The American Society for Association Executives and The Center for Association Leadership recently published The Decision to Volunteer, research from surveys conducted with 26,305 volunteers from Canada, the United States and Mexico. Key finding were:

Association members are highly engaged and tend to be more likely to volunteer than other organizations or the public in general
Values drive volunteer choices. The most cited reason for serving was the desire to help others and to create a better society
Volunteerism carries professional benefits. Two-thirds said the look for opportunities to connect with their professional work

When considering volunteering, ask yourself these questions. They are taken from a tool called the Volunteer Functions Inventory*. If you find yourself saying yes to some or many, then volunteering at HRPA will likely be a rewarding activity for you, and a great service to HRPA and the HR profession.

I can do something for the HR profession that is important to me
I can explore my own strengths
I can learn new skills through direct, hands-on experience
I can make new contacts that might help my business or career
I feel compassion toward people in need
I feel it is important to help others
Volunteer experience will look good on my resume
Volunteering allows me to gain a new perspective on things
Volunteering brings me satisfaction and recognition
Volunteering can help me get a foot in the door at a place where I would like to work
Volunteering gives a competitive advantage to my business
Volunteering helps me deal with some of my own problems
Volunteering is an important activity to the people I respect
Volunteering make me feel needed

*From Volunteer Functions Inventory, Gil Clary, Mark Snyder and colleagues (1996, 1998, 1999)