Micro-volunteering A New Look at Volunteering
By Andrea Hoover, Component and Membership
Coordinator, and Michelle Rozman, Member
Services Coordinator
Volunteers make the organized dentistry
engine run. At the PDA level, volunteers
give their time and talents by serving on
the Board of Trustees or committees and
advisory groups that focus on specific
facets of the organization.
n Dental Benefits Advisory Group Traditional avenues for volunteering might
not be a good fit for those who are looking
to get involved, but want more flexible
opportunities. According to a recent survey
of new dentist members, over 65 percent
of survey participants are interested in a
micro-volunteering opportunity. Micro-
volunteering opportunities have minimal
time commitment or a short-term
obligation. These types of volunteer
opportunities are a great alternative for
members who have limited spare time,
but who still wish to be involved. Examples
of micro-volunteer opportunities include:
n Communications and Public Relations n Attending a PDA student event – each
A few of PDA’s traditional volunteer
opportunities are:
n Membership Committee
n Government Relations Committee
n Access to Oral Health Advisory Group
Advisory Group
These volunteer opportunities are often
a one-year commitment during which
members participate in conference calls,
in-person meetings and online discussions
to accomplish the group’s goals.
year, PDA hosts programs for dental
students at the University of
Pennsylvania, Temple University,
University of Pittsburgh and Lake Erie
College of Osteopathic Medicine. Many
of PDA’s student events are held in the
evening on a weeknight, allowing
members flexibility with their schedule.
Student events offer a way to make an
impact on the future of the profession,
without requiring a major time
commitment. Visit padental.org/calendar
to check for upcoming student events
near you.
n Participating in charitable events like
Give Kids a Smile and MOM-n-PA – these
types of events are a great way for
organized dentistry to give back to the
community and for members to
participate in a short-term volunteer
effort. Many of these charitable
programs are in need of volunteers, even
for just a few hours. Visit mom-n-pa.com
for details about volunteering at the
2019 mission, scheduled for June 7-8 in
Wilkes-Barre.