Sounds like good advice to me. Preparation is also good advice. Answer these questions before you volunteer for anything. Even if you're an experienced volunteer you may wish to answer these questions and reevaluate your position.

1. What is the organization's mission? Ask for a hardcopy of the mission statement and read it carefully. Also check with your state Charity Review Board to see how the organization spends its money.

2. Does the mission match your goals? I'm a health writer and, to make the best use of my time, volunteer for medical and health organizations only. You may come to a similar decision.

3. What would your duties be? You and the organization should agree on these duties. Since I had trouble selling Girl Scout cookies when I was a kid, I'll volunteer to make phone calls but won't make calls to solicit funds.

4. Could you make good use of your talents/skills? Your volunteer efforts will be satisfying only if your position makes use of who you are and what you do.

5. How many meetings would you have to attend? One committee I serve on meets only once a month, thank goodness, because my calendar is filled with meetings. Too many meetings often means too little work gets done.

6. Would you get regular communications? Volunteers need to know what's going on. All of the organizations I volunteer for send out regular emails and minutes.

7. Do volunteers receive training? Several of my friends volunteer in a hospital gift shop. Before they started work they received cash register, ordering, and merchandise display training.