Sterling Illinois Main Street

Volunteers help us to attain our goals and objectives. Main Street is always looking for volunteers, no matter how big or small the contribution. If you are able to make phone calls to remind people about meetings or check on information, there's a spot for you. If you are not able to make regular meetings, but want to be involved in Main Street, perhaps you have a few days a year to run events.

Most of the activities are at a committee level. If that's the case, you will report to your committee chair for progress, questions or suggestions. If you are volunteering on an ad-hoc committee, you will report to the chair of the committee.

Because it is satisfying to do useful work that benefits downtown and because volunteering offers many benefits and opportunities for the people who participate. People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. But it is also okay to want some benefits for yourself from volunteering. The best volunteering does involve the desire to serve others, but this does not exclude other motivations. Think of volunteering as an exchange. Today you may be the person with the ability to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort. Volunteering also includes "self-help." So if you are active in Main Street, your home or business is enhanced while you protect your neighbor's home or business, too. Adding your effort to the work of Main Street makes everyone's lives better.

While you are not able to deduct the cost of your time to Main Street, you can deduct driving and parking expense, as well as out-of-pocket costs for supplies you provide.

It is his or her role to be the traffic cop responsible for the day-to-day operation of Main Street and to make sure resources and ideas are being channeled in the right direction. He or she will offer suggestions, expertise and follow up to committee activities, as well as represent Main Street to other entities. The staff person cannot replace volunteers, and relies on committee chair and the volunteers themselves to handle the details and issues unique to each one.

Budgets for each activity are develop ahead of time, and must be followed as closely as possible. Before beginning any activity, check the budget and gather estimate for any tasks that require expenditure. Before purchasing anything, check with your committee chair or present the estimates at a committee meeting for approval. Of course, save all receipts.

YES! The national Independent Sector estimates that one hour of volunteer time is worth $17.55. Hour tracking is important because it is one of the best ways for us to gauge our success. Tracking hours can show the level of commitment in our organization and the level of investment in the health of downtown. You will be given "volunteer hour" forms to keep track of your hours. Only you know how many hours you donate.