Letter from the President - August 2015
SUMMER TIME!
Summer has really kicked into high gear in the Northern Hemisphere. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, I hope the winter has not been too rough.
Along with summer comes the grand American tradition: the road trip. It is difficult to truly appreciate the sheer size of the United States or Canada until you are “forced” to drive across large portions of it. From an airplane and 35,000 feet up, it looks like cars along the roads are barely moving. And when you are driving that car on a long road trip, it can seem like that is true.
When you take the time to stop and see the sights along the way (even though that adds time to the trip) that is where you gain a true appreciation for the country through which you are traveling. It may sound silly to stop and see that huge ball of twine or a palace made of corn, but life is not just about work. Stop at those scenic overlooks or drive 20 miles out of your way to see something you might never see again.
How does this relate to AUGI?
AUGI is nowhere near as large as the US or Canada, but it is an organization of hundreds of thousands of people that use the same applications you use, have issues similar to yours, and need advice and help at times—just like you.
AUGI could not exist without the support provided by volunteers. There are so many ways in which you add diversity and experience to AUGI through volunteering. Just as a road trip across a vast continent exposes you to a multitude of things you might never have seen, the more you “explore” AUGI by volunteering your time and experience, you will gain so much more than you might think.
Some of my best memories of AUGI are related to the times I was volunteering in one area or another. Sure, there was effort. After all, there is no first class seating in a car driving across the country. But I learned things, I showed others how to deal with their issues, and I developed friendships that last to this day.
I encourage you to try and take a “vacation” from your day-to-day work and see what you can do for AUGI that brings you some satisfaction. Contact Donnia, our Volunteer Manager, at volunteering@augi.com for ways in which you can help.
