As one of the newest members of Creative Ink, I have learned that to have a successful team that gets the job accomplished, it is not always about working in the office.  Field trips, guest speakers, having fun in the office, and volunteering are all a part of what brings the Creative Ink team together. The Creative Ink staff recently took a trip to Columbia Second Chance, a no kill animal shelter that gives fuzzy friends a fighting chance. This team building and volunteering opportunity idea came from Creative Ink member Kaylyn Crane, a Creative Representative and a regular volunteer at the Columbia Second Chance shelter.

As a cat lover myself, I quickly volunteered to help clean the cat rooms. Not only were we supposed to give these feline friends a clean home but also provide play for the day. Cleaning quickly turned into playtime after we found that the cats would rather us use our hands for scratching and play than cleaning their spaces. Jenny, a small calico cat, bumped up against my hands while cleaning until I gave her the attention she was demanding; a classic cat attitude of course! The fun and playful spirits of the cats not only drew us to them, but also pulled us together as a team.

Experiences, such as volunteering at Columbia Second Chance, provided the Creative Ink staff with an opportunity that promotes bonding among team members. This experience will further help us communicate, cooperate and understand the resources of each team member – all elements that enrich the work of a team. Like we do every week in the Creative Ink office, having fun while working hard is what we did to successfully volunteer at Columbia Second Chance.