Reminiscing: A Decade Of VolunTours™
Just wrapping up Volume 6 Issue 2 of The VolunTourist Newsletter and I happened to glance at the calendar: Could it be that VolunTours™ is celebrating its 10th Anniversary?
Indeed. Ten years ago Brian Hawkins and I were holding back our respective tears as the word ‘voluntours’ mingled in the air between us and lingered on our tympanums. The bliss that engulfed me was nothing short of singular, so much so that I can easily recall it today. I had read and heard stories prior to that moment of what it means to have an epiphany, soon thereafter I felt like I had substantially keener insight into the meaning of the word.
The following weeks were likely the most generative and creative of my life. Our mantra became “Exploration with Inspiration.” The terms of our trade were: VolunTours™, VolunTourism(sm), and VolunTourist(sm). It was not uncommon to be standing in front of a white board at 3am on a Friday night/Saturday morning visioneering what VolunTours™ would someday become. However, as weeks became months and months started turning into a year or two, it was evident that we had created something that was far ahead of its time, perhaps too far. Sure, we (Parker Pike, Brian Hawkins, and I) had worked with a couple of corporate clients and had a robust business plan, but it didn’t take long to realize that if VolunTours™ was ever to amount to anything, anything at all, we had to focus our attention on education and building awareness.
A strange thing happened during this process, I became enamored with the education side of VolunTours™ – participating in these experiences, coordinating and leading groups, reviewing academic research – all of this led to the creation of VolunTourism.org in 2003. And this, as most of you know, has been my focus ever since.
So what can be said about VolunTours™? Was it merely a catalyst? Well, for some, ‘voluntours’ has become the descriptor of the journeys they offer to ‘voluntourists.’ There is Voluntours South Africa, for example. Via International, a contributor to my work over the years, offers VolunTours™, as I have granted the organization the right to use the trademark. Planeterra offers voluntours. And on and on. This would suggest that the term has entered the practical application phase, at least on some level.
For me, VolunTours™ has become a place holder, a bookmark if you will. It has assisted me in keeping my place as I navigate uncharted territory, as VolunTourism convenes thought streams from political science, nonprofit management, marketing & communications, economic development, geography, social science, psychology, and, of course, travel & tourism. It has also served as an inspiration during my exploration of the integration of voluntary service and travel. And for this, I am truly grateful.
VolunTours™ has also been a companion, a ‘friend’ if you will. (‘We’ have certainly had our late night conversations over the years.) It has been a smile of recognition on countless faces to whom I have uttered the word. It has become a nod of understanding by those who grasp, almost instantaneously, its meaning. It has become a conversation starter as well as a catalyst for ‘heating up’ conversations. It has entered the vernacular and may one day find its place in a dictionary or two. It serves a growing contingent of young people, in particular, and those of all ages who seek to add meaning to their travel experiences. It is finding its way into the halls of learning and is serving as a focus for conducting academic research and fulfilling degrees via dissertations and theses.
Whether or not VolunTours™ ever becomes the business venture that three cause marketing professionals envisioned many moons ago seems irrelevant at this juncture. It has accomplished so much already as the root source behind VolunTourism and VolunTourist. One day, I may return to it. One day it may serve an even greater purpose. For now, suffice it to say, I am content that it has fulfilled its original purpose. It has given us an opportunity to embrace two seemingly disparate approaches – voluntary service and travel & tourism – and has inextricably linked them, for better or for worse, depending on your perspective. Biased though I may be, I hope that in another ten years we can look back on the contribution that VolunTours™ has made and collectively agree that it has been ‘for better.’
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