Sign Up to Be a National Volunteer!

Third Act is growing rapidly. We now have 34 Working Groups across the country and tens of thousands of supporters. To keep up with the momentum of our movement, we are calling on Third Actors to join a special new cohort of national volunteers to serve our broader community. Third Actors, we need you!

You are cordially invited to bring your unique gifts, passions and talents to a role as a national volunteer at Third Act. There are so many roles, often unrecognized, that are essential to the continued growth and vitality of this movement (and this organization!).

Maybe you want to lean into a skill you already have or maybe you’d like to try something new! We hope you will decide to volunteer in ways that both utilizes your abilities and also brings you joy and fulfillment. Your contributions will be appreciated!

You’d be working with a wonderful group of people, some of whom have already been involved at the national level. We asked them how they feel about being a national volunteer and here’s what they had to say. 

Lani on the unique joy of being a national volunteer: 

The true friendships and deep relationships that come from collaborations, especially on teams, with other Third Act volunteers bubble up first for me because of a recent experience. In addition, there is the joy that constantly fills my soul as I meet so many experienced Americans from across the country who bring their own gifts and talents to this work, often in ways they had not originally imagined. And there are the incredible opportunities to learn with and from other volunteers and Third Act staff.

Join us and experience a new-found or renewed sense of purpose as we work together for a fair and stable planet.

Be willing to move out of your comfort zone if becoming a national volunteer feels like a stretch to you. Anna Goldstein said this gently to me and I am gently passing it onto you. I would encourage you to lean into this unique blending of joy, fierce determination, humility, boldness, kindness, sharing and elderhood that is Third Act which in reciprocity may continuously renew your hope and fill your spirit as it has for me as a national volunteer. 

Bruce on advising national staff on policies, procedures, and campaign strategy:

I partner with the Organizing Team, primarily to establish and mentor new working groups. I also advise the national staff on policies, procedures, positions, and campaign strategies. Having been an organizer and manager of a grassroots based national organization with state level chapters, my perspective can help Third Act set up its own unique systems and policies. I also have decades of experience in lobbying, organizing, media messaging, fundraising, non-violent direct action and other skills and tactics that can inform Third Act. 

If you have the capacity for and an interest in national action, this is a way to magnify your effectiveness and to help Third Act empower many more volunteers.

Laurie on making connections from a new home:

Not knowing that many people in my new hometown, national work for Third Act felt like a great fit.

Connecting with people with common concerns and experiences and contributing to something important are the most rewarding parts of being a national volunteer. 

I have helped on several teams—the Welcome Call team, the Zoom Coaching team, and the Google Docs Coaching team. I feel happy knowing I am helping others find where they want to contribute and helping them be successful and efficient with their Third Act roles.

Peggy on bridging the technology gap for elders:

This work has become my favorite part of my own third act. 

I see the national welcome calls as a way to share Third Act’s philosophy and Working Principles, and I feel juiced up after every call. It never gets old. As an educator, I am always eager to help others learn. In my work as a Third Act technology coach, I find it gratifying to help elders bridge the technology gap and connect meaningfully with others using tools that can feel very intimidating. It makes me sad that technology can be a barrier to Third Actors who feel the urgency of addressing the climate catastrophe and the frightening threats to our democracy.  

These roles help facilitate engagement of new Third Actors with the working groups, and educate them about the work of the organization and its mission. Coaching helps members of the CCs to more effectively and confidently communicate with like-minded souls and allows them to focus their energies on TA actions instead of email.

To prospective national volunteers: Say yes! Embrace your new role for a few months and assess how you feel about your contribution to this dynamic organization and its mission.  

My guess is that you’ll find it gratifying.

Join Us 

We are seeking volunteers with various skills (facilitation, coaching, mentoring, digital) to support the 3 teams: organizing, campaigns, and digicomms in accomplishing their goals. Time commitment will vary. You will be expected to attend monthly team meetings. And we request an initial 6 month commitment.

As this is a pilot cohort, we are mindful of Third Act Lead Advisor Akaya Windwood’s words:

The good news is that we are all learning and growing. The challenging news is that we are all learning and growing, and that means we will make mistakes, fall down and occasionally mess things up… each “mistake” becomes a learning/growing step which is essential on a joyful path.

With that, we will work in good faith and to the best of our abilities to match people and roles.  And we appreciate your grace as we figure this out.

Lani, Bruce, Laurie, Peggy, and the rest of the cohort can’t wait to meet you.

Update: Please note we have reached capacity for our initial cohort of national volunteers. We are thrilled with the response. We will relink to the interest form when we are ready to start accepting national volunteers again.  

Lani Ritter Hall

Lani cherishes her more than thirty-five years of diverse teaching experiences in urban, suburban, and independent schools in the United States and Canada. She created and facilitated professional development around technology infusion into learning for more than twenty years and served as a leader and facilitator of connected coaches in online communities of practice. You’ll find her in her gardens every chance she gets in Northeast Ohio.

Bruce Hamilton

Bruce is a wildlife biologist, husband, father, grandfather, agitator for environmental protection and social justice. He spent over 40 years on National Sierra Club staff as a field organizer, National Policy Director, Conservation and Communications Director, and Deputy Executive Director. Still learning in his Third Act. 

Peggy Maryanski

Peggy is a former newspaper journalist and elementary school teacher (kindergarten) who earned a master’s degree at age 55 in educational technology. Her prior activism has been focused on writing get-out-the-vote postcards (current tally: 1,100), which she found do-able while she was employed. As a native Californian, she has been lucky to have spectacular national and state parks within reach all her life, and enjoy hiking and tent camping. She is learning to quilt and has recently returned to taking piano lessons. She has a lively dog and a grand-hamster.

Laurie Rubin

Laurie has always wanted to engage in both connecting with animals and working for a better world. The former fills her needs for love, connection and communication.  The latter fills needs for contribution and caring for the Earth. Her environmental activism started with the 1979 No More Harrisburgs rally in Washington, DC. After living 40 years in Sonoma County, California fighting for justice, peace and a healthy planet; teaching, and  training horses and dogs; she retired to the Pacific Northwest. She loves big trees and her two Australian Shepherds.