|
 The
past few months have been very exciting for Hands On Georgia. In September,
Hands On Georgia Week called 37,000 volunteers to serve in all 159 Georgia
counties performing 148,000 hours of service. The Georgia Summit on Volunteerism
on November 1 assembled almost 500 with the goal of educating and inspiring
volunteer leaders across the state, and now we are preparing for MLK Day with
the goal of fostering dialogue about the legacy of Dr. King and encouraging
Georgians to make it a "day on not a day off" through service.
I wish all of our stakeholders could witness what I have been privileged to see.
In Wayne County, volunteers are promoting seat belt safety to high school teens
and tracking usage rates in their community. In Savannah hundreds volunteered
recently to clean up the beach and coastal areas. While visiting Brunswick, I
joined a group of neighborhood volunteers who joined Signature Squares of
Brunswick - a local non-profit organization - to plant new landscaping in
historic Hanover Square according to original historic plans. And success
stories from our affiliates and partners continue to reach us daily. Each of
these encounters has inspired me and affirms my passion for the mission of Hands
On Georgia: to support innovative volunteer approaches to meet Georgia's
critical needs.
Despite all of the volunteering that occurs daily across the state, a recent
study from the Corporation for National and Community Service entitled:
"Volunteering in America: 2007 State Trends and Rankings in Civic Life," ranks
Georgia 46 for volunteerism and civic engagement as compared to other states.
Most Georgians with whom I have shared this information have a disbelieving
response to the data, but nevertheless, it does provide a call to action for all
of us.
In bringing more than 17 years experience with non-profit organizations, I look
forward to working with you to expand Hands On Georgia and its impact on
communities statewide. I welcome your suggestions or comments about volunteering
and how Hands On Georgia can be of assistance to you in your effort to serve.
Warmly,
Laurie Grant Nichols
CEO
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