Next Week is National Volunteer Week. Seriously.

Irony alert: Today, President Obama officially declared next week to be National Volunteer Week.

"America's story has been marked by the service of volunteers," he said. "Generations of selfless individuals from all walks of life have served each other and our nation, each person dedicated to making tomorrow better than today. They exemplify the quintessential American idea that we can change things, make things better, and solve problems when we work together."

Of course, if the government is shut down next week, federal employees who must come to work because they're designated as excepted from a governmentwide furlough will effectively be volunteering their time -- at least temporarily -- because they won't be paid until after funding is restored. Those employees who are furloughed can't volunteer their time to government, because that would be a violation of the Antideficiency Act.

Of course, they could always honor National Volunteer Week by offering their services elsewhere during the furlough.

(Hat tip: @RedCladLoon, via Twitter)