CVN: More than just volunteering

I know I've been focusing a lot on the volunteering aspect of CVN the last few blog posts, but there's more to our group than just volunteering.  The idea behind the Community Volunteer Network is not just to be an organization that helps volunteering, but also one that helps build a real sense of community among its members.  Discussing the same topic at a college commencement the great author Kurt Vonnegut gave some sage advice to young people.

"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured."

Well, CVN is an organization of young people, and while we use volunteering to bring people together and give our events purpose, building community during those events is also one of our top priorities.  Community is not so simple though, it is by definition something that you cannot create alone, and we all must work together to create the communities that we so need.  When you're at a CVN event and you see someone new, take a moment out to say hi.  If you have time after the event stick around to go grab lunch or drinks with your fellow volunteers.  It can be hard to stick your neck out and try to connect, but the dividends in friendship and community are worth the effort.

CVN's biggest event of the year, the Community Residences Cleanup, is coming up in just a few short weeks.  Every year we get dozens of volunteers at this event, and while we have to break up to work on different houses we try and come together at the end to build some community amongst ourselves.  This year we'll be meeting up at the Westover Beer Garden afterwards.  I encourage you all to come out and help, and then stick around and get to know some great people.