Nonprofits could not run without them. It is terribly important to have that sort of volunteer. Fundraising volunteers are also very very important and I have seen really good efforts in that direction the last several years. I would say almost all the United Way agencies. They are almost all very well run, make good use of volunteers, have good fund raising skills, and have vision.
Vision is terribly important, the vision of the board and of the staff.
I am more optimistic about the private sector. Well, I would want to see public sector positions filled with people who care about the larger community, who care about the smaller communities, the people they represent, and who are passionate about moving forward in this community. And the problem is not just in one area of the public sector. All kinds of public boards are so terribly politicized now that the best people do not even seek membership on those boards now. Sometimes business people do not use the same common sense on boards that they would in their business, and that constantly amazes me.