Member: Volunteer Engagement Taskforce

I have been in this industry for over 27 years. It feels like yesterday that I began my first day at work at a moving company in Johannesburg, South Africa. Like most 20-somethings, I was “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed” for the challenges and new opportunities. I can honestly say after my first day I was hooked. I had never heard of the countries, cities, or towns that our customers were moving to. But with my trusted “Atlas World Map Book” (no internet or search engines in those days) and my blue HHGFAA (now IAM) directory (a printed book), and most of all the guidance of my International Director, I found partners who answered any questions that I had. I would almost say these people who helped and guided were the early volunteers in my career.

I volunteered last year to assist IAM with the newly created Volunteer Engagement Taskforce. The Taskforce was chaired by Catherina Stier and its objective was to review and enhance the volunteer experience at IAM, which included aspects of recruitment, onboarding, volunteer policies and procedures, and maximizing engagement during services. We kicked off our first meeting on July 12, 2022 and our last meeting was on May 10, 2023. The meetings were never longer than one hour.

What an incredible experience! I met new people who have been in the industry for years, but I’d never had the opportunity to meet them before volunteering. I personally gained a better insight of how IAM is committed to strengthening the Association’s governance function to enhance the satisfaction, efficiency, and effectiveness of its volunteer leaders. I witnessed and learned how individuals from different parts of world view, understand and interpret ideas differently. I often noted that suggestions from Taskforce members led to discussions and recommendations that will positively impact the experience of future volunteers.

This experience has taught me that just as we ship to all corners of the world, we too are different and unique in our views, experiences, and interpretations. I learned that you are never too experienced or inexperienced to make a difference. You never stop learning, and small changes can have a huge impact.

By volunteering, we can give back to an industry that has shaped many of us. As Winston Churchill said, “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give”.

Should you want to become a volunteer, one must understand that you must be committed to your volunteer term, be able to invest your personal time, be willing to participate, represent all members from all countries in good faith, have no self-interest, and discharge your responsibilities diligently rather than delegate them to other volunteers.

Volunteering is an act done for the benefit of others but that is not to say you can’t take away a lesson or two along the way. Keep an eye out for volunteer programs—IAM and our industry need your pearls of wisdom and experience.