Peggy challenges us all in her post Meme Time! How are you going to change the world in 2012? to post our goals for the coming year. For me it means continuing our project Association Volunteers! where we shine the spotlight on those people who give their time and talent to their professional associations. The project was launched in 2010 with the Association Volunteers! Facebook fan page where fans can share stories, find inspiration, and give thanks to those that have made a difference.

Our next volunteer is a little different because he is the unique position of being on both sides of the association world: as a professional for a large national association and as a volunteer for his state association. As he puts it...

Meet Chaz Miller, Director of State Programs for the National Solid Wastes Management Association, a North American trade association representing for-profit companies in the waste services industry. In his spare time, Chaz is an active volunteer with the Maryland Recycling Network (MRN), a Maryland based association of individuals and organizations whose mission is to promote and practice the 3 “Rs” of recycling. Chaz's volunteer experience as includes past positions with ASAE –The Center for Association Leadership on the CAE group and the Government Affairs group. But it's through NSWM and MRN, that Chaz, a long-time advocate of recycling, has found a way to contribute to his personal mission on both the national (NSWMA) and local levels (MRN), proving that one person can make a difference.

Here's another in our series on awesome Association Volunteers. This volunteer believes it's never too late to take that leap…

There is something in it for everyone at whatever stage of your career as long as you still have an interest in growth and increasing your knowledge.

Not every member of a professional association immediately finds that inner-volunteer. Take Jim DeArmey, Information Services Coordinator for Baltimore County Public Library. Jim is not only BCPL’s go-to guru, he is also an active volunteer with Maryland Library Association (MLA), a state member of the American Library Association (ALA). But as you’ll soon see, it took a while for Jim's inner-volunteer to really kick in.

 It’s been a while since we posted our last volunteer story, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been listening.

Say hello to Davida Breier, fulfillment specialist with Johns Hopkins University Press who volunteers for the Independent Book Publishers Association and the non-profit independent publisher No Voice Unheard, offering her expertise in publishing and marketing to help promote the missions of both organizations. Davida feels truly lucky to be in the position where her professional life and volunteer activities are directly related.

Story 1: Can’t find No Volunteers

Two weeks ago, I was in need of a few helping hands. It was an immediate need. The job was short-term: a couple of hours. It could be done in the comfort of your home or office, or with peers over pizza and beer.

I made the first “error” I did a call for volunteer email blast.

I made the second “error,” a few reaches to “safe” people I knew.

Then I went outside the box. I did a search of members within 10 miles of the office. I didn’t include ones from my main volunteer list. I send each a personal email. I gave them options. Was specific about the commitment. I even addressed concerns like “but I’m not qualified.” I told them why I needed them. I began calling. Before I got to the third call, I had 7 commitments from “new volunteers” plus 8 additional replies that while they couldn’t due to schedules, please put them on the list for future opportunities like this.

I sent the new email with a note of who was coming to my regular volunteers and pulled in two for the party and two other regular volunteers formed teams in their office.

Mission accomplished. Lesson learned.

Our next volunteer took on a monumental task when she agreed to spearhead a project launching her professional association into the future. Kathy J. Berkowitz, APRN, BC, FNP, CDE, Senior Medical Science Liaison for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., volunteers with the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) where she facilitates change in order to advance the Diabetes Educator profession, and with the Diabetes Association of Atlanta (DAA) where she helps those with Diabetes and their families.

We head into 2011 by talking with Dina Wasmer, president of Incite Creative, Inc. (a marketing and graphic design firm), who divides her time between professional and philanthropic volunteerism, lending her expertise to organizations such as Network 2000, Tuesday Girls, and The Children’s Guild. Dina sees volunteering as an opportunity for professional and personal relationship building, which in turn benefits her clients and her community.

As Peggy writes in her January 5^th post, 2010 was an exciting year for Mariner. It was also the year we really got rolling with the Association Volunteers! Facebook Fan Page, a celebration of the energy, enthusiasm, and often unrecognized work of association volunteers. My job was to listen to the stories of these volunteers.

This time, we talked with a woman who broke through stereotypical gender roles to become the president of a trade association in a predominately male industry. Jean Maisel, office manager of JDL Electric Company, Inc, is the 2010-11 president of the Independent Electrical Contractors Association-Chesapeake Chapter, a 2-year position in which she is determined to make a difference.

This time, we talked with Kelley Gillespie, special event planner and president of GEM Events who splits her time between association volunteering with International Special Events Society-Greater Washington Chapter (ISES DC) and philanthropic volunteering with the March of Dimes and her children’s school The Langley School in McLean VA. Kelley looks to volunteering as a way to connect and stay connected to her profession and her community.