Volunteering Experience - David Baker

David Baker

Mr. Hussey

U.S. History

April 27, 2016

Volunteer Experience

As a student volunteer of the Committee of 70 my group and I walked around the Roxborough area assisting the elderly with the voting process as well as answering questions they did not understand.  Although the process was not fun, I thought it was interesting. My group was assigned ward 21. The four locations we visited were; Cook Wissahickon School, Andorra Branch Library, Houston Recreation Center, and Saul High School. The process was nothing like I expected, I thought that there would be lines of people at each location and that they would know what the questions ment. I was lucky to see maybe four people at each location and I had to read the background information for most of the questions I asked. I did not see anyone less than forty years old. Walker made it sound like were were going to be doing an amazing thing and help the community and meet new people. I am sure the data we gathered was important, but out of the dozen people I asked about five of them said they had time to answer my questions. All the people were trying to do is vote but people would keep giving them flyers trying to sway them to vote for whoever they wanted to win. When they exit the building they are bombarded with questions from other people and when they get to me they are tired of asking questions and they walk away or answer the question without any thought. I know the importance of voting, but it seems like it is more work then it is worth to cast your vote and I think this is why young people do not vote. One question I have is why can't we vote online? It would be more convenient easier to do, and you don't have to go anywhere.  But at the end of the day it was not a bad experience I walked away with a ton of flyers, committee of 70 lanyard, and a sweet Sean Stevens pen.

(Pink election Ballot)

(Andorra Branch Library signs)

(Sweet Sean Stevens Pen)