Local Voluntarism in New Hampshire: Who, Why, and at What Benefit

Abstract

One of President Reagan's continuing platforms is to encourage citizens and private corporations to volunteer their services in local government, thus helping to reduce our national deficit. Voluntarism has played, and will continue to play, a major role in helping run small New England communities. This report focuses on a study of voluntarism in an eight-town area in New Hampshire, conducted during late 1978 and early 1979.Our survey indicated that the typical volunteer was male, 51 years old, married, owned a single family home, lived in his current town for about fifteen years, and served on an average of three committees during his tenure in the community. Respondents volunteered their services for two primary reasons; to enhance their local prestige, or to serve the community. The former group indicated that the following reasons motivated them: (1) setting an example for others; (2) receiving the monetary compensation; (3) making new acquaintances; and (4) increasing business profits. The latter group indicated the following motivating factors: (1) they had a professional skill to contribute to the town; (2) they were dissatisfied with the way things were currently run; (3) they felt the community needed new ideas; and finally, (4) they felt the community needed better services. Despite significant differences between these groups, a savings to the eight-town area of almost $50,000 was realized through the volunteer efforts of these people.