Why do people think volunteers have nothing better to do?
By reinydawn
@reinydawn (11643)
United States
May 23, 2009 1:06pm CST
Both my husband and I are volunteer chairpersons on different committees in our community. I take care of the clubhouse stuff and he takes care of the pier. People seem to think that all we do all day long is wait for them to call us about either the clubhouse rentals or their boat ramp key. It's like we should drop whatever we're doing right this minute and take care of them. We've had people stop by the house unannounced during dinner for this stuff!
Two people have called about the boat ramp keys today, and my husband is not home. I tell them and they say "Well, I want to put my boat in the water now." It's not like we didn't have a scheduled day back in April to swap the old key for the new key, or that it's been over a month since everyone's had notice that we changed the lock. But they decide that on Memorial Day Weekend, they want to take their boat out and think we should accomodate them NOW. These people are almost rude about it.
I also get calls about the clubhouse and if I don't call them back in like 20 minutes they complain that they're being ignored. I always get calls during the day, when I'm at work, so I have to call them back at night - if I have time! Usually it will take a day or two for me to get back to them and I've had people say "Oh, I had to go somewhere else because you never called me back." PA-LEEEZZZ!!!!
I just don't understand why people think that when you volunteer for something you have to make that your #1 priority in life...
3 people like this
9 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
23 May 09
You may want to change some rules, for example...set up a few key swap times and if people don't make those times...there will be a $10 charge.
As for phone calls, make sure people realize that you work and are busy...and try to get back to them when they are at work and unavailable if they get irate that you took too long to call back. Then you can 'apologize' by reminding them that you wor too.
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
The hardest part is that there are quite a few people in the neighborhood that DON'T have full-time jobs and CAN get back to people at their beck and call. BUT these people won't help out in the community. It's just hard to help out and have a life of your own it seems...
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
23 May 09
I could not have said this better. For three years I was in charge of our social club in our neighborhood. We do on average one event per month and in the summer we do events at the pool every other Friday night. Being in charge of the committee I had to be at every event. Someone complained about something at all of them, they even complained about the rain at one event, told me that I could have at least checked the weather. Okay our events are scheduled in Jan of each year. yes I can check the weather then.. for an even in say July.
It is a thankless job, one in which everyone really appreciates everything that you do, however you rarely get a thank you.
Keep up the good work and retire after this year, you have done your time
3 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
I actually have one more year to my "term" - we take 2-year shifts. But I tell you, I am NOT going to renew my service. I'm going to make sure that someone else takes it up next time. We just need more community involvement.
@GardenGerty (160908)
• United States
23 May 09
That is how a lot of volunteers get burnt out really quickly. I sympathize, and do not have a lot more to add. Even if you do whatever you do for pay, if ever once you are especially accommodating,it seems that no matter how much you give they want more.You basically hang yourself. I think you are too nice. Next one that complains should be handed the job.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
I would just love to tell one of the complainers "YOU do this for a while" but nobody wants to deal with it. I think someone called this morning about a ramp key - it was about 9am on Memorial Day Sunday. My husband was still in bed (very unusual, but he had been up over 24 hours yesterday) and when I offered to take a message he just sighed and said "No, I'll figure something else out." I know he wanted to put his boat in the water today and didn't worry about trying to get a key for the last 6 weeks... UGH!!!
@ProudMommy22 (705)
• United States
24 May 09
I dont want to come off rude...But if you volunteer to do this shouldnt people be aloud to get there things when they want them? Understand that you have a life as well.But give them times they can get these things in advance and if they dont get them then to bad and as for phone calls leave it on a answering machine and atleast tell them to give you a couple days to respond seeing as you do have a job as well and cant answer all calls in one day.
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
Yup, we did schedule a time for people to get this all taken care of - weeks ago, before they really needed to have their boats in the water. But they decide that they want to wait until the day they want to go out on their boat and we're not home (as was the case yesterday). They've left messages while we were at work saying "I want to put my boat in the water today at 3, call me back." So when we get home from work, have a bit of dinner, we call them back. They're not home then they get mad at US because they didn't plan properly.
A friend of mine once told me "Poor planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part." I think I'm going to have to leave that as our message on our recorder!
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
Yes, saundyl you are so right. There are always going to be people that think you did a poor job because it wasn't up to their needs. They actually need to do the job for a while to see how easy it's not.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
24 May 09
Reinydawn did say that they did have a day in APRIL to get their keys swapped out - the people who showed up this weekend apparently ignored that schedule and expected she and her husband to drop everything for them and do their bidding.
The answering machine message is a good idea...but if people arent going to follow the schedule, rules or listen to message machines greetings then they really dont work.
I volunteered with the local Kinette group here - we ran several things such as the hobby fair, skateathon, seniors supper etc...and at every event we always had people asking why it couldnt be planned for a better day when the weather was nicer or why something else couldnt have been done for this or why this meal was prepared instead of this...Its hard to keep everyone happy theres always going to be complainers or people who think that because you are "in charge" you have to drop everything and run get what needs to be done regardless of your own job and other commitments.
1 person likes this
@wahmivy (776)
• Philippines
23 May 09
Perhaps you could call for a meeting and voice your issues (in a diplomatic manner, of course) there. If you can't call for a meeting, maybe you could post a sign at your door or something about some guidelines and schedules. Reasonable people should realize that they can't demand too much from you as they're not paying you for these responsibilities. As for the unreasonable ones, well, there's no reasoning with them, lol.
Btw, that volunteers don't have anything to do is such a misconception. Usually, those who volunteer are the ones who already have plenty on their plate, but they like being involved and spending their time wisely. You usually won't find a bum volunteering.:)
2 people like this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
Well, it's not so much that others are bums, but we have PLENTY of stay-at-home moms and retired people in our neighborhood. I know they are also busy, but their schedules are sometimes more flexible than mine since I'm away from the house most of my day.
I would love to have a meeting, but we can't get people to show up for the regular meetings. They don't even read the newsletter, although I do think we're going to post a blurb about this in the next one.
@yoyozhou (356)
• China
24 May 09
Hi, I can understand your feeling.People always want to get more ,I think. Maybe it is human nature that people alway consider themsleves first. I think you are a kind person to do something as a volunteer.For me, I have no experiences as a volunteer. I want to say, without considering volunteer or not and when you regarded it as a job and regarded the people as customers,will it happen? I mean we will meet a lot of difficulties in our work. It is normal. We should do our best to solve the problems,conquer the difficulties and do a good job,right?
As a volunteer, you take up the task to take care of the stuff. And then, some problems appeared,right? I think what you should do is to try to solve the problems. Maybe you should make some reasonable rules. And I know, as a volunteer, you have no reward and also should work hard and pay every effort on the stuff. And the stuff are not considerate.But it must be meaningful for you to do that,so you will take up the task.You want to help people.That's great! Anyway,hope you good luck.Have a nice day.
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
Thanks! We do try to accomadate everyone, but some people think we should be at their beck and call all the time.
@Beertjie (976)
• South Africa
24 May 09
It is usualy the hard workers who does the volunteer jobs and the lazy complainers that never does anything. They think it is only thry that have things to do and everyone must be ready on command.
Tell them if they don't like the way things are being done, they should do it themselves. They will quickly let you know they have better thing to do. You find these type of people everywhere in society, a real pain it the butt. And nothing is ever good enough for them.
They have the rules, if not, make sure all have the rules. In the list of rules, give specific time that you ma be contacted with problems. You are giving a free service and it should be apretiated and repsected by all.
If they don't like it, tell them to suck it up or move somewhere else. Don't take their abuse.
Good luck, Blessings
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
Thanks! It is just a handful of people it seems. We had one man that is in the service and he's been out of the country for a few months. When he called and left a message we made sure we got back to him right away. It wasn't his fault he was serving our country when he should have been here to get his new key :) But the people that are just plan stupid, they drive me nuts!
@maikarumike (457)
• Malaysia
24 May 09
Volunteers are people who do things without any rewards and they think it is worth it and will be a good deed.Most volunteers are working and they have a day job and when they have free time they volunteer themself to do something willingly and not expecting any rewards back for them.Some of them have a lot of things to do and some of them just have slightly less thing to do but doesnt mean they have nothing better to do...But there are some volunteers who are also too free and have nothing to do as well...
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
I just wish that some of the people in the neighborhood who do have more time for things like this would help out and volunteer. I'm going to be hunting them down after next year when my "term" is up!
@springseaside (107)
• China
24 May 09
I understand your feeling.As a volunteer,we not noly would be misunderstand by people,but also get complaint.For people may be see volunteer as a fool,but when they need help,they always consider the services that volunteers provide are naturally.It's so irony,isn't it?Maybe it's so called human nature.
You are so kind,but if you are volunteer,you should tell yourself that whether it's worth?
Be a happy volunteer.happy mylotting.
1 person likes this
@reinydawn (11643)
• United States
24 May 09
I am glad that I'm helping out the community, but when my time is over for this "job" I'm handing it over to someone else!
