Volunteer

Most Maine-island organizations are managed by volunteers; island communities rely on them to serve as selectmen and school board members, contribute time to the local libraries and historical societies, serve as volunteer firefighters, and more. Often, these same volunteers serve on the boards of multiple organizations, and many island communities find that their volunteer force is stretched dangerously thin.  

In a preliminary survey conducted in January 2008, Institute staff spoke with a number of Casco Bay islanders and asked them to identify potential volunteer needs. They told us about many areas in which additional short-term volunteers could make a real difference:

• Grant Writing Advice & Support
• Business Plan Development
• Brush Removal & Beach Cleaning-Ups (Arms & Legs)
• Legal advice regarding affordable housing: buy-back options, land leases, land trust models, eligibility language, etc.
• GIS mapping and data management
• Town ordinance language and planning and development
• Small business development- marketing, website development, etc.

 

Are you someone who wants to put your time and energies to use in helping sustain these special places but can’t make a long-term commitment?  The Island Institute has launched a pilot Volunteer Corps program in the Caso Bay area to match potential volunteers with island communities for short-term projects and, if feasible, work with the island communities on a virtual basis (e-mail, telephone, occasional visits to the islands for meetings).

Chris Wolff, the Institute’s Community Development Director, is working with the Casco Bay Islands to determine specific volunteer placements; at the same time, she is recruiting volunteers to serve with island communities. When you complete an application stating your skills and interests, Chris will do her best to match you up with an island community that has posted a volunteer “job” description that might be just what you’re looking for.   

Although primarily geared to retirees, there is no age limit for volunteers, and Chris hopes that some seasonal residents will want to become more engaged in their summer communities during their stay on-island.  If successful, the Island Institute will expand the Volunteer Corps program to Penobscot Bay and Downeast islands in 2009.