Fewer Americans are donating their free time

[Fred Goodwin, CMA]

Fewer Americans are donating their free time

<http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/458091.html>
http://tinyurl.com/2rn4xr

Posted on Wed, Jan. 23, 2008
By DIANE STAFFORD

Americans worked a median of 52 hours last year without pay.

They're called volunteers.

Many organizations can't survive without unpaid labor, and many people
are glad to provide it.

Sadly, though, data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics show that both the number of volunteers and the volunteer
rate -- the percentage of the population that volunteers -- declined in
2007 from 2006.

Volunteering also had fallen in 2006 from 2005.

About 60.8 million Americans, age 16 and up, volunteered in 2007,
compared with a high of 65.3 million in 2005.

The proportion of that population that did unpaid work for an
organization last year was 26.2 percent, compared with 28.8 percent in
2005 (a percentage that had held steady for several years).

The numbers and the trend are disturbing. How can it be that three-
fourths of the population is so disconnected or cares so little about
any project or cause that they don't spare a few hours in a year to
help out?

[excerpted]

[M_CET]

But the President says different..........


"In communities across our land, we must trust in the good heart of
the American people and empower them to serve their neighbors in need.
Over the past seven years, more of our fellow citizens have discovered
that the pursuit of happiness leads to the path of service. Americans
have volunteered in record numbers. Charitable donations are higher
than ever. Faith-based groups are bringing hope to pockets of despair,
with newfound support from the federal government. And to help
guarantee equal treatment of faith-based organizations when they
compete for federal funds, I ask you to permanently extend Charitable
Choice. (Applause.)"
State of the Union address 2008



MCCET
PMTNPO
OWL

Post by Fred Goodwin, CMA
About 60.8 million Americans, age 16 and up, volunteered in 2007,
compared with a high of 65.3 million in 2005.
The proportion of that population that did unpaid work for an
organization last year was 26.2 percent, compared with 28.8 percent in
2005 (a percentage that had held steady for several years).
The numbers and the trend are disturbing. How can it be that three-
fourths of the population is so disconnected or cares so little about
any project or cause that they don't spare a few hours in a year to
help out?
[excerpted]
Fewer Americans are donating their free time
<http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/458091.html>http://tinyurl.com/2rn4xr
Posted on Wed, Jan. 23, 2008
By DIANE STAFFORD
Americans worked a median of 52 hours last year without pay.
They're called volunteers.
Many organizations can't survive without unpaid labor, and many people
are glad to provide it.
Sadly, though, data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics show that both the number of volunteers and the volunteer
rate -- the percentage of the population that volunteers -- declined in
2007 from 2006.
Volunteering also had fallen in 2006 from 2005.

[Steve Hansen]

Post by M_CET
But the President says different..........

We all know that politicians sometimes do not tell the truth.
Some politicians rarely tell the truth.
And some habitually lie even when the truth would do as well.

[J. Hugh Sullivan]

On Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:13:32 -0500, Steve Hansen

Post by Steve Hansen

Post by M_CET
But the President says different..........

We all know that politicians sometimes do not tell the truth.
Some politicians rarely tell the truth.
And some habitually lie even when the truth would do as well.

The last is the product of experience.

Hugh