NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH

March 31, 2026March 5, 2026Jensperspectiveblog 4 Comments

April recognizes all those who give there time and energy during National Volunteer Month. In the United States, volunteerism is instilled at a young age. In many parts of the country, it is the cornerstone of summer vacation or woven into after school programs. Most organizations in small towns, rural counties and the largest cities would not function without volunteers. In some families, the baton of volunteerism is handed down generation after generation.

Rural fire and ambulance departments remain staffed due to the efforts of volunteers. The underprivileged receive much needed medical care thanks to volunteers. Long overdue repairs and upgrades are made to a senior women’s home thanks to an organization’s annual call for donations and skilled workers. A woman answers a call on a suicide hotline because she cared enough to give up a few hours to train and listen to someone desperate and alone. A team sets up tables at a soup kitchen every week. Another group delivers meals to men and women who can no longer cook for themselves. Boys and girls sell ice cream sandwiches during a fair to raise money for a homeless shelter.

Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes. They pick a cause and make a difference in someone’s life. Sometimes the difference a drop in the bucket. Other times it creates a tidal wave of change. From the anonymous volunteers who donate their resources to those whose efforts are part of larger national organizations like 4-H, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, or American Red Cross or a local grassroots group, their missions provide valuable support to communities in times of need.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH HISTORY

President George H.W. Bush launch the 1000 Points of Light campaign in 1991 and established April as National Volunteer Month.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalVolunteerMonth

Thank a volunteer.
Volunteer! Many volunteers will tell you it is a rewarding experience.
You don’t have to have a ton of time.
Do you have a special talent or skill that may benefit a charity or organization? Offer your services or ask how you can be of help.
Use #NationalVolunteerMonth to share on social media.

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NATIONAL CHESS DAY

October 10, 2025October 10, 2025Jensperspectiveblog 9 Comments

The second Saturday in October recognizes National Chess Day. The game challenges players mentally while also breaking down barriers through the centuries.

Chess developed in India during the fifth century. As the strategic game spread across continents, the pieces and rules evolved. It also shifted between classes. Once, only the upper class could afford to linger over a long, challenging game. However, the merchant class would later introduce the game to the rest of the population as they traveled around the world trading their wares.

In the game of chess, two opponents go head to head with 16 playing pieces each. These pieces include eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king in each color. Their objective is to capture the opponent’s king through a series of strategic moves.

The day celebrates the long history of chess and recognizes the role chess plays in connecting people across societies. The game has broken many barriers – class, language, and cultural – simply by two people sitting down to play one of the most mentally challenging games in the world.

Chess Facts

It’s a mental game. However, the game can end as quickly as two moves.
The longest possible chess game in terms of the number of moves is 5,949.
Checkmate derives from the Persian phrase Shah Mat. The phrase means “the King is dead.”
In 1989, a chess match between Ivan Nikolic and Goran Arsovic in Belgrade ended in a draw. It was recorded as the longest official check game and lasted 269 moves.
The playing board used today with the alternating light and dark squares first appeared in Europe in 1090.

NATIONAL CHESS DAY HISTORY

President Ford declared National Chess Day on October 9th, 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. More information can be found on this day due to the work of David Heiser. You can find his investigative work here.

For both professionals and amateurs, chess is a game that sharpens the mind, tests human faculties and encourages healthy competition. It has captivated the attention of players and specators world-wide and will continue to do so as long as competition and excellence challenge mankind. ~ President Gerald Ford ~ October 1976

Our founding fathers played chess, including George Washington, Ben Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Franklin was exceptionally skilled and wrote one of the earliest books on chess.

Explore More…

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalChessDay

Play a game of chess. Find a tournament near you and join it. Create an event to teach others to play chess. Use #NationalChessDay to post on social media.

9 Year Anniversary

February 12, 2025February 10, 2025Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

Celebrate nine years of love, commitment, and cherished memories with anniversary gifts that are as unique and meaningful as your journey together. The ninth anniversary is traditionally associated with pottery and willow, symbolizing strength, flexibility, and the beauty of a relationship that has been molded and refined over time. However, modern interpretations also embrace leather and lapis lazuli as timeless symbols of durability, luxury, and wisdom. Whether it’s a handcrafted leather journal filled with heartfelt poetry, a sleek leather accessory, or a stunning piece of lapis lazuli jewelry, these gifts offer a perfect blend of elegance and sentiment. Poetry, with its ability to capture emotions in words, adds a deeply personal touch, making your gift a true reflection of your bond.

Leather gifts, such as personalized wallets, photo albums, or custom-bound books, represent the resilience and enduring nature of your relationship. Pairing these with the deep blue hues of lapis lazuli, a stone historically revered for its connection to truth and harmony, creates a gift that is both meaningful and luxurious. Consider combining these elements—perhaps a leather-bound book of love poems adorned with lapis lazuli accents, or a piece of jewelry featuring the stone engraved with a line of poetry. These thoughtful and artistic gifts not only honor the past nine years but also inspire a future filled with continued love, growth, and shared dreams. Celebrate this milestone with a gift that speaks to the heart and stands the test of time.

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GOOD FRIDAY

March 28, 2024March 28, 2024Jensperspectiveblog Leave a comment

The Friday before Easter commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in the Christian Faith and is called Good Friday.

Christians around the world recall the biblical story of Jesus’s crucifixion on this day. The day goes by other names as well, such as Holy Friday, Black Friday, and Great Friday. Though sources conflict, the phrase “Good Friday” may have been derived from “God’s Friday,” though sources conflict.

The observance is central to the Christian holy season that leads up to Easter when Jesus Christ was resurrected. While Easter has become a traditional celebration in the secular world, Good Friday has remained a holy and spiritual observance.

GOOD FRIDAY HISTORY

The celebration of Good Friday has been observed for centuries, some say since at least the 4th century.

Since Easter is based on the lunar calendar, Good Friday can happen anytime between March 20th and April 23rd depending upon when the first full moon occurs after the spring equinox.
Different cultures around the globe celebrate Good Friday with varying traditions.

El Salvador – Artists create alfombra de asserin (sawdust rugs) using colored sawdust. The artwork depicts a variety of scenes or patterns in honor of Good Friday.
London – Reenacts the crucifixion as a passion play. The performance is free to the public.
Ireland – Eggs are marked with a holy cross and are then eaten on Easter Sunday.
Israel – Christians walk in Jesus’s footsteps in Jerusalem where he was crucified.

HOW TO OBSERVE GOOD FRIDAY

Churches across the country hold services.
Depending on the denomination, their services and traditions may vary.
Many spend the day in meditative reflection.
Some churches will fast, selected hymns are chosen for services and a black cloth is draped over the altar and cross.
Other churches will include specific prayers such as the Stations of the Cross.
Similar to making Easter bread, some make hot cross buns for the observance. Learn more about the biblical story of the crucifixion.
Use #GoodFriday to share on social media.