Volunteering Rant :(...sorry

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Dario

Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2005
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8,222
Location
Austin, TX, USA.
I volunteer my time gardening and doing carpentry/repair work for our parish as part of a "stewardship" program. I love it and it only takes a few hours on weekends (usually 3-5 hours on Saturday mornings about once or twice a month). I especially love the gardening part.

Lately though, I feel taken advantaged of.

Last time we were asked to empty a storage building, sort the contents to: keep, repair, discard. After doing it, we were asked to return EVERYTHING because they cannot make the decision which ones to throw!!! Will they have done that if they are paying all the 8 people who volunteered? (wasted about 32 man hours IMHO).

Today, I got an email asking us to come again, do more work which is fine but this time we also have to prepare for a bar-b-que (fund raising) event, help set up, and sell tickets. Later donate the food, man stalls and sell the food, etc.

BTW, In the end of the day, we (and our family) will be the customers who will be buying the food too!!!

They also want us to buy t-shirts to be worn during the days we do volunteer work...though buying is voluntary, you will be the odd one if you don't wear one.

I made my decision to not attend instead. They just lost one man because they pushed it too hard.

We have a saying in the Philippines that translates to..."being fried in your own oil"... sadly that is how I feel now.

Rant over...sorry.
 
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Volunteering can be its own reward, especially with the warm, fuzzy feeling it can leave you. But sometimes a little appreciation can go an incredibly long way. I think you're overdue.

By the way, I appreciate everything you've brought to this forum. Thanks, Dario.:)
 
Dario,

I don't blame you a bit. Sometimes people take advantage of their volunteers and end up driving them away. Sounds like to me that you did more than your share.
 
I have a large enclosed trailer and have been asked to help move folks many times. Those who cannot (or will not) pay to have their possessions moved and rely on the kindness of others also seem to be the same ones who cannot go through their JUNK and dispose of it properly. I know what you mean.

On the other hand, I am still available to help - "If by helping one of the least of these..."
 
I helped out with the eagle project of a fellow scout in my troop and son of a really good family friend. He built brand spankin' new sign boards for the near us. Our troop has adopted that area and we clean it twice a year, sadly we find these new sign backers shot off with shotguns, bullets holes through the backer, and even worse is seeing the plagues commemerating bobby's work have bullet holes through them! I guess people don't appreciate the hard work of others:(
 
Some people will never understand the concept of "do unto others" or as has become more popular to day " Pay it Forward" My Dad tought us young that if you help out someone in need than you are bound to be repaid many times over. Well I feel that the opposite is true also. If you screw someone than that will come around with interest also. I agree with you completely for not returning to "Volunteer" It sounds more like indentured servitude than volunteering. I would not be surprised if you found others following your example.
 
You're a good person, Dario. Sorry to hear about your experience. I can't do anything about what happened to you . . . . but, I do promise you this . . . .

Cav and I will never sell Tee-Shirts in the Members in Need Forum. Although, we did talk about having an IAP BBQ. ;)
 
I can't say as I blame you. Your stewardship sould not have a purchase price to be a steward. Being ungratefull is one thing, but taking advantage is another. I think you should bring this up to the person/commitee and let them know why you decided not to attend. I'm sure others feel this way too.
 
I feel your pain Dario

Sadly, your experience is all to common lately. (I speak from experience)

Many committees feel their volunteers are a captive audience they can bleed.
 
Originally posted by DocStram

we did talk about having an IAP BBQ. ;)
Click to expand...

If the venue is near all of us, you might just get a very large TURN out (no pun intended :D)

I do know someone who makes mean bar-b-que who always gets volunteered (by others) to provide them for free (buy, prepare, set-up, cook, sell and cleanup after) on the twice a year fund raisers mentioned above. It is my father-in-law so MAYBE he won't mind being volunteered once more. LOL [}:)]
 
Dario,
You are right to feel as you do. I think you need to take the next step and approach the person responsible for this and explain things like you did here. Too often, we just accept things because we don't want to make waves or we feel that "it's just us". Right is right, wrong is wrong.
The one that inspires you spoke with firmness and authority but he also spoke with great love. When he saw a wrong, he addressed it. He will guide you in this.
 
Dario, I would have made the same decision, and never lost a second regreting it. I am the type to volunteer for lots of things and always have been, As you would well know it has a huge reward if even only your own satisfaction with yourself. But it also comes at a huge price at times. I learned a long time ago that jsut because I stepped up last time does not mean I have to next time. Each oportunity to give is a dicision all it's own, and the ability to afford what it will cost needs to be evaluated. I cannot give everything everyone wants or even needs. I can only give what I can afford to give. When I se my attitude starting to dip I know I am crossing the line into what I cannot afford to do. You made a class decision. And tomorrow you might just decide to step up for anouther project that you can afford. It is called giving, not owing and giving needs to be done with a willing if not cheerfull heart.
 
I hate to waste my time. If I do something for somebody and they fail to show all the appreciation I think I deserve, so be it. At least I've felt like I've accomplished something.
If I do something for somebody and not only do they not appreciate my effort but they undo all my work, that's a double whammy and I wouldn't be eager to repeat the experience.
And these people will probably be totally bewildered as to why people aren't willing to do things for them anymore.
 
I hate to waste my time. If I do something for somebody and they fail to show all the appreciation I think I deserve, so be it. At least I've felt like I've accomplished something.
If I do something for somebody and not only do they not appreciate my effort but they undo all my work, that's a double whammy and I wouldn't be eager to repeat the experience.
And these people will probably be totally bewildered as to why people aren't willing to do things for them anymore.
 
Good for you, Dario. I've been in a similar situation where the leadership started to assume and even demand volunteer effort. They were bewildered when most of us stopped attending. I hope this works out better for you.

Wayne
 
Seems like it's the same thing here now. Volunteers more and more are being treated like second class employees. Some of the people in charge seem to have lost the concept of "volunteer" versus "employee". They also don't seem to understand how far a simple thank you can go. It's a shame ... volunteers were actually appreciated a few years ago.
 
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