The trouble with some volunteers...
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
March 20, 2011 4:08am CST
I think some people who volunteer do it for the wrong reasons!
I did my bit of volunteering tonight. The church was serving dinner to a lot of people after mass, and I was part of a group who were tasked to help out.
At first, before the meal started, there was not much to do, so a few of us guys were just hanging out, and kidding around. This did not sit well with one of the lady volunteers there. Although we were all the same (she was not in charge of volunteers), she made it a point to assign us tasks. All through out the night, she kept riding us, and assigning us difficult tasks that I had the feeling that she is making sure that we worked a little bit harder than her. WTF?!
All of us guys knew what we signed up for, and did not want to make any confrontations, so we just did as we were told. In between scrubbing pots and pizza pans, we would talk about this lady 'master' of ours. About her getting the idea of volunteering all wrong.
Would you agree with us? About volunteering not about making sure that you don't work harder than anybody else?
Have you had this kind of experience? Or have you seen a volunteer like this?
4 people like this
11 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Mar 11
I know when I'm working at the adoption center, and I'm busily pooper scooping, and other volunteers are standing around doing nothing, I'm going to draft them to help. But when it's slow and we're not busy, I'm not going to create a bunch of make work for them just to make sure everybody's doing something.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
21 Mar 11
First I wouldn't have obeyed this self made boss. She would say do this and I would say No, I won't! But then again I wouldn't volunteer where someone could assume that role with me. And to answer your question, no I haven't had anyone try to dictate what I do so they can do less and I wouldn't stand for it.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
28 Mar 11
I wouldn't have made a fuss, I would have just turned and walked away. Then emailed the head and rescheduled my time so I wasn't there when the b!tch was.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
27 Mar 11
The priest was there. He was in charge. But since there were a lot of people to serve, and mind for, he was also busy.
It wouldn't be wise to tell the priest at that time because it was too busy. I hope somebody eventually would tell him though.
1 person likes this
@dainy1313 (2370)
• Leon, Mexico
23 Mar 11
Yeeeeeeessssssssss OMG I feel so happy to read you!! I do volunteering too and just like you I find some troubles there. I was thinking today of those bright lovely children faces to whom I like to work for on Sunday. So this diminish all the "other" people, though. Thanks you for your nice topic =) Blessings!... Dainy
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
28 Mar 11
Although there are people like these everywhere, even when you (or I) volunteer, we should always focus on the people we are helping. I guess it is easier for you, as you see children's faces. I think it would be easy for me too if I were serving kids.
Thanks Dainy.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
20 Mar 11
I haven't but I might have been offended too. Especially if she wasn't some kind of coordinator or something. Sounds like she just wanted to give you guys a hard time. If your like me..you can talk me in to most anuthing but if one starts demanding or being ugly about it, it makes me not want to be cooperative..lol..
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
28 Mar 11
I guess I was feeling that way too!
I came there to help, to volunteer. And although I didn't like what she was doing, it didn't stop me from what I came there for. Even if she was riding us all night, at least I could still feel happy about what I did. Specially if I took her out of the equation.
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
28 Mar 11
I guess, it won't really be a bother that much, had she worked like the rest of you too. Otherwise, if i am in your places i would really ask her to work with us since we are all at equal footing.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
21 Mar 11
This sort of thing does not set well with me. I do put up with that. I think I would have turned the tables and done it back to her. I am wondering how old she is.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
28 Mar 11
She's a bit old. And I've seen her in church by herself all the time. I don't like to say(write) it, but maybe she's all alone, and this is her way of interacting with others. In any case, I'm just thankful that I don't have to deal with her everyday.
Thanks.
@naokokensaku (529)
• Malaysia
20 Mar 11
So, she saw a bunch of kids and set them to do tasks instead of letting them be idle. I don't understand, what's the problem here? If you didn't like it, this is a volunteering gig right? You should have talked to her quietly if you weren't please being put to work for something you volunteered.
I'd say you may have a reason to complain about her if she had set aimless tasks or if it interfered with whatever task you were already assigned to, but if it didn't, why are you complaining? I really don't see how this is an issue.
And I disagree that she got the idea of volunteering wrong. Maybe you should ask yourself or at least explain here what do you think volunteering means.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
27 Mar 11
Hello naokokensaku.
Thanks for the input.
A little part of me, think that you're right. Because it is a volunteering job, I shouldn't be complaining. And it shouldn't matter if I worked harder than her, specially after I saw her just sitting around after I got out of the kitchen scrubbing pans.
Still, my aim was to help. Not to be bossed around, as I already have enough of that at home, and at work.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Sadly you find people like that everywhere. I work with a young girl like that. Not very many of my coworkers like her much.
Thanks.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Oh gosh bounce don't I know this feeling well. Let me tell you what I think about volunteers like this one. Get A Life!! People like her basically do it for title purposes they really do not do it because they have all this free time and want to be helpful. They do it because they want to prove to gosh knows who that they are importent! Notice how I spelled that wrong right because important people actually are helpful, courteous and willing people, who volunteer for the intense of purpose of being a team player and actually helping.
Not signing up to rub behinds and make like they are actually in total control. So my dear been there, seen it and was not totally happy with the situation. Problem with people like her is that they take the intention of others who do so to help and toss it out the window, because no one, and I repeat no one volunteering needs to be bossed around, and no one will continue to tolerate.
At any rate, am happy to hear that you and I also have something else in common I do a great deal of volunteering and it is so rewarding! 
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
27 Mar 11
Yey for volunteers!
I know that we shouldn't judge people for what they do. Or for their importance, or importence for that matter. But I think some people are just naturally like that. They just feel that they should assert themselves in every situation. Even in volunteering.
I know that we shouldn't judge people for what they do. Or for their importance, or importence for that matter. But I think some people are just naturally like that. They just feel that they should assert themselves in every situation. Even in volunteering.