How long have you been volunteering with
JFS?
I have been
volunteering with JFS since April 2011 – almost a year and a half!
How did you originally come to get
involved? Where did you hear about JFS?
I first became aware of JFS years ago when I was head of
Public Affairs for the Jewish Community Relations Council in Sacramento. I had also been volunteering
through Schools On Wheels as a tutor at a Womens Shelter run by JFS. I called
JFS to ask how I could help, and was sent to talk to Susan Belgrade at the JFS
{ Freda Mohr Multipurpose
Center. She was the one
who suggested that I run the Current Events Discussion Group. Rebecca Kraemer,
the Coordinator of Volunteer Services, then mentioned it to a staff member at
the Pico Robertson Center
and got me involved there as well.
Can you describe what you do as a
volunteer?
Mostly, I present the topics for discussion, brief the group on
the known facts, and get out of the way, only interfering to keep the
discussions moving and orderly. Group members come from a rich diversity of
backgrounds and bring a lifetime of experience to bear in formulating their
opinions.
I am fascinated by their stories as well as their sometimes
very original take on world events. Where possible, I try to bring in topics
that have larger moral and political implications. For example, a recent
discussion of one of the excised provisions of the Affordable Health Care Act
that would have reimbursed doctors for family and patient discussions about
end-of-life care (this was branded "death panels" by opponents) led
to a very heartfelt discussion about the importance of quality of life, and the
morality and need for assisted suicide.
I try to keep discussions lively, challenging and
interactive. I want group members looking forward to our meetings as much as I
do. I try to create discussions that are both intellectually and emotionally
stimulating, and will sometimes play devil's advocate in order to engage and
provoke. I try to get members interacting with one another. I think that
friendships have developed over time within the groups.
I have only three rules. (1) I am the arbiter of facts.
Opinions about the facts are free game for discussion, but facts themselves are
inarguable. I do a lot of research before each group to make sure I get my
facts straight, and am able to document good sources if challenged. When
someone in the group posits a fact, I will always challenge the source. (2) Lashon
harah (gossip) or ad hominem attacks are forbidden. That is, one may
not insult another person in the group, or a person in the news. One may
disagree with a person's actions or policies without castigating the person. I
try to keep discussions civil, even on hot topics. (3) I do not give my
personal opinions. While I am the authority on facts, I do not want to position
myself as the authoritative opinion on a subject, because that might stymie
discussion. All opinions are welcome.
What’s the best part about volunteering?
These seniors I work with are incredible people -- so
interesting and diverse. I get to benefit from their cumulative wisdom
developed over a lifetime of experience. How great is that!
Also, I'm a writer and I love to hear their life stories. I
should probably keep the discussions more strictly to the topics at hand, but
their stories are often engrossing.
