Maddie Josephs, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, ASCLS President-Elect
ASCLS, our grassroots professional organization, relies on the collective action of our members—and most importantly our member volunteers—to make our voices heard and to make a positive impact in healthcare. Indeed, the strength of our Society lies in our volunteers. Whether you can make a long-term or short-term commitment, ASCLS needs you and your expertise to carry out its mission.
Our membership-driven organization relies on volunteers, in any capacity, to participate on national committees where you can have a voice in the process and affect change to help our Society grow. With busy lives, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to volunteer, but studies show that the benefits of volunteering can be enormous.
Benefits of Volunteering
- Gain confidence. Volunteering can help you gain confidence by giving you the chance to try something new and build a real sense of achievement.
- Make a difference. Volunteering can have a real and valuable positive affect on people, communities, and society in general.
- Meet people. Volunteering can help you meet different kinds of people and make new friends.
- Be part of a community. Volunteering can help you feel part of something outside your friends and family.
- Learn new skills. Volunteering can help you learn new skills, gain experience, and sometimes even qualifications.
- Take on a challenge. Through volunteering, you can challenge yourself to try something different, achieve personal goals, practice using your skills, and discover hidden talents.
- Have fun! Most volunteers have a great time, regardless of why they do it.
Your Opportunity to Participate in ASCLS
There are numerous volunteer opportunities available for the 2020-21 Society year, and they will be posted on December 1. ASCLS utilizes an online system that matches volunteers to positions. You can add your name to the volunteer pool today.
- Simply login to the ASCLS Connect Community and fill out your profile.
- Click on Volunteer and Opt in to the Volunteer Pool.
- Review all of the open volunteer opportunities.
- Apply for the opportunities where you think you can make the biggest contribution.
For more information about these steps, visit www.ascls.org/participate/how-to-volunteer.
The key is to find a volunteer position that you might enjoy and that matches the organization’s needs. If you want to know a little bit more about the activities of committees in which you are interested, you can read the descriptions. You will find position descriptions and committee charges here.
Once you’ve opted into the volunteer pool, you will be notified to submit your committee interest in the near future. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey to indicate your preference for committee leadership or membership. You can also serve as a representative to an affiliate organization. The deadline for applications is January 15.
Please keep in mind that, if asked to serve, your term on any of these committees would start in July 2020. A member of the Appointments Committee will contact you once we get all of the volunteer information organized. Please specify first choice and second choice of interest and the Appointments Committee will make every effort to place all interested members.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss a volunteer opportunity, you can contact me. The other members of the Appointments Committee are Janelle Chiasera, Region III director; Eykka Gundlach, developing
professional director; Elizabeth LeFors, ascending professional director; Roslyn McQueen, ASCLS past president; and Claude Rector, Region VII director.
A commitment to serve in one of these roles typically requires attendance on a regularly scheduled conference call, with some assignments or duties completed between the calls. Some terms are only for one year while others are a three-year commitment.
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”
– Elizabeth Andrew
These conference calls, led by the committee chair, are held at no cost to the individual. Continued involvement is required to ensure goals and strategies are accomplished. Get involved with ASCLS today!
Maddie Josephs is professor/department chair of the Allied Health Department at the Community College of Rhode Island in Lincoln, Rhode Island.