Volunteering?

by CountryGuy 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  CountryGuy

  Okay. I have a question and need to vent... So one of my favorite things about not being a JW is that if I feel strongly about a particular cause, I can volunteer to help out. Thus far, my volunteering has centered around literacy.

  This weekend is the Arkansas Literary Festival. It is the third year of the event and I have volunteered every year, but this year may be my last. I am an author escort this year. Basically I pick him up from the airport, take him to events, make sure he has everything he needs during his presentation at the Festival and take him back to the airport. It's not hard at all. I was the escort for this author last year, so I know what to expect even.

  Here comes the vent... I was sent an email last night that I was to pick my author and another author up on Saturday morning and take them to a paid entry event. The other author is the keynote speaker at the event. No problem. However, I was also informed that I would need to buy a ticket to get in at this event. Ummm... that's where I have my issue. They asked me to perform a function for the event and then asked me to buy a ticket for said event. If I wanted to go to an event that I was not working, I could understand that I would need to purchase a ticket.

  Here is the question... Growing up a JW, the only volunteering I had ever experienced was forced upon me: field service, cleaning the men's room at the KH or cleaning the men's room at the DC. Is this practice of charging volunteers normal? Do other organizations ask for volunteers to run events and then charge them to get into to work at that event? When I questioned this with the director of the Festival, she told me that this is what the executive committee had decided on. I will totally admit that sometimes I do not know how the "real world" works. So, before I decide that this will be my last year volunteering for them, I thought I might ask you guys.

  CountryGuy
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  Honesty

  Is this practice of charging volunteers normal? Do other organizations ask for volunteers to run events and then charge them to get into to work at that event? When I questioned this with the director of the Festival, she told me that this is what the executive committee had decided on. I will totally admit that sometimes I do not know how the "real world" works. So, before I decide that this will be my last year volunteering for them, I thought I might ask you guys.

  CountryGuy

  I ushered for the David Phelps "Life Is A Church" concert on April 7. Didn't get charged one single red cent.

  Why should you have to pay someone to work in their event?

  Sounds too much like the WTBT$.
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  misspeaches

  Country Guy, I have done a little volunteering outside the realms of the kingdumb hall... In instances where it is a paid event I have not had to pay my own entrance fee. In fact like yourself if I was performing a service without charging for it then I would expect that they would not charge me any expenses either.

  I commend you in your volunteering but I think that you need to put your foot down with this mob. Either they be reasonable and not charge you for the event are you provide your services to some other organisation.
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  Kenneson

  Seems to me that they should give you a complimentary ticket. After all, it isn't your idea to go to this event. That does seem like a strange case of volunteerism; I've never heard of anything like it.
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  Highlander

  can't add much here,, but I have to agree,, if you aren't charging for your services, than neither should they.
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  CountryGuy

  Thanks guys. That's pretty much what I thought. I will honor the commitment I made this year, but won't be volunteering next year.

  Oh, by the way. The event on Saturday morning is at the Clinton Presidential Center. One of my friends works there. When I told her about it, she gave me a seat at the table the Clinton Foundation reserved. So, I'm not paying for it and I'll be going to the event!

  I think I'm going to start volunteering for ARORA which is the local organ recovery agency. They were FANTASTIC during the passing of my mother-in-law.

  CountryGuy
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  sass_my_frass

  In everything I've ever volunteered for, the organisers go out of their way to keep their volunteers happy and make sure you come back. Screw em, do you think they're the only people in town who want people to work for free?
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  pudgey1

  what a cheek, you shouldnt have to pay....