SEM Link Appreciating the Unsung Hero of Volunteers- The Skilled Volunteer

In most non profit organization's volunteers are a critical component to the organization being able to achieve it mission. When we think about the volunteers, we always think about those who are in direct services or directly involved in the programs. However, there is another group of volunteers that does a lot of the behind the scences work for programs and operations called the skilled volunteers.

A skilled volunteer is an individual that donates their time and expertise to the organization. These volunteers usually help with projects that deal with operations or indirect service related to programs. These are usually the people who assist with organization fundraising, coordinate special events, web design, graphic artist, marketing projects, public relations, etc. These volunteers are so invaluable because they usually provide a service that the non profit organization could not afford to have without this professional believing enough in the mission of the organization to use their expertise to help the organization achieve its mission. They also save the staff and huge amount of time by provide a person in which tasks that are critical to programs or operations can be delegated to an individual who has the skill set to complete it; sometimes they have a better expertise than the organization's staff.

So I just want to spend a few minutes, saying thank you to some of the skilled volunteers that support SEM Link. First of all, I would like to thank Mrs. Mardell Artis and her Community Consulting Team (CCT) that spent months developing a marketing and communications plans for the Science Cafes and our Annual Career Fair and Exhibition. We are implementing that plan in the 2009-10 fiscal year and beyond. I would like to thank Mrs. Radhika Gadiyaram of Two Penny Creations of Detriot, MI who has donated her time and expertise to redesign and maintain our website. I would like to thank Ms. Wanda Clouston of Eiram Creative, who donates her time to meet our graphic design needs. I would also like to thank our newest skilled volunteer Ms. Tanya Montgomery who is donating her time and expertise to help us with public relations efforts.

I truly appreciate every volunteer that has makes time in their busy schedule to serve and help us "unveil potentional through exposure". I realize there are many non profits that you could have donated your time to and I am so honored you have chosing SEM Link.