Location: Revolution Brewery
Date: Monday, May 20, 2013; 6:00-8:00 pm
Primary Volunteer Leaders play a critical role at Serve-a-thon,
managing a team of Volunteer Leaders at schools, parks, and agencies who in
turn oversee groups of volunteers ranging from 30 up to 250 people. Fostering teamwork, ensuring a successful
project and managing supplies are only a few of their responsibilities. So why become a Primary Leader? We asked a new
member of the Serve-a-thon leader team for his story! Ritesh Tipnis became a Chicago Cares
Volunteer Leader this past January, after clocking in more than 150 hours at
our volunteer events. This will be his
first year serving as a Primary Leader for Serve-a-thon, where he will be
managing a team of three leaders and 40 volunteers at Mary Hartwell Apartments
on Saturday, June 15.
Thus began the introduction to my
interview that was published on the Chicago Cares website. My involvement with Serve-A-Thon started when
Rich, from Chicago Cares, recommended me as a Primary Leader. What followed was me accepting, followed by
Chicago Cares not being sure if there was a site for me, to me finally getting
Mary Hartwell Apartments as a site. I
had already started recruiting for my team and with a month to go, Rich asked
me if I would interview for the Chicago Cares blog, something for which I
immediately said yes.
Ritesh, how long have you been
involved with Chicago Cares? What was your first experience as a volunteer?
I have been volunteering with Chicago Cares since September 2012. The
very first project that I attended was ‘What’s The Word’ at Lakeview Nursing
& Rehabilitation Center. I can still recall how apprehensive I was that
evening, as I first walked in, not sure if I would be up to the task. But as
the evening progressed, I realized that it was one of the most enjoyable things
I had done since moving to Chicago. I owe that to the Chicago Cares Volunteer
Leader and the residents who participate in this activity. They welcomed me in
their circle and made sure I was involved. I have served more than 150 hours
with Chicago Cares since then, but it remains one of my favorite programs and I
suspect it always will.
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| Chicago Cares Cookie |
In order to raise money for
Serve-A-Thon, Chicago Cares had organized a fund raiser at Revolution Breweries
and I had purchased a ticket for that. I
arrived there to find some familiar faces from Chicago Cares staff as well as
volunteers. I found Wendy and we chatted
about projects and she went around introducing me to other staff members as
well as her husband who was in attendance.
I also saw Pete, with whom I had done projects at Henderson Elementary
and who was also going to be a Volunteer Leader at Serve-A-Thon.
Moving from the role of a
Volunteer to a Volunteer Leader represents a change; what was the transition
like for you?
Seamless. I have been fortunate to serve alongside some outstanding
Leaders who not only make the project enjoyable for the clients, but also for
the volunteers. At the same time, they educate the volunteers about the need
and the clients. I have learned a lot by just observing and my respect for them
keeps growing. When I see someone like
Leader Wilson Chow do what he does, it not only inspires, but energizes me. I
have tried to use all of this knowledge to function as a better Leader. I have always believed that one does not have
to hold a title to be a Leader. Anyone can lead and everyone should. Leadership
is by example, and in all of my projects, I have tried to ensure that the
clients as well as my fellow volunteers have fun. It is a similar philosophy to
when you actually carry the title of a Volunteer Leader.
Amidst the food beer and
socializing, one of the main goals of the evening was communicating to everyone
present was Serve-A-Thon was all about.
It was re-emphasized to us how it is the largest single day of community
service in Chicago and thousands of volunteers come together to transform the
city and its neighborhoods. As a
Volunteer Leader, it was a huge responsibility to ensure that all activities
were being done in a timely fashion and everyone, the community being served, as
well as the corporate volunteers, were being treated with respect. As Primary Leader, these responsibilities
were even more magnified for me.
What are some of the most
challenging aspects of being a leader?
As a Leader you are representing the clients, the fellow
volunteers, and also Chicago Cares. It is a huge responsibility to ensure that
you succeed on each front.
Besides the entry fee, there were
a couple of other ways through which Chicago Cares was trying to raise money this
evening. One was through sale of cookies
shaped like the hearts of Chicago Cares and the other was by charging
people to participate in a game to guess how many gallons of paint would be
used at Serve-A-Thon this year. And while I did both, I failed miserably at one
of these.
So, do you think you will be able
to apply your Chicago Cares leadership experience to other aspects of your
life?
Why just leadership? I know that I am applying my Chicago Cares
volunteering experience in other aspects of my life. Even though it may sound
cliché, this experience has made me a better person. It has enhanced my sense
of empathy, patience, and understanding. It has enabled me to explore skills I
never knew I had. It has filled my life with wonder and truly made me believe
in miracles. But most importantly, it has shown me how precious life is, not
just your own, but others as well.
I saw Rich and thanked him for
the opportunity to not only lead, but also for selecting me as an interview
subject. He teased me for not being
punctual with my blogs, which is probably justified considering I am more than
a month and a half behind. But he also
was quick to commend me in front of everyone for being an active supporter of
Chicago Cares.
What advice or tips
would you give to someone who is considering being a Chicago Cares Volunteer
Leader?
I would start by
reminding them that just as volunteering is not an obligation; it is also not a
right. It is a privilege. No matter how many projects they may end up leading
during their time with Chicago Cares, they should never lose sight of this
fact. Our clients trust us and we owe it to them to give them and the project
our 100 percent. A Leader has to not only ensure that for themselves, but also
for the team of volunteers. The best way to do that is leading by example.
I took a cab home and chatted
with the driver, who was an immigrant - as are most cab drivers in Chicago. I asked if he had family overseas and he said
yes. I asked when was the last time he
had visited them and he couldn't even remember.
I said that it must be tough for them with him not being able to visit
and he said, “At least I am able to send
money home. That’s all that matters”. On June 15th thousands of volunteers
will be all over the city, helping make a difference. But there's still some time before that. There is still time to show the people that
someone still cares. While one day
celebration of service is a great way to promote the cause, making a difference
is a full time job. And while everyone
will be going the extra mile for someone; I will be doing so for people like
this cab driver who deserves more from life than just an acknowledgement of a paycheck.
What are you excited about for
Serve-a-thon this year?
I am excited for the project I am doing tonight; Serve-a-thon is still
weeks away! But jokes aside, Serve-a-thon is our flagship event and to be a
part of it is one of the highlights of my year. June 15 can’t come soon enough.
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