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Over the past half a century of living in the US, my wife and I have participated invarious forms of volunteer work in

my profession and the community in which welive. Recently, the Chinese Americans in Lexington MA begin to participate in local nonpartisan political and community work.

We had a number of residents volunteering and becoming elected to town offices http://blog.sciencenet.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=1565&do=blog&id=667446 

as well as taking part in community projectsuch as the major 300th town birthday celebration events of the town

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjmanews/22009440/article-%E5%8B%92%E9%8E%AE%E6%85%B6300%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4-%E8%88%9E%E5%8B%95%E5%85%A8%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C?instance=bo21

. Thus, we are becoming main-stream.

Here I justwant to relate our experience with volunteer work.  In three short sentences:

Volunteer work is like a bank savings account. You always get more out of

it than you putin. But you cannot get something out if you never put

anything in.

In more detail, let me count theways:

1.      You get to meet many interesting people that under ordinary circumstance

you will not meet. Some of them willbecome your lifelong friends.

2.      You are exposed to things outside of your work, family, and daily life. You never know

when such knowledge comeshandy.

3.      You learn people skill, working on a team, and leading by persuasion.  

These are important for your job and getting along with others.

4.      You get to learn and practice your public speaking.

5.      You get psychic reward for doing good.

6.      Set a good example for your children who undoubtedly will live their entire life in the US.

The earlier they go main-stream, they better and easier their lives will be.

Chinese culture tends to be family oriented and somewhat deficient in "social

responsibility". Thus, volunteering for community and social work do not come naturally. It is important for those of us who are making the US our home to be aware of this.  

Notes added 1/14/2016: a recent study at the Harvard Chan School of Public Healths showed that vonteering actually makes better health for seniors http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/can-volunteering-lead-to-better-health/?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Harvard%20Chan%20School%20Update%20January%202016%20--%20Friends%20(1)&utm_content=   

Note added 4/26/2018. Another advantage of volunteering work that occurred to me is

7. Mistakes and failures in volunteer work is no where as costly as the same in your career. Thus, volunteer work is a good testing ground for trying out new ideas.