to thank the Charter Underwriters for their generosity in supporting the Starfish Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement presented to Mayor Bud Lewis at the State of the City Luncheon August 27.
• The Leichtag Family Foundation
• NRG Energy West, Inc.
• John Haedrich Tip Top Meats
• Poseidon Resources Corp.
• McBride Financial Advisory
• Animal House Pet Care
• Joe Charest
• Jim Comstock and Tracie Avis
• John and Leslie Lechleiter
• Carlton and Sandy Lund — The Lund Team
• Lynn Forbes School of Sculpture
• Sylvan Learning Center, Encinitas
• Knox and June Williams
“I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know; the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.”
— Albert Schweitzer, medical doctor and humanitarian