VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS AS AGENTS IN THE BECOMING OF PLACE

Field work observations, and questionnaires returned by members of three voluntary organizations for rural women in Australia, New Zealand and Canada, are used to explore the links between place-based communities, voluntary organizations, and the development of personal identity. The selected organizations have now been in existence for several generations. They offer individuals the opportunity to make a commitment of time, money, and skills to their local community. A loyalty to the organization may develop that is a vehicle for loyalty to place. Comments from participants in this survey indicate that many feel that they have grown as individuals through these commitments.