A Public Service Announcement

I volunteer for my local NPR Radio Station (WBUR) when I have free time - usually in the mornings. It's actually pretty fun. They give out free books to their volunteers and feed you breakfast. Plus the Volunteer Coordinator, Jonathan Peck is a very nice guy.

When WBUR has their fundraisers, people call in to donate money and you just answer the phone and take down their information. It's very laid back and usually you have some time to just sit and read when the phones aren't ringing.

Most of the callers are pretty happy to reach you too, so it's a nice feel good situation. I love NPR and really rely on it for a lot of news and information. While I give money when I can, unfortunately it isn't much. But I do feel that I can be more generous with my time. If you've ever considered volunteering, now would be a good time.

I'm on the volunteer list and recently received another email from Jonathan. He is desperate for volunteers. Below is the email with some minor edits.

"Good Afternoon,
Even with a solid (and refreshing!) response to my last email, the heat index at my desk is still very high. I'm in a tough spot for the following shifts in particular:

1) Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 10:15 am - 1:00 pm - 5 spots to fill
2) Monday, June 16, 2008: 6:45 am - 9:00 am - 7 spots to fill
3) Tuesday, June 17, 2008: 6:45 am - 9:00 am - 4 spots to fill

Please recruit your friends, family members or coworkers to come to the station and join WBUR's Volunteer Community. As always, we're happy to use the strength of our airwaves to help promote your group or business on the air (please see bottom for details). Sign up online now at www.wbur.org/support/volunteer or simply reply to this email.

While I hate to have to resort to flat out bribery, I feel I have no choice. All volunteers for Saturday and Monday's shift will receive a very special gift (a lovely WBUR Classic Mug, which, by the way, is widely regarded around the station as the best WBUR mug we've ever issued).

Of course we'll also have a plethora of free books (some of which have received considerable coverage on public radio and elsewhere), free food and free parking.

Of course we also need help during other shifts as well. Here is the complete list:

Saturday, June 14, 2008: 7:30 am - 10:30 am - 2 spots to fill
**Saturday, June 14, 2008: 10:15 am - 1:00 pm - 5 spots to fill
**Monday, June 16, 2008: 6:45 am - 9:00 am - 7 spots to fill
*Tuesday, June 17, 2008: 6:45 am - 9:00 am - 4 spots to fill
Wednesday, June 18, 2008: 6:30 am - 9:00 am - 10 spots to fill
Thursday, June 19, 2008: 6:30 am - 9:00 am - 10 spots to fill
Thursday, June 19, 2008: 3:45 pm - 7:00 pm - 3 spots to fill
***Friday, June 20, 2008: 6:30 am - 9:00 am - 14 spots to fill
Friday, June 20, 2008: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - 12 spots to fill

I'm sorry to resort to bribery because I understand that a mug isn't the reason that so many of you generously donate your time to WBUR. Thank you all for all your support and please accept my sincere apology for the inundation of emails.

This is our last fundraiser until late September and I can't thank you all enough for all the incredible help and support you always provide. It means a lot to me personally, but more importantly, your support makes public radio possible. Without the strong support of the volunteer community, WBUR would be unable to provide the strong news coverage that we all rely on.

Sincerely,
Jonathan Peck
Volunteer Coordinator
WBUR
Direct Line: 617-353-8155

If you sign up for a shift on behalf of your group or organization, we'll thank you on the air and on our website as well.

WBUR Community of Volunteer Groups and Businesses Details:

-Please note that we are in the habit of providing more than the minimum number of on-air thank you messages listed below. We are also in the habit of making exceptions to the below options (i.e. if you're only able to come in for one or two shifts, we'll find a way to thank you on the air, however, the more shifts you cover, and the more people you're able to bring in, the more on air thanks we'll be able to provide).

Option A: Bring in a group of 3 volunteers (or sign up for multiple individual shifts) and have your company name mentioned on the air live during the fundraiser and on our Community of Volunteer Groups and Businesses page now featured on the wbur.org homepage.

Option B: Sign up with a group of 6 volunteers (or sign up for six individual shifts), have your company or group featured on our Community of Volunteer Groups and Businesses page on the wbur.org homepage, in addition to having your company name mentioned on the air live at least twice during the fundraiser. Spots for this option, and all shifts, are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.

*Please note that we are usually able to provide more on-air thank you mentions than the minimum mentioned above. We make every effort to show our Community of Volunteer Groups and Businesses how much we appreciate your support."

I figured that all you bloggers out there are a very supportive community who like free stuff and especially food. So if any of you are in the Boston area, you might consider volunteering for one of the shifts listed above. Sign up by clicking here.

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