Have you ever wanted to find a way to connect with your community that combines your passion for volunteering with one of your personal interests? Joining a board of directors might be for you! This is exactly what happened to me when I joined the board of directors here at Manchester Community Music School. At the time, I had lived in Manchester for a few years, but didn’t feel very connected to the local community. I attended a volunteer event for young professionals and happened to stumble upon a table filled with instruments. As a former percussionist, this piqued my interest, and after a conversation with the Executive Director, I was sold.  

There are many reasons why anyone can benefit from joining a board of directors, but here are five reasons why I think it’s beneficial specifically for millennials:  

• It’s great for networking. As a young professional, people will always tell you that it’s important to grow your network because it will help you grow in your career. But how do you go about doing that? Well, being on a board is one great way to do it. Since joining the board at MCMS I’ve made connections with educators, realtors, financial consultants, and even fellow marketers. These are people I otherwise wouldn’t have met or gotten to know, and you never know when you might need to connect with someone in one of these fields.  
• It can help you grow your professional skills. As someone who has worked in marketing and advertising my whole career, there are certain tasks I’ve never had to perform. For example, I’ve never had to oversee a budget, put together an organizational strategic plan, or make staffing decisions. These are all things I’ve learned since joining the board, and it’s fascinating! Gaining these skills could help you advance into a new role.  
• Bringing new ideas to the table. Every individual board member brings a different perspective because we all come from different backgrounds. You could see something in a way that nobody else does or introduce a new idea that nobody had thought of before, and it could be exactly what an organization needs at any given time.  
• Making an impact on your community. Becoming a board member definitely wasn’t on my radar when I was initially seeking out volunteer opportunities. There are so many different ways you can give back to your community, but this one is very unique. Sometimes it can be hard to see because there might be a lot of time spent in a conference room discussing operations or finances, but when I attend one of our concerts or events and see the work that our students, staff, and faculty are doing, that’s when I remember how our work can have an impact.  
• Learning how to run an organization. For every organization or company, there are so many ins and outs happening in the background that nobody ever sees. At some point in your career, you may find yourself being the person in charge of it all. Gaining an understanding of all the different pieces of the puzzle could certainly give you a leg up if you are hoping to land a leadership role down the road.  

So there you have it. My personal top 5 reasons why I would encourage other millennials to join a board of directors. Being a part of the board here at MCMS has not only revived my passion for music and the arts, but it has also helped me learn and grow, both personally and professionally. I highly recommend searching within your community to see if there’s any organizations that call your name, and if they have any openings on their board (plus, we are always looking for new members if you’d like to join us here at MCMS. Email us to learn more).