• Originally published July 30, 2008 at 6:15 p.m., updated July 30, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.

Volunteerism is something volunteers understand more than anybody else. Most of us who have never volunteered for anything wonder why these people who have are smiling all the time.

Try volunteering sometime, and you’ll know the answer.

First, a good litmus test of a tight community is its volunteerism rate. Nearby Houston has an annual volunteerism rate of 26.9 percent. The lowest in the nation is Miami, Fla. with a 14.5-percent rate, and the highest volunteerism rate at 39.3 percent was in Minneapolis. Minn.

How does Victoria compare? Well, it wouldn’t be fair to compare Victoria to such big cities, but Victoria does have a commendable rate compared to Texas’ overall rate of 27.1 percent.

“Between 2004 and 2007, Victoria had an average volunteer rate of 28.2%. Victoria residents also volunteered an average of 24.3 service hours annually per resident,” according to VolunteeringinAmerica.gov at http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/city_additional.cfm?cityId=153.

Nationwide, the Corporation for National and Community Service reported that volunteerism was down across the country. Between 2005 and 2007, the nation had an average volunteer rate of 27.2% per year.

“I see volunteers remaining pretty steady in Victoria,” said Randy Vivian, president of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce.

Vivan noted that the chamber has a foundation of individuals who want the community to do well, and this means volunteerism in non-profits, like the Habitat for Humanity, The Victoria Food Bank and numerous others.

But Vivian warned that volunteerism is something that has to be pushed and promoted. He said the newer generation is concerned about family and jobs but seems to lack the energy for volunteerism.

“We need to work better to engage the community, to teach it how important volunteerism is.”

Vivian said volunteerism has many rewards including self-satisfaction. Other rewards are a better community and a savings of money.

“Things you do to better your community also betters yourself,” he said.

We think Vivian couldn’t have said it better. Volunteerism is a must, and Victoria ranks pretty high for it, but there is always room for improvement. Please volunteer whenever you can; you won’t regret it.

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