Part of President Obama’s Inaugural Address echoed sentiments that I have felt regarding the goal of Wilderness Volunteers – Giving Something Back:
“Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done…. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character than giving our all to a difficult task.”
The President was speaking more broadly about the many difficult challenges facing America. But the work we do as volunteers is surely a part of meeting these challenges. Giving Something Back truly is “satisfying to the spirit.” Each WV trip is an opportunity to do our share of the work that needs to be done.
We can be proud of the accomplishments made by our volunteer service over the ten-year history of WV. The projects planned in our 2009 schedule continue to uphold this tradition. I hope you’ll share the WV volunteer opportunities with friends, neighbors and co-workers. Let them know that we provide an enjoyable, affordable way to be a part of the renewed spirit of “remaking America.”
