® Northern California

CHADD improves the lives of people affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Volunteering with CHADD

Do I have to tell you that CHADD can not happen at all without the help of many volunteers? What if there had been no volunteers that first time that you called?

CHADD is what YOU make happen! Volunteer right now to write your own appeal that explains why this is so important.

"Volunteering for CHADD is important because ________________________________________ !"

Thank you! That was very persuasive. (For another person's attempt, see the Coordinator's Letter on Volunteering)

Here's a general article about the benefits of volunteering.

Critical:

• Support Group Leaders, especially in:
  • San Joaquin County
  • Fresno, Merced, Madera
  • San Jose Area
  • San Francisco (parent)

Highly Desirable:

• Provider Researcher Coordinator: to collect information on low-fee and Medi-Cal providers specializing in ADHD, and new programs that could be of interest to our members.
• Bookstore Coordinator: Collect reviews of best ADHD books, help organize them for the web page.
• Grant Writer
  • We need funds to support the Parent To Parent Program
  • If you have no expeience, we will train!
• Database: Membership
• Familiar with FileMaker Pro and Excel.
• Coordinator for Parent To Parent classes
• Organize classes
• Find facility for each class
• Order materials
• Contact interested parents
• Secretary
• Sent out mail or emails
• Take minutes at meetings
• Organize The CHADD National conference, air travel, hotel, etc.

Found the job for you? Send E-mail to coordinator@chaddnorcal.org

Remember when you first contacted CHADD? More than likely, you were at your wits end, trying to find some information, looking for some support, or just attempting to get your hands around whatever it was you were up against. You can be forgiven if -- during that crisis time -- you did not think about how you might be able to help someone else some day. You were too buried in what you needed to do right then to get control of the situation. Well, that was then. Where are you now? When you came to CHADD like that, there were folks who welcomed you and gave their best shot at helping you out. They didn't ask you when you would pay it all back. They were just there to help out.

But now I am asking if you can't take some time to give back: by helping some others. CHADD won't be here for anyone if we don't all chip in a little to keep it going. And with a lot of great energy, we can continue to make it ever better. Members have to remember how important it was for them and want to make that possible for others. Although you may have safely negotiated your own crisis, that doesn't mean that there are not others just as in need of help as you once were. You can't assume that someone else will always make CHADD available to those who need it. It comes down to you...

How Volunteering Works

Most of us who are involved with CHADD have more than an academic interest in ADHD. We are concerned for our families, and we may have ADHD ourselves. This does add stress to our lives! Well, we do understand that. We try to create volunteer tasks that you can do. For most jobs, you work as a part of a team. Jobs are small and manageable. Volunteer tasks take into account the fact that you may not be the master of a calendar, or that some days you are overwhelmed. Regardless, there are ways for you to contribute. Can CHADD expect you to contribute when you have the ongoing stress of having a family member with ADHD or even have it yourself? Well, if not us, then who? People from the "IRHTMT" (the "I Really Have Too Much Time" support organization) have not called CHADD to see how they can help. Very sad, but we do have recourse: CHADD members will make CHADD happen. We have been able to keep it going and growing this far, and despite our limitations, we can keep moving forward. You may find that it helps you to grow too. Look at our web page for volunteer opportunities: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/Volunteer.htm or send an e-mail to coordinator@chaddnorcal.org.

Home