问答题 There is virtually no limit to how one can serve community interests, from spending a few hours a week with some charitable organizations to practically fulltime work for a social agency. Just as there are opportunities for voluntary service overseas (VSO) for young people before they take up fulltime employment, so there are opportunities for overseas service for qualified technicians in developing countries. Some people, particularly those who retire early, offer their technical and business skills in countries where there is a special need.
So in considering voluntary or paid community service there are more opportunities than there ever were when one first began work. Most voluntary organizations have only a small fulltime staff, and depend very much on volunteers and part-timers. This means that working relationships are different from those in commercial organizations, and values may be different. In some ways they may seem more casual and less efficient, but one should not judge them by commercial criteria. The people who work with them do so for different reasons and with different objectives, both personal and organizational One should not join them expecting to arm them with professional expertise; they must be joined with commitment to the cause, not business efficiency. Because salaries are small or non-existent many voluntary bodies offer modest expenses. But many retired people take part in community service for free, simply because they enjoy the work.
Many community activities possible in retirement were also possible during one"s working life but they are to be undertaken no less seriously for that. Retired people who are just looking for something different or unusual to do should not consider taking community service.