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Volunteer Spotlight
Interview with Suzanne C. Pine
Our editor caught up with Suzanne C. Pine (Sue) to talk about her many years of active involvement with volunteer organizations. In fact, she made a career of it, 30 years worth! Many of our readers will recognize Sue's name as Fernley & Fernley's Executive Vice President until her retirement this past September. Although she is no longer working in the non-profit world, she always has been and probably always will be involved in it. It's just her nature.
Q. What was the first organization you were actively involved in as a volunteer leader?
A. I think that the first "official" volunteer position would have been President of the Community Service Corp, while in Saint Hubert's High School. This was an organization that organized volunteer activities for the students such as tutoring at local grade schools, visiting nursing homes, fundraising activities, and coordinating the annual Operation Santa Claus program.
Q. What are some of the non-profit organizations you've been involved with over the years and how did you become involved?
A. Keep in mind that you don't get elected President or Chair on the first day, so when I state that I served as President; it really means that I worked my way through the ranks, usually by volunteering on committees and/or serving as a member of the Board of Directors first.
Here are a few of the non-profits I've had the pleasure of working with over the years:
- President of the Mummers Museum's Volunteers;
- First female President of the Philadelphia Club of Printing House Craftsmen;
- President of the Delaware Valley Society of Association Executives (DVSAE);
- President Elect of the Association Management Company Institute (AMCI);
- Board member of St. Katherine's Incentive Program;
- Stewardship Committee member for St. Katherine of Sienna;
- Currently serve on the Marketing Committee of The Wellness Community of Philadelphia (TWCP) which is a support group for cancer patients and their caregivers;
- Currently serve as the Co-Chair of the Women of Wit and Wisdom Committee which is a networking organization within the Philadelphia Pyramid Club.
Q. Do you think the onslaught of electronic communications and web based social networking tools have had a positive or negative impact on the volunteer experience?
A. I think that the easy access of electronic communication has enabled groups to stay in better communication with their volunteer network. The challenge with electronic communications sometimes still ties back to the fact that there are some folks who still don't fully embrace the technology. This is especially true with older volunteers. The other challenge is that the camaraderie that can be gained by sitting around a board table, face to face, can be harder to achieve through message boards or Facebook postings. It's a real juggling act to find the right mix of communication methods to bring the generations together.
Q. What do you look for in an organization before offering your valuable time to serve on a committee or a board?
A. The organization needs to be aligned with a current or growing area of interest. It would be important that the group is open to new ideas and willing to adhere to proper process and procedures. Alignment of interest and a belief in the organization's mission is a must!
Q. Do you support the notion that non-profit organizations have a social responsibility beyond their individual cause?
A. The social responsibility initiative was definitely not an area of focus for the non-profit organizations that I was involved with previously. With the more recent general awareness and press coverage on the topic I am finding that the current groups I am involved with are much more aware and are beginning to incorporate social responsibility initiatives into routine discussions. I emphatically support the concept that non-profits should give back to the communities that help them to meet their goals whenever possible.
Q. You've been in the unique position of sitting on both sides of the board table, as a volunteer leader and as a paid staff member. Can you tell us how one role may have impacted the other?
A. When sitting with fellow volunteers, it is interesting that I often find myself attempting to explain the behind the scenes impact of some of the initiatives being discussed. It is easy to avoid the reality of the details when you are focused on the end result. It's ok to dream big, but at some point reality must be factored into the equation, especially with regards to funding and time commitments.
When I was with Fernley & Fernley, serving as paid staff for our non-profit clients, I often found myself playing the role of educator at Board meetings, explaining what is involved in getting certain tasks accomplished. From the volunteer's perspective, they identify a goal and staff should implement it, sometimes without full consideration of the potential return on investment to the association.
The benefit of being a volunteer with real life non-profit management experience is that I can share ideas of how other organizations have approached similar projects and can offer suggestions for additional new programs or services to advance the association's mission.
Q. What advice can you offer to the next generation of volunteer leaders who may not fully appreciate the satisfaction that can be gained through volunteerism?
A. The old saying is true... "You get out of something, what you put into it!" Getting involved in volunteer activities normally provides greater rewards than the time you invest. I believe that the next generation of volunteer leaders will require new and different methods of engaging with a non-profit organization. The next generation may not be willing to serve on committees and the board for 6 to 10 years before they are eligible to serve as President. New forms of technology will definitely be a must!
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Sue Pine recently retired from Fernley & Fernley, Inc. after 30 years of service. She is currently enjoying precious time with her family now that the demands on her schedule have significantly decreased. If you'd like to contact Sue, she can be reached at spine129@verizon.net.