| I was dismayed at the following comment from a | | | | behavior. |
| person running for office: "If you don't pay higher | | | | I have been fortunate to have been a part of a |
| money to elected officials you will have nothing but | | | | successful group of volunteers. On many occasions to |
| Zeros." | | | | organize and pull off a major event there were only 5 |
| If you want to be rich you should not run for town | | | | people. If everyone takes a part and makes it happen |
| council or village president in the small rural | | | | things can come together nicely. |
| communities. What is proven historically that you can | | | | Make a list of people and what they want to do. If a |
| run for office and win and not have a clue of what this | | | | person says I can only make 10 phone calls well then |
| honored position is all about. | | | | let them do that and do not ask them to do 100. Honor |
| If you care about your community you should be willing | | | | they took their free time to help and say thank you. |
| to serve for free. | | | | One thing is for sure if you do not abuse the volunteer |
| I have worked and donated money with nothing to | | | | and respect their donation they will be helping for |
| gain to my community to which I live in. A community is | | | | years to come. |
| like a home if everyone does a small part it runs nicely. | | | | Get out of the mentality that everyone needs to be at |
| This attitude of I deserve more is not conducive to | | | | a meeting. Some people hate meetings and will do |
| public service. | | | | specific chores. Don't treat volunteer work like a job |
| In our area I found out why the people quit donating to | | | | because you will lose many talented people. |
| certain events. One person told me, "Every year I | | | | Unfortunately, because of high egos I have seen long |
| donated my services and spent countless hours and | | | | term events for the community to go up in smoke. |
| the group never said thank you. After a few years it | | | | Volunteer work should bring fulfillment and laughter into |
| was expected of me." | | | | a persons life. The reward is the joy you feel and the |
| The other phenomena that I experienced was a | | | | new people you meet. |
| person deciding how much you should be able to do | | | | Recently, I talked to an amazing young woman who |
| without any consideration of what you said. This is the | | | | took over the Easter Egg Hunt in our small town and |
| person who takes over everything, complains about | | | | she said I wanted my children to have the experiences |
| everything and calls you on the telephone like your life | | | | I had here when I was growing up. Isn't that great |
| is suppose to be this one project. This person needs | | | | volunteerism is not dead and we need to support |
| to realize the reason they end up doing things by | | | | these newbies with a great big thank you. |
| themselves is they have pushed everyone away. If | | | | I have found that everyone has something to offer no |
| you find yourself saying I can not do this alone and I | | | | matter the age. Just remember to say Thank you and |
| end up doing everything myself because no one does | | | | well done. Now, is that really too much to ask? |
| it good enough you may need to stop and look at your | | | | |