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So many associations and nonprofits are considering or expanding their employee volunteer programs that I thought I’d share when many are doing all of this community giveback: on 9/11, in honor of the victims of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001. They’ve heard about a growing initiative called MyGoodDeed.org that wants to designate 9/11 as an annual national day of charitable service.

The effort got a big boost today when ServiceNation, a new coalition of more than 600 nonprofit organizations, backed the idea, and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation added its official support. Even presidential candidates Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain are in on deal, agreeing both to appear in a forum on civic engagement on 9/11 in New York and to suspend nasty campaign ads and indeed all campaigning for that day.

Since its 2003 founding by friends and family of 9/11 victims, MyGoodDeed.org has attracted involvement by a range of prominent leaders from the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. These include Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Citizen Corps, Youth Service America, Points of Light & Hands on Network, and every major 9/11 family and support organization. Last year, more than 300,000 good deeds were posted on the MyGoodDeed.org Web site by participants from every state and 150 different countries and territories.

And, honestly, if you’re have a blue moment when all that is bad in the world seems overwhelming, you’ll certainly get a lift from perusing even a few of the thousands of posts, which capture through personal stories the details and spirit of volunteerism in America today. You’ll feel better, I promise.

That personalization and easy interaction are among the strength’s of the organization’s Web site. It invites visitors to “plant a cause tree” that allows logging (no pun intended) and tracking of “good deeds” you or your organization have done for the community, planting of a “cause garden” to identify your pet causes to others, and use of free social media outreach tools to “grow your garden” with the addition of invited friends, find-like-minded-friends opportunities, and even a personal blog.

You can meet up with those pals and make new ones if you decide to join the expected 500 delegates from nonprofit organizations who will be advocating for positive social change and increased volunteerism during a September 11-12 summit on national service, parts of which will be televised to encourage a larger nationwide discussion. The New York City event, hosted by ServiceNation and its many nonprofit members, is being co-chaired by Caroline Kennedy and Alma Powell.