“Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much.”

Many people approach our organization looking to participate in some way, and one of the hardest things any volunteer organization can do is ensure that its members, potential members, and their families truly understand what it takes to be a volunteer, while at the same time not discouraging anyone from joining the team. Within the thousands of volunteer organizations throughout the country, that subject has been raised at some point and Pennsylvania Wilderness Search and Rescue is no different. While we’re always looking for dedicated, upstanding members of the community to join our team, we also want to paint a clear and fair picture of what’s expected of team members. Equally, we want team members to know what they can expect from the organization.

Being a volunteer for any organization takes dedication. Whether it’s working a fundraiser, walking for miles looking for a lost child, or scaling a cliff to render life-saving medical attention, people depend on the volunteer to do what they said they’d do. It’s that simple. Being a volunteer is no different than any other commitment, and it should be carefully considered. The potential member is encouraged to thoroughly consider what they’re capable of volunteering to the team, to weigh out their available time, to realistically assess their personal capabilities, and to fully understand that living up to their commitments is not just important to the team, but to the entire community that the team serves. Whether

it’s a little or a lot, all of your effort is welcome and appreciated!