Morning all! As folks here probably know, I volunteer on a regular basis as a Meals on Wheels driver. I guess you could say it’s not strictly “voluntary” as my wife is the executive director of our senior center, and when she says ‘volunteer dear’, I say, “yes dear”. Seriously, I’d do it regardless, because it helps our seniors stay in their homes, and have a shot at decent nutrition - as well as a chance to have someone to chat with for a bit each day.

The Reagan announcement began this way:

The President today announced the creation of the President’s Volunteer Action Awards to honor outstanding volunteer achievement by individual citizens and their organizations.

If I read it correctly, the focus was on recognizing the contributions by volunteers comprised of individuals and organizations, not to mandate volunteerism.

If a school provides extra credit to students who volunteer their time, it is in keeping with the idea of recognizing and rewarding individual commitment. If a school mandates volunteerism as a requirement to advance or graduate, it is no longer an encouragement, it is a directive.

If this administration wishes to recognize the achievements of volunteers, I can get behind it. If its focus is on compelling volunteerism under the auspices of a federal agency or program, I think they’re missing the point.