Why I Volunteer
A message from board president, Mary Roberts

When I retired from a succession of fairly stressful jobs, I thought I might relax: travel, garden, read, learn to be a potter. But within a couple years, I found myself stepping up as President of the Hoffman Board. And though I’m far less stressed than during my professional career, here I am again working hard.

Friends question my decision, but my fellow Hoffman volunteers understand. We may find satisfaction in different ways in the volunteer work we do, but for each of us, the payoff is profound.

Putting years of experience to work in our community on behalf of the arts brings excitement and joy. We take on unimagined projects that engage us intellectually, physically and socially. In addition to a sense of purpose, we find connection and friendship.

The Hoffman thrives sixteen years on because of its volunteers—the heart and soul of our organization. In 2020 (a year best seen in the rearview mirror), 116 people enabled the Hoffman to evolve and persevere during a tough, exhausting year. Most significantly, volunteers launched us into the online universe; their willingness to learn on the fly, often venturing beyond individual comfort zones, kept our community connected through visual arts, writing, music, artist talks, and horticulture.

In a real measure of success, volunteers kept art available to our community and beyond in this year of unprecedented restrictions on gathering. Volunteer contributions, big and small, keep our art center not just viable but flourishing.

Come volunteer with us. Here are a few possibilities, but volunteers often define their roles. Volunteering is fun when we get to do what makes us happy.

• Host a few hours every month in the gallery to meet art lovers and learn more about art
• Help organize writing and author-related events if you love books and writing
• Dig, plant and weed in the Hoffman Wonder Garden if you love plants and being outside
• Keep us safe and secure if you’re physical and can help caretake our building
• Help integrate and utilize our digital systems if you’re enlivened by technology
• Help advance our accounting systems if you love numbers and crossing the t’s.
Contact us at Volunteer Inquiry.

Mary Roberts

Board President