I'm happy to carry things in from the car so long as when I get to the door, four people aren't standing there staring at me as I struggle to open the door. What do they think I am? A flippin' octopus?
That we have to beg and bribe parents to volunteer when EVERYONE (no matter how busy they are) can give at least an hour.
That the same people who NEVER volunteer are the same ones who are the first to complain about the way an event is run, about what we're spending on or what their child didn't get to do.
When people say that those of us that volunteer are people pleasers and we need to stop giving so much of ourselves. I would love to do less but if I did who suffers? My children would not have had any of their favorite elementary school experiences if I hadn't gotten off my duff and joined the few other parents who care and MADE THINGS HAPPEN. I would gladly delegate the 612 volunteer hours I've given so far this year if there was someone standing there to give the hours to...
I work full time and am involve in several other community groups. Needless to say I;m a pretty busy person (just like many of you) Yet, I have been the President of our group for 5 yrs(next yr will be 5) I have worked or chair every project our school has done.
So, this is what bugs me. At Market Day we will have a line waiting to pick up their order (they are early) they will stand there and watch me and 2 other volunteers run around trying to get everything unloaded and checked in.
When we did frozen pizza and cookie dough pick up was after school--we had 12-15 parents watching us and asking us every 5 minutes how soon would we be done they had places to be. I finally made an announcement that we are working as fast as we can if they would like for us to move faster then they could help us. Do you know we only had 3 parents stand up and help.
This is what bugs me--we are "volunteering" our time for their child. Yes they did do the fundraising but who works behind the scence.
Now I will say this month at Market Day we did have a mom show up--she came in and said I'm early but what can I do while I'm waiting, we put her to work. We thanked her when she left. Then I did a personal phone call telling her that was very nice of her and was very much appreciated.
Does this bug anyone else? Anyone else have similar problems?
