tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12171673.post255596305350164858..comments2024-02-13T01:25:33.947-05:00Comments on The Gods Are Bored: Volunteers NeededAnne Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15478513906953607043noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12171673.post-83102201735877018072006-12-21T04:32:00.000-05:002006-12-21T04:32:00.000-05:00I hate to be crotchety, but I don't believe in vol...I hate to be crotchety, but I don't believe in volunteering. I've come to the conclusion that too many "volunteer opportunities" are really just wankfests for cheap-labour conservatives.<br /><br />If you need me there that much, you can pay me minimum wage. I'll consider my "charitable donation" to the cause to be the difference between what you're paying me per hour and my usual billing rates (a not-insignificant contribution, btw). I don't work for pizza I can't eat and a badly-printed certificate, sorry...Interrobanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14073177798747299275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12171673.post-13794881987709526322006-12-12T15:53:00.000-05:002006-12-12T15:53:00.000-05:00I feel your pain, Sunny. Thanks for sharing.I feel your pain, Sunny. Thanks for sharing.Anne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18083739996560380258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12171673.post-51087238447217903342006-12-12T10:54:00.000-05:002006-12-12T10:54:00.000-05:00There is another, even more sinister level of this...There is another, even more sinister level of this phenomenon. We call it "helium hand." This particular strain of volunteerimania involves taking on too many individual responsibilities, within the scope of your already time-consuming role as a volunteer. When you're on numerous boards, have a high degree of commitment to those causes, and want to make sure everything is done RIGHT, it's easy to fall into the trap of taking responsibility for far more than you can realistically achieve without burnout. I seldom, if ever, "drop the ball," but I sure do crash and burn from time to time. Right now I'm taking a small hiatus from my responsibilities until mid-January... except, of course, that the church council has to have a quarterly meeting, I have emails to write for PLSC, there are a couple of moon rituals that have to be held, and nobody wants to cancel drum circle, even through the holidays... *sigh*<br /><br />(going back to read your post one more time...)amarissehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16033273004750054646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12171673.post-21478288591931682372006-12-10T16:36:00.000-05:002006-12-10T16:36:00.000-05:00I've done volunteer work for years, and I've learn...I've done volunteer work for years, and I've learned one thing. Do it freelance, don't commit to anything long term, or anything you don't want to do.<br /><br />I did teach a computer class on how to use the Internet and Email for two nights a week at the library for two years, but I really enjoyed it.<br /><br />When I stopped enjoying it, I stopped doing it.<br /><br />And I don't volunteer expecting to be recognized for it. Certificates and things in the paper make me a little uneasy, I just do things because they need to be done.<br /><br />But I've been goofing off lately and haven't done a lot other than little things I come upon. It's been about six weeks since I even went to the peace protest.<br /><br />Shame on me.BBChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323188240580782454noreply@blogger.com