Get involved

Change the world and have fun by playing Service Tag. Start by being "it" and making a service commitment to your community, then tag your friends, fans and followers through Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and other online tools. Top taggers can even win cash for their favorite nonprofits and themselves.

HandsOn Network has created the game as part of the Get HandsOn Campaign, a national call to action and multi-year effort to solve the nation's urgent challenges in education, the environment, the economy and emergency response.

Research on volunteerism indicates that a majority of Americans now prefer to volunteer in one-time service projects rather than in regular, long-term service.

This type of volunteerism is usually very social and involves activities such as park cleanups, playground construction, buffelgrass removal and painting or other types of building maintenance projects.

While nonprofit and public agencies would benefit greatly from involving volunteers in this type of service, many lack the staff and resources to plan and supervise such events.

The volunteer center plans to bridge the gap between volunteer interests and community needs through the development of a new team of service leaders for Southern Arizona.

These volunteer leaders will make a commitment to help manage a community project for a few hours each week or month, depending on their availability and the scope of the project. Training will be provided in volunteer management best practices and project planning.

Service leaders will lead teams of volunteers on national days of service such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Make a Difference Day, as well as on other days throughout the year.

For more information on how to become a service leader, go to www. volunteersoaz.org or get in the game at www. GetHandsOn.com or contact the Volunteer Center at 881-3300.

Tag - you're it!

Submitted by Linda Krause, director of community involvement, Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona