It is the time of year that inboxes are flooded with notifications from the kids’ schools, early holiday shopping and reminders to get your house ready for winter. The lazy days of summer are behind us, and it seems like the business of life has ramped back up. In this renewed hustle and bustle, it could be easy to miss the annual NSGC call for volunteers, but slowing down and reading through that email is worth the time, not only for yourself, but also for our organization. 

Volunteering has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. There was Girl Scouts, community clean-up, food bank sorting and packing, and hosting fundraising events. It felt good to build something with other people, while still laughing and learning together. As we get older, responsibilities can take over more of our day to day, making it hard to find the time to volunteer. However, NSGC has many volunteer opportunities to connect and have an impact on our organization. 

My first experience started simply enough: The Cancer Special Interest Group (SIG)needed someone to submit a speaker for the upcoming annual conference. No one else volunteered and I thought, “Sure, I can help.” I had no idea what I was doing. The work was a stretch for me as a young professional. I needed to reach out to a highly regarded researcher with a lecture concept and an application to complete. I was forced out of my comfort zone, but in a very low risk environment. Failure wouldn’t impact my job or my family. Success meant I would learn something new and could have pride in what was accomplished. Turns out the stretch was a success. The researcher was a pleasure to work with, the session well attended, and I learned a new skill that helped me to feel comfortable submitting future session ideas. 

Over the years I continued to volunteer with NSGC. Some years, I had lots of time and space to give. In others, personal or work commitments limited my time. I have held both Chair and membership roles on Committees, SIGs and Working Groups. Each experience deepened my understanding of our organization, including strategic planning, committee charges, and balancing the diverse needs of our membership. These roles made me proud to be a member of a professional group with so many talented and committed individuals. 

No matter what the volunteer experience, it was always an opportunity for personal growth. I saw different leadership styles and tried some of them on for myself. I was asked to do things that I had never done before. Some which I loved and some I never wanted to do again, but all were within a safe space. My fellow volunteers and I worked together and learned from each other as we accomplished (and sometimes didn’t accomplish) our goals.

Additionally, I have met so many amazing genetic counselors through volunteering. I have been impressed by genetics counselors with decades of experience and equally in awe of new members of our profession who have so much to bring to the table. Committee work brings people together from across backgrounds, work environments, and time zones. Our diverse volunteer base helps to ensure that we represent the needs of our professional organization. 

While I have appreciated all my volunteer opportunities within NSGC, some of my favorite interactions have been as a member of the Nominating Committees and Working Groups. First, you get to see the passion and commitment in the applicants. They bring their experiences (both personal and professional) and their desire to have an impact into the application process. It is so motivating to see our fellow colleagues willing to give time to make a difference in NSGC and the community that our organization serves. Second, you get to be a part of a process that is fair, transparent and complete. Conflicts of interest are disclosed and motivations are aligned to the success of NSGC. There is productive discourse as the committee members work to align passion and experience into a leadership team that can continue to bring NSGC into the future. These volunteer experiences continued to motivate me to give back to NSGC, while seeing in the applications how NSGC volunteering experiences had a positive impact on the careers of many individuals.

I leave you now with a call to action. When you receive the “Call for Volunteers” email, take the time to read it and explore the volunteer opportunities. The opportunities are vast in the work you will do, time commitment that you will make and the skills that you will need or could learn. Look at these opportunities critically and through the lens not only what you can give to NSGC, but what you can get. Then fill out the application and submit your name for something that interests you (even if it is a little scary). I promise that you will learn something, make new contacts and come back for more in future years. 

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