I Am A Volunteer - The AARP Life@50+ Convention

I grew up with  parents who gave much time and energy to volunteering.  My father helped organize the first Optimist club in Kent, Ohio that worked with the youth of the city, he was involved in Boy Scouts even before his own sons were old enough to participate, and he organized and supported Red Cross Blood Banks for many years in Ohio and California. 
My mother was charter member of many church organizations, chairman of events ranging from ice-cream socials to running national conventions, and served at her local voting precinct for every election into her 90's.  Being available to donate time and energy to making things happen and improving the world seemed to be in their DNA and it made up my world as a child.

Dad Installed As Optimist President, Mom looking on!

So when my friend, Cindy, asked me if I would like to join her in volunteering at the AARP convention Life@50+ since it was in Los Angeles this year, it felt natural for me to say yes!  This was an easy activity...it did not demand a long on-going commitment, just a one shot endeavor.  After submitting my request to volunteer via an online link, I began to receive communications thanking me, encouraging me, and enlightening me on what was to come.

We attended a volunteer orientation about a month ago where we were given a tour of the Los Angeles Convention Center, told how to sign in at our appointed time, how to conduct ourselves and, most importantly, where to pick up our free meal voucher after our shift!  The Orientation room was filled with hundreds of people who had volunteered, some even on a waiting list for assignments.  One person sitting at our table had driven up to LA from San Diego. For many this was NOT their first time doing this.

This past Friday was our assigned day.  We arrived with our free parking voucher and headed for the Volunteer Sign-in Room. After receiving our bright green Volunteer T-shirt, a list of the day's events, and a cup of coffee we were free to enjoy the convention until time for our shift.

Our assignment was Greeter and Counter at the front entrance to the main auditorium. Our role was to greet people "Good afternoon, have a great time!" while pressing the little counter as each person passed through our assigned door, and to try to answer any questions people might have, from "Where is the bathroom?" to "Can you help me find my friend?"  Since our doors were right next to each other, whenever there was a lull, Cindy and I would talk and compare our observations.  The one thing that was most impressive to us was how excited and friendly everyone seemed to be.  There were many women from the Red Hat Society in full regalia, "seasoned" attendees were easily spotted wearing their dozens of past convention buttons streaming across their chests or decorating their lanyards, "professional" convention marketplace people came equipped with wheeled containers to hold all their free give-away "stash" and the most coveted giveaway seemed to from the United Healthcare area where people received sunglasses surrounded with flashing red and blue lights!  Celebrities abounded...Martina Navratilova led a morning fitness class, Kareem Abdul Jabbar participated on a panel, Alex Trebik was chatting with people at a booth and Wink Martindale was stopping to pose for pictures.

When our 3 hours were up, we checked out, completed our evaluation, and received our meal voucher.
Overall assessment...A plus.  AARP really had their act together.  It was well organized by a huge contingent of AARP staff, volunteers were treated with respect and appreciation, information available to attendees was very current and apropos.  Cindy and I both felt energized. 

Would we do it again?, probably...but only if it is local!  Some volunteers were actually planning to go to New Orleans for next year's convention.

What did I learn?...that most large events have an option to volunteer.  Usually it is a fair trade...your time and energy in exchange for free admission and parking, some nourishment, an opportunity to engage with others and....a T-shirt! 

The only downside?  We never did get a pair of those flashing light sunglasses! But...after 3 hours posted at the entrance we could apply for a job at Walmart!