Experiencing Joy and Passion Through Volunteering

A couple of my worlds collided over a recent weekend and the result for several youth was a lesson in the joys of active relationships, volunteering and the passions that can stay with us for life.

My cousin Erin arranged for the two high school swim teams that she coaches to time for the 2019 Minnesota Masters Short Course Championship, held this year on a Saturday and Sunday at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. In exchange for this service, the host organization donates money to groups that provide the volunteers. About mid-week, it appeared that Erin’s teams wouldn’t be able to provide enough timers due to other commitments. I offered that I could maybe help through some of my swimming connections.

I contacted the coach of my son’s club swim team, the Minnesota Flyers (which happens to practice Saturday mornings at the University of St. Thomas). Coach Scott recruited the pictured seven Flyers to help out. Those youth were able to record hours toward their volunteer time requirements at their schools and Erin is splitting the funds raised with the Flyers.

As with most volunteer activities, there were several additional benefits.

Masters swimmers range in age from their mid-20s to their mid-80s. They come from all walks of life – business, health care, education and skilled trades to name a few. The volunteer youth witnessed how a lifelong passion brings people together. And because they were there of their own free will, they may have made an impression on someone who could one day be in a position to offer them a job.

The swimmers also were a source of inspiration. One of them is an 83-year-old man who swam in nine events totaling 1,000 yards. Without fail, he would climb onto a starting block before each race and crack some kind of joke (“got a calendar to keep track of my time?”) and would finish with a huge smile on his face to the encouragement and applause of everyone in the pool area. The volunteers were among the most enthusiastic in the crowd!

Among the swimmers were no fewer than five people who are or have been coaches of the youth in the volunteer group. Coach Scott was one of them and he could be heard asking his swimmers throughout the day for advice on how he should approach his races.

I talked to several of the volunteers throughout the course of the meet. They enjoyed themselves and got to know some of the other volunteers, coaches and swimmers. Whether they realize it or not, they have begun to strengthen relationships and had a front row seat to the benefits of networking. All the while getting inspired by athletes who have gone before them!