The Value of a Volunteer

On Tuesday the Buffalo Bill Center of the West held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. As I was listening to the Irish jig and choking on the smell of cabbage (it was a St. Patrick’s Day theme this year) I started to think about my volunteers—something I actually do a lot of.

I have amazing volunteers! I realize that most people who work with volunteers will say that, but it truly comes from the heart when I say it. Our program could not exist without volunteers. While it’s true that there are some things that only I can do—like  file all the government paperwork and, um, well, that’s all I can think of at the moment (uh oh)—these folks keep the whole program running and make it look easy while they do it.

So . . . what exactly do the Greater Yellowstone Raptor Experience Volunteers do? Well . . .

Present Educational Programs to the Public

Clean the mews

Restrain birds for their much hated beak and talon trimming sessions

Prepare meals for the birds

Stand in the hot sun for long periods of time to answer every question a 5-year-old boy has about owls

Exercise the birds

Keep me from going insane—or was that make me go insane 😉

If you need numbers to feel good about the value of our volunteers, we can provide that:

In 2013, Greater Yellowstone Raptor Experience volunteers logged 1,889.75 hours. If we could pay them the standard rate of $10 per hour, they would have earned nearly $19,000!

But if you ask me, they are priceless!

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!!!!!