Volunteer Week at AAMFT: Service, Leadership, and the Ripple Effect of Getting Involved

Volunteer Week is a chance to recognize the people whose service strengthens AAMFT, reflect on the impact of volunteer leadership, and invite more members into meaningful involvement. At AAMFT, volunteerism is one of the ways the Association stays responsive, member-driven, and future-focused, where volunteers bring perspective, expertise, time, and care to the work. They help shape conversations, strengthen programs, support engagement, and advance important initiatives. Some serve in highly visible roles. Others contribute behind the scenes. Every contribution helps strengthen the Association and the profession. Volunteer Week is an ideal time to thank those who already serve and to highlight why volunteerism remains one of the strongest ways members can help shape the future of AAMFT. 

Volunteerism at AAMFT: More Than Giving Time 

When people hear the word “volunteer,” they often think first about helping with a task or stepping in where support is needed. That is part of it, but volunteerism at AAMFT carries a broader impact. Volunteers do more than fill roles. They strengthen the Association through support of learning opportunities, engagement efforts, strategic discussions, and community-building, which help surface member needs, identify gaps, and bring fresh thinking into the work.  

That role matters because AAMFT is a member-driven Association, and the profession continues to evolve. Member expectations continue to shift. Leadership needs continue to expand. No association stays strong by relying only on routine or tradition. It stays strong by remaining connected to the lived experience, insight, and questions of the people it serves. Volunteers help make that connection possible. 

Volunteerism also creates a bridge between membership and leadership. It gives members a way to move from being connected to actively shaping the work of the Association, and it creates space for people not only to belong to AAMFT but to help build it. 

There is a difference between being part of an organization and helping shape its future. Volunteers test ideas, raise questions, strengthen decision-making, and help ensure that key work is not done in isolation from the members and communities it is meant to serve. In that sense, volunteerism is not only service but also leadership in practice.  

The Ripple Effect of Volunteering 

One of the most important things about volunteer service is that its impact rarely ends with the individual act itself. Volunteerism creates ripple effects. A member says yes to serving on a committee. That contribution helps improve a process, sharpen a recommendation, or strengthen a discussion. Another member participates in a panel, workgroup, or initiative. That involvement helps someone else feel welcomed, represented, or inspired to take part. A volunteer raises a thoughtful question. That question shifts a conversation and leads to a better outcome for a wider group. That is the ripple effect of service. One decision to engage can reach much farther than the original moment.  

In a professional association, that ripple effect matters even more. Volunteer contributions do not stay limited to one meeting, one event, or one project. They influence systems, member experiences, leadership pathways, and organizational culture. Volunteerism also strengthens the volunteer. Members who serve gain a broader perspective, stronger relationships, deeper confidence, and more experience in governance, communication, collaboration, and strategic thinking. They often develop a stronger sense of connection to the Association and to colleagues across the profession. 

That is one of the most powerful truths about volunteerism: the impact moves in more than one direction. The Association grows stronger because volunteers step forward. Volunteers grow stronger because they do. 

Why Volunteer Engagement Matters Right Now 

Volunteer engagement always matters, but there are moments when it matters with particular urgency. This is one of them. 

Professional associations continue to navigate changing expectations, new challenges, and evolving ideas about leadership, relevance, and community. Members want meaningful opportunities for engagement with leadership spaces that reflect the field, respond to current realities, and remain focused on the future. That is where volunteer engagement becomes essential. 

Volunteers help AAMFT stay close to the profession it serves by bringing frontline knowledge into strategic discussions, helping identify emerging needs and opportunities and ensuring that important conversations include voices from different career stages, lived experiences, diverse backgrounds, and professional settings. Volunteerism also plays an important role in strengthening the leadership pipeline. Future leaders do not appear by accident. They develop through opportunities to participate, contribute, and grow. Volunteer roles often serve as one of the first and most meaningful entry points into that process.  

Through service, members gain exposure to the Association’s work, build confidence in their contributions, and deepen their capacity to lead. They build habits that strengthen not only their service to AAMFT but also their leadership across the profession more broadly by learning how decisions take shape and by practicing bringing perspective into group settings. Today’s volunteer may become tomorrow’s chair, Board member, mentor, ambassador, or trusted thought partner. 

Volunteer Stories: Leadership in Action 

The value of volunteerism becomes even clearer when we look at the people behind it. Consider the example of an AAMFT volunteer who first became involved because they wanted to give back to the profession. At the beginning, service may have looked like a practical way to support one committee, one initiative, or one area of need. Over time, that service became a leadership journey.  

Through volunteer involvement, that individual built relationships with peers and leaders across the Association. They sharpened skills in communication, collaboration, and discernment. They developed a stronger understanding of how governance, strategy, and member engagement connect. They brought lived experience and professional insight into spaces where those perspectives improved the work. That story reflects the experience of many AAMFT volunteers.  

People often begin by wanting to contribute in one practical way. What they find is that volunteer service offers much more. It offers a chance to connect, learn, lead, and contribute to something larger than an individual role or title. 

They also help answer an important question: what does leadership look like in practice? Very often, it looks like service. It looks like preparation, follow-through, thoughtful participation, respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to contribute to the larger good.  

Let’s pause our discussion of the concept of volunteerism and hear directly from the volunteers themselves, whose experiences bring these ideas to life. 

Ronald Asiimwe, PhD (current AAMFT Board Director): “I began volunteering with the AAMFT in 2017 as a master’s student attending my very first national conference in Atlanta, GA. At the time, I was new to the field and unsure of my place within it. However, that experience was transformative. I had the opportunity to engage with established leaders and practitioners who showed genuine interest in me and my ideas, even as a beginner. That sense of belonging and being seen stayed with me and inspired me to continue serving within the association. Over time, my involvement with the association deepened in various roles I served in, and today I serve on the Board of Directors. For me, this role represents an opportunity to give back to an organization that has sustained and advanced our profession for decades, despite being one of the youngest mental health associations. My service is driven by a commitment to making a meaningful impact, particularly making sure that the voices of diverse and underrepresentation are also present and included in critical policy conversations that are currently shaping the field now, and in the future. As a global MFT scholar, serving within the association has been a tremendous opportunity to expand the visibility of the field both nationally and globally. In summary, serving AAMFT has been central to my growth as a leader. It has provided fantastic mentorship opportunities, a community of great colleagues and peers, and a pathway to contribute to a more inclusive future for emerging and underrepresented MFTs, nationally and globally.” 

Jackie L. Halstead, PhD (current AAMFT Board Secretary): “Volunteering with AAMFT is first about giving back. I have gained so much through the years from my training as an MFT. What a gift to have a systemic paradigm! Thus, I want to do my small part to keep our beloved profession healthy and stable for years to come. It has been fulfilling to have a front row seat to the implementation of our strategic plan and mission. The work is energizing and at times challenging, but never without the understanding that we are supporting (1) MFTs who are on the front rows making a difference in the lives of the people we serve, and (2) the communities, nation and world as we seek to make this world a place of health and wholeness for all people. I have grown professionally and personally while serving as a volunteer with AAMFT and I can honestly say that I have not worked with a finer group of people than my colleagues on the board and the AAMFT staff.”  

Erica E. Hartwell, PhD (current LDRC member): “I began volunteering for AAMFT because I was passionate about our profession and about creating community for LGBTQ+ systemic therapists. Over the years, I have learned a lot about the association and about myself as a leader. I am really proud of AAMFT today—our mission and values, the way DEI is integrated in everything we do, and the commitment and talent of our staff and volunteers.”  

Naveen Jonathan, PhD (current DEIOC member): “I volunteer with AAMFT to help ensure the MFT profession continues to grow and thrive. The association has supported me from graduate student to professional, and lending my voice is one way I can give back. Serving AAMFT is an honor and a privilege, and I encourage all members to get involved and support both the association and the future of Marriage and Family Therapy.”  

Rosondunnii Marshall, LMFT (Minority Fellowship Program): “Serving through AAMFT has been a powerful way to stay engaged, inspired, and connected. It’s always an opportunity to learn something new, connect with peers, and contribute to the growth of our profession. The experience continues to deepen my sense of purpose in how I show up and build with others.” 

Crystal Smith-Morgan, PhD (current AAMFT Board member): “Volunteering with AAMFT has been a meaningful extension of my commitment to strengthening relational health and advancing justice-centered systemic practice. My motivation to serve is grounded in the understanding that our profession is uniquely positioned to address inequitable interconnected systems and structural conditions that shape the lives of families, students, and communities. This work calls for shared power, systemic accountability, and a commitment to human rights. Through my work with AAMFT, I have contributed to conversations and initiatives that examine how policies and social systems influence belonging and relational wellbeing. This includes addressing the systemic impact of gun violence, supporting students and emerging MFTs, expanding knowledge of ethical and socially just practices, developing resources that strengthen and grow private practice, advocating for MFTs working within the Department of Veterans Affairs; and supporting improvements in the pathways to licensure. These experiences have reinforced my belief in the power in collective leadership. When we bring our expertise and shared commitment to equity into common spaces, we achieve much more together. Volunteering has deepened my conviction that leadership within AAMFT is not only a service to the profession, but a pathway for advancing human rights, justice, access, and advocacy for the communities that we are called to serve.” 

Evan Thomas, PhD (current INOC member): “Volunteering with AAMFT is more than service for me; it is an investment in the strength and future of my professional community. Through volunteering, I’ve been able to build meaningful relationships, expand my systemic network, and create connections that foster collaboration, mentorship, and shared purpose. It allows me to work in community and be a part of strengthening and advancing the profession of MFT.”  

How Members Can Get Involved 

One of the biggest barriers to volunteerism is not lack of interest—it is uncertainty. Many members wonder whether they have enough experience, know enough people, or should wait until someone personally invites them to step forward. They should not. Getting involved with AAMFT often begins with something simpler: paying attention, identifying where interests and strengths align, and being willing to raise a hand.  

A strong first step is to think about what aspects of the Association’s work connect most with your interests. Some members feel drawn to leadership development. Others to governance, advocacy, community-building, inclusion, education, or member engagement. Starting there makes volunteer service more meaningful and more sustainable. 

It is also important to watch for volunteer opportunities and calls for service. AAMFT offers multiple pathways for members to contribute, and those opportunities often provide more access than members assume.   

Members should also resist the urge to wait until they feel perfectly ready. Many strong volunteers begin before they feel fully prepared. What matters most is not having every answer in advance. What matters is a willingness to learn, contribute thoughtfully, and follow through. It also helps to think beyond titles. Not every meaningful contribution begins with a major leadership role. Many leadership journeys begin with smaller but still significant opportunities to participate, review, advise, support, or engage. Members should also know that their perspective has value. AAMFT grows stronger when a broad range of diverse experiences, ideas, and leadership styles help shape the work.  

Finally, volunteer service can be viewed as leadership development in action. Serving with AAMFT helps build governance knowledge, communication skills, collaboration, strategic thinking, and confidence. It supports the Association, the profession, and the volunteer’s own growth as well. 

To Those Who Already Serve: Thank You! 

Volunteer Week is, above all, a moment for gratitude. To the AAMFT volunteers who give their time, insight, energy, and care to this Association: thank you! The impact of volunteer service does not always appear in obvious ways. Often, it shows up in steady commitment, thoughtful participation, and the cumulative strength of many contributions over time. It shows up in stronger conversations, better decisions, and a more connected professional community. 

Thank you for preparing, participating, and following through. Thank you for helping move initiatives forward. Thank you for offering your perspective, asking thoughtful questions, and helping strengthen group process. Thank you for contributing to better member experiences, stronger leadership pathways, and a more responsive Association.  

An Invitation During Volunteer Week 

Volunteer Week is not only about appreciation. It is also an invitation. For members who have considered getting more involved with AAMFT, this is a good time to take the next step. There is no single path into service, and no single model of what a volunteer leader looks like. One act of service can create a ripple. One opportunity can open a path. One decision to get involved can lead to growth, connection, and impact far beyond what first seems possible. That is the power of volunteerism.  

During Volunteer Week, we celebrate the volunteers who already make that possible. We also extend an open invitation to those who may be ready to begin. There is room to contribute and lead.  

Whether you are exploring volunteer service for the first time or considering your next step in leadership, there are many meaningful ways to engage. The Leadership Development and Recruitment Committee (LDRC) helps identify, cultivate, and support volunteer leadership pathways within AAMFT. Please contact the LDRC (LDRC@aamft.org) if you have any questions about volunteer opportunities or would like to learn more about ways to get involved. We welcome the opportunity to connect and help you explore how you can contribute to AAMFT’s leadership and volunteer work!