What is the driver that keeps volunteers serving something like the Association?
While many of us groan over the arm twisting that put us into the jobs we do in serving the youth, or the community, the reality is we could quite easily quit at any time and just walk away and we don’t!
Except that’s the rub isn’t it? Because, however we ended up in the job, it somehow gets under your skin. And every time you see a kid’s face light up as they figure out how to do something new, or see a young leader assert themselves, exceeding their own expectations and growing right there before your very eyes, that hook sinks just a little deeper. This is not a job that rewards you with money, fame or (generally) recognition or expressions of gratitude.
The amazing thing about most of our volunteers is not what they do but how they make the time to do it between their other responsibilities. Most of our volunteers have fulltime jobs and many have onerous family responsibilities, yet they still find and make the time and often more material resources available to serve.
So if you are asking yourself if you should step up here’s what you need to know.
- No one is going to be impressed by the number of badges you wear or the title you have, only by the contribution you choose to make to the youth in your care, even if the recipients don’t realise or appreciate it for a long time.
- You are there for the youth – whether you are offering to serve on a committee as a lay member (treasurer/chairperson/quartermaster/etc) or in a uniformed role – your only consideration should be the kids we all serve, not your own sense of importance or entitlement.
- The rules and processes are currently slow and frustrating, and despite the current best efforts of all concerned, realistically will stay that way for some time. You do the jobs despite the frustrations, and most of the rules are there for a good reason and if they aren’t, then you have mechanisms to work within the organisation to change them.
- If you take on the challenge you have no excuse to deliver anything but the best to the youth. When you drop the ball, or do a half heart job, then you are better off stepping back and letting someone else run with the standard.
- You will never have all the training or skills or sets of rules to deal with every situation that presents itself – despite this you will cope.
- There is a whole family of scouting supporters out there to help you when you are sure you can’t cope. Some of them in other scout groups, some in your professional lives.
- You will be amazed and pleasantly surprised how often people will put themselves out to help you if you only ask.
- No one works for you in this association, they are volunteers like you and if you don’t help and support the people in your team, they will feel neglected and leave.
- You volunteer twice in this association – once to offer you services and once to leave – both are conscious choices and should be made with due consideration.
