Comments on: The Worst Patients http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients Maine Conversations about Volunteer Management Sat, 6 Sep 2008 01:08:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Christy Monroe http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-414 Christy Monroe Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:05:42 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-414 I too can identify with this issue. I've been volunteering with a local organization for years, and I don't want to stop even though my other commitments have changed. However, I am consistently putting them on the back burner. Jodi, Thank you for sharing! Your post helped me to release some of my personal guilt and focus my energy more towards figuring out how to change the situation going forward. I too can identify with this issue.
I’ve been volunteering with a local organization for years, and I don’t want to stop even though my other commitments have changed. However, I am consistently putting them on the back burner. Jodi, Thank you for sharing! Your post helped me to release some of my personal guilt and focus my energy more towards figuring out how to change the situation going forward.

]]> By: Jodi Freedman http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-371 Jodi Freedman Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:29:41 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-371 I guess that we all feel this struggle. Thank you all for making me feel better about my inconsistencies with volunteering. Joan and Carla, it is true that we tend to look for volunteers with certain skill sets, (i.e. a banker to be the treasurer of a board), but we may be doing the volunteers an injustice. Volunteering should be both rewarding and enjoyable. I guess that we all feel this struggle. Thank you all for making me feel better about my inconsistencies with volunteering.

Joan and Carla, it is true that we tend to look for volunteers with certain skill sets, (i.e. a banker to be the treasurer of a board), but we may be doing the volunteers an injustice. Volunteering should be both rewarding and enjoyable.

]]> By: Carla Ganiel http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-370 Carla Ganiel Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:51:36 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-370 Joan, I think your point is a good one. The last thing I want to do when I volunteer is the same thing I've been doing all day at work, but the tendency when someone has a particular skill set is to want to put that to work for the volunteer program. Joan, I think your point is a good one. The last thing I want to do when I volunteer is the same thing I’ve been doing all day at work, but the tendency when someone has a particular skill set is to want to put that to work for the volunteer program.

]]> By: Penny Kern http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-368 Penny Kern Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:49:13 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-368 To both of you - you are TODAY's volunteers. This is what Margaret and I have been saying - today's volunteers are busy, engaged people. It's the managers or recruiters of volunteers that have to realize that THEY aren't doing anything wrong and that there are NO bad volunteers. This is just what it's like out there. Competition for jobs and the job market itself makes it imperative that people pay attention and give 150% so they have a job. Society requires parents to give their children 150% of their time or they face prison for child abuse. We've raised awareness of the value of volunteering to the point that it, too, becomes a requirement for a full and useful life and that is supposed to top on the list. A wise and "all knowing" manager of volunteers wouldn't call either of you bad and would welcome you with open arms - just not to the typical volunteer opportunity of the early 1900's. No one is wrong here - things have changed and are still changing so we have to switch our vision to match the real world. Penny To both of you - you are TODAY’s volunteers. This is what Margaret and I have been saying - today’s volunteers are busy, engaged people. It’s the managers or recruiters of volunteers that have to realize that THEY aren’t doing anything wrong and that there are NO bad volunteers. This is just what it’s like out there.

Competition for jobs and the job market itself makes it imperative that people pay attention and give 150% so they have a job. Society requires parents to give their children 150% of their time or they face prison for child abuse. We’ve raised awareness of the value of volunteering to the point that it, too, becomes a requirement for a full and useful life and that is supposed to top on the list.

A wise and “all knowing” manager of volunteers wouldn’t call either of you bad and would welcome you with open arms - just not to the typical volunteer opportunity of the early 1900’s.

No one is wrong here - things have changed and are still changing so we have to switch our vision to match the real world.

Penny

]]> By: Joan Bailey http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-367 Joan Bailey Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:46:47 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-367 You hit the nail on the head. I recently arranged to step back from my responsibilities with a group as I found myself in the situation you describe. I wondered if it wasn't that I was doing similar work there that I do each day at the office. I'm staying with them, but I'm going to look for something slightly different to do. Thanks for a great post! You hit the nail on the head. I recently arranged to step back from my responsibilities with a group as I found myself in the situation you describe. I wondered if it wasn’t that I was doing similar work there that I do each day at the office. I’m staying with them, but I’m going to look for something slightly different to do. Thanks for a great post!

]]> By: Anne Schink http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-366 Anne Schink Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:40:49 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-366 Oh, Jodi, I do so understand your dilemma. One of the characteristics of 'super volunteers' is a fierce internal watchdog on personal standards of excellence. They/we are driven by a powerful internal drive to make a difference, regardless of the external benefits, i.e. paycheck. We need to make sure that the internal benefits are worth the commitment of time and energy. When volunteering becomes a burden, then it ceases to meet the personal need that motivates it in the first place. Then it's time to get out. Oh, Jodi, I do so understand your dilemma. One of the characteristics of ’super volunteers’ is a fierce internal watchdog on personal standards of excellence. They/we are driven by a powerful internal drive to make a difference, regardless of the external benefits, i.e. paycheck. We need to make sure that the internal benefits are worth the commitment of time and energy.

When volunteering becomes a burden, then it ceases to meet the personal need that motivates it in the first place. Then it’s time to get out.

]]> By: larry ullian http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-364 larry ullian Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:35:54 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/the-worst-patients#comment-364 Hey Jodi - I've been there. I was co-facilitating support groups of cancer survivors. Although it was only an every-other-week schedule, after a couple of years of it, I reached the point that my mind began to wander when I was supposed to be focusing on what the participants were saying and expressing and feeling. I concluded that if I couldn't be "fully present" maybe I should get out and let someone newer and "fresher" take over. So I did. Now I've managed to volunteer in a way that allows me to do what I do best...but now it's the press of time - not kids, but my job. So the vol gig becomes like the job - flitting from one thing to the other and doing them all at a level below my desired standard. I'd say your kids are really important and YOU should decide on the best way to spend your "free" time. I'm trying to do that myself. Larry Hey Jodi -

I’ve been there. I was co-facilitating support groups of cancer survivors. Although it was only an every-other-week schedule, after a couple of years of it, I reached the point that my mind began to wander when I was supposed to be focusing on what the participants were saying and expressing and feeling. I concluded that if I couldn’t be “fully present” maybe I should get out and let someone newer and “fresher” take over. So I did. Now I’ve managed to volunteer in a way that allows me to do what I do best…but now it’s the press of time - not kids, but my job. So the vol gig becomes like the job - flitting from one thing to the other and doing them all at a level below my desired standard.

I’d say your kids are really important and YOU should decide on the best way to spend your “free” time. I’m trying to do that myself.

Larry

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