Following my previous and optimistic post of a new era for community service, I’m now going to flip the argument. While I straddle both U.S. and Canadian philanthropy in this financial downturn and watch as both governments “turn on the taps” and run deficit budgets for this year - I’ve become curious at how long the taps will stay turned on, how effective the spending will be, and what happens when they are suddenly shut off - if community service ceases to be the little darling it appears?
Already the articles and blogs are flying in both directions - arguing fundamental points: is government spending more effective than private innovation or is the reverse true? Or a better question, does someone know how we can do both?
While this NYT Op-Ed thinks that more national and community volunteer opportunities could help save the economy, Pablo Eisenberg writing an Op-Ed for the Chronicle of Philanthropy debates whether a Public Service Academy would create results and be worth the expense? The blogs are also elucidating on the theme - from providing debt/loan relief for graduates who spend time in the sector to the importance of the Administration to engage non-profits in their planning.
From this perspective, I’m still optimistic that government support is the right way forward. But I think there are limits and the sector should not start over-relying on its sudden popularity. There has been amazing innovation in the sector over the past eight years - because there had to be. The sector certainly deserves this attention from a new Administration, but more importantly, it deserves continued attention from the citizens.
Let's be honest, the volunteer and service opportunities have always been there - you just had to take the initiative to look. Greater engagement, for whatever reason, is certainly a reason to celebrate, but quantity does not ensure quality. Government is helping to kick-start interest, but the sector must continue innovation to maintain this new momentum.
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This is a very balanced article.
I think a US Public Service Academy is a great idea, both symbolically (it could inspire a generation a la Peace Corps) and practically. George Washington University's Trachtenberg School of Public Service estimates the Academy would save roughly $50 million a year.
Hate to say it but I’ve always feared that this would be the downfall of Mr. Obama. His campaign relied so much on community groups and students to motivate the disenfranchised and they did that so well. Now, however we’re also relying on these groups to motivate us to act and actually do something more than tick a box on a piece of paper or press a button.
It seems to me that society is not geared towards people getting up and doing things to make theirs and other lives better. Isn't that why we are in this financial mess at the moment because we all wanted what we wanted now (with hideous results in the future) rather than getting up and working for it slowly and surely. How can we turn around the spirit of a people that waits for things to come to them rather than working on things for other people… Like you say 'the volunteer and service opportunities have always been there - you just had to take the initiative to look’
All those with initiative stand up…
Volunteers have saved one of my favorite non-profits over a million dollars in the past five years. The optimist says, multiple the effects exponentally and we’ll wipe out the deficit. The realist says, everyone will go back to work eventually and the movement won't have the same need, the same momentum. The Economist wrote this week, “A time will come when today's fear is equally hard to fathom. Greedy once again people will wonder why they did not buy shares at these prices…”
I love the sector, so I hope for good things. But its going to take more than academics and the government to keep us sustained.
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