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3/1/90 <br /> • MINNESOTA OFFICE ON VOLUNTEER SERVICES <br /> Department of Administration <br /> FACTS SHEET ON VOLUNTEERISM <br /> For Articles And Speeches <br /> Background Information <br /> Minnesota has a strong tradition of citizen involvement and <br /> volunteerism. This involvement has taken many forms - from <br /> spontaneous response to identified needs, to organizing around <br /> specific causes, to developing and maintaining agencies and <br /> organizations. To a large extent,. action has been <br /> expected and perhaps taken for granted. As a result, there is very <br /> d <br /> little data which chronicles the development of volunteerism in <br /> Minnesota. This is true at the national and local levels, as well <br /> as at the state level . Nationally, only one book has recorded the <br /> history of volunteerism, By The People: A History of Volunteerism <br /> in America by Susan Ellis and Kathrine Noyes. <br /> Volunteerism began in Minnesota, as elsewhere, in response to <br /> mutual-help and self-help needs. Settlers helped one another to <br /> • clear land, build roads and raise barns. Neighbors banded together <br /> to develop schools, establish libraries, and build hospitals. <br /> Organizations were formed to respond to community needs, such as <br /> orphaned children, isolated elderly, the mentally ill, battered <br /> women, fire protection, health epidemics and young women needing <br /> shelter and protection when they came from farms to the cities to <br /> work. Later, individuals banded together to seek social justice <br /> to insure protection or promote specific groups through fraternal <br /> associations, farm grange groups, labor unions and professional <br /> associations. <br /> Volunteers have traditionally been innovators, risk-takers and <br /> entrepreneurs. They have provided direct services to the sick, <br /> hungry, maimed and isolated. They have advocated for a wide <br /> variety of causes and changed the face of this country through such <br /> movements as abolition of slavery, civil rights, ecology, peace and <br /> women' s rights. They have governed non-profit organizations and <br /> helped to set policy for units of government. They have provided <br /> a range of administrative services - from leading other volunteers, <br /> to public relations, to training and fund_raising. Volunteers have <br /> given money and .material goods, as well as their time. <br /> Today the volunteer community continues this wonderful tradition. <br /> The current health and vitality of the volunteer community is <br /> reflected in the following statistics and quotations. <br /> 1 <br />