Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: A day on, not a day off

The Office of State Employment Relations is encouraging all state employees to consider January 21, 2008 — a holiday celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  — as "a day on, not a day off," by taking part in volunteer efforts in their home communities. 

To: State of Wisconsin Employees

From: Jennifer J. Donnelly, Director, Office of State Employment Relations

On January 21, 2008, our nation will celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1994, the King Holiday and Service Act was passed by the United States Congress to designate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a national day of volunteer service, known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. To commemorate this national holiday, state employees who are not scheduled to work may want to consider volunteering some time with a community or charitable organization of their choice.

Dr. King once said, “Life’s urgent and most pressing question is, what are you doing for others?” Celebrating the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday as a day of service to others keeps Dr. King’s vision of a more peaceful and just society alive. Under the leadership of Julietta Henry, Director of the Office of Community and Faith Based Partnership, the State of Wisconsin is pleased to participate in promoting the King Day of Service. If you are interested in providing feedback about your volunteer experience, please email your comments to Julietta.Henry@Wisconsin.gov.

In past years, citizens, including state employees, have turned out all across Wisconsin to participate in projects including tutoring and mentoring children, painting schools and senior centers, cooking and delivering meals, building homes, and many other worthy activities too numerous to mention.

Wisconsin has thousands of dedicated state employees who live and work in every county of this state. As public servants, we know what it means to give back, and to help those in need. But we can do more. As Dr. King said, “everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” I encourage you to participate in Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service by volunteering for a charitable organization on January 21st.

To find out more about the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, please visit http://www.mlkday.gov/ or consider contacting a community organization in your area to inquire about their need for volunteers that day. If you already volunteer for a charitable organization, we encourage you to contact that organization to volunteer on January 21st.

Thank you for your service to the citizens of Wisconsin both on the job and through your volunteer activities. Your work, and your volunteer service, make a real difference to people all across Wisconsin.