Guest Post: Volunteering In Your Community

Guest post by Byron Kamp, AARP Tennessee Executive Council Member

I retired on July 25th, 2012. I ended a career of working in Higher Education at seven University Campuses over a span of forty-two years. It was a truly wonderful, exciting and personally rewarding career…except for how it ended. Unfortunately, I was forced out of my position as the Executive Director of the Associated Students and Student Union Operations so someone half my age could take my job.

Thus, there I was in a forced retirement situation wondering what the heck I was going to do. Should I keep on trying to get a job, fully knowing that age bias/discrimination would work against me. Or just maybe become a volunteer.

I just knew deep inside of me I still had something to offer. I was discovering the critical importance of having a purpose within my life. Without purpose one just exists, which was not what I wanted to do. Therefore, I began my journey to find my purpose in retirement.

Since that time, I have been extremely fortunate to find volunteer positions I have both enjoyed and have found purpose in serving others. In retirement, the first position was serving as a District Congressional Lead for AARP in California. When we moved to Tennessee in July 2014 I continued as an AARP Volunteer serving in several interesting positions. I have also served on the DWLP Finance Committee Insurance Subcommittee and currently serve on the DWLP Strategic Planning Subcommittee and on the Civics Club Board of Directors.

So, I guess you may be asking yourself what's in it for Byron. Well here it goes: purpose; service to others; making some great friends; listening to stimulating conversation; opportunity to listen to other points of view; opportunity to meet public figures and having the joy to be a part of something so much bigger than me.

I strongly encourage you, who may be new to retirement, sitting in the house waiting for lightning to strike, to do a self-assessment to determine your passion and purpose. Once you got it, then act upon it. You will be a much happier and a more fulfilled person. I guarantee it!