“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” Winston Churchill

The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration, but it’s also a time for reflection as we consider the hurdles and accomplishments of the past year and acknowledge the many things we can be grateful for.
I always count among my blessings the continued commitment from the people who make U of G such a wonderful place to work and live. Indeed, there are always numerous examples every year of how our University community helped change lives and improve life.
The process of looking back is always humbling. I am continually amazed by the dedication, scope and magnitude of community initiatives such as the United Way, Meal Exchange, Project Serve and the Masai Project. Such undertakings rely totally on volunteers, and I am awed by the fact that volunteers are never in short supply.
And our volunteers never seem to tire, coming up with new and unique ways to encourage giving and to exceed my expectations. Last month, students outdid themselves — again — by collecting record amounts of food and funds through the “Skip a Meal” and Halloween “Trick or Eat” campaigns, part of the national student-run Meal Exchange program. And just last week, our students used their collective strength to pull 17,000-pound tractors and help raise $12,000 to fulfil the dreams of children living with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. And we wait with bated breath for the results of the United Way fundraising campaign.
But we also have people from outside the University who lend their time and talents to the university including Senate, the Boards of Governors and Trustees and Alumni volunteers. These people bring varied talents, expertise, backgrounds and perspectives to what is essentially a volunteer governance role. It’s easy to overlook the efforts of these dedicated volunteers, but their contributions are also important and valued.
So this year, as I am reviewing the many contributions of our University volunteers, I want to offer a special “thank you” to the external volunteers for the commitment they have shown and for their engagement in their governance roles and U of G.
I also want to add a special note here about another one of our volunteers: chancellor Lincoln Alexander, who has served for an unprecedented five terms. I was delighted to take part in a recent celebration to mark the publication of his memoir, Go to School, You’re a Little Black Boy. Lincoln continues to be a remarkable role model for us all.
The chancellor, those who serve on our governing boards and our campus community members who give so freely to volunteer initiatives are truly inspiring. They give us all something to think about as we prepare to flip the calendar to a new year.