“VOLUNTEERING”

I’m a volunteer and I can do what I want. Well, the response to that is yes and no. It is all a matter of your level of seriousness and public perception. It also depends on your role within the ARES/RACES organization.

For those who are “coordinators and leaders,” you are in the spotlight. What you say and what you do is just as important as what you don’t say or do. If you chose to accept an appointment as a leader in the ARES/RACES organization you best be serious.

In the real world, you are a coordinator of an entire organization that will have relationships with the government and private agencies that exist in a professional environment and have to contend with legal responsibilities to protect and serve the citizens of a particular geographical area.

They understand the home and family pressures experienced by volunteers; however they don’t give sympathy for broken promises. Remember that they have incorporated amateur radio communications into their emergency plans. If you can provide 100 people to help during a disaster, that’s GREAT. If you can only provide 2, tell them, but what ever you do tell them, do not tell them something that you can not provide.  Don’t assume that people will come out of the woodwork to help when there is a major disaster affecting the community. You cannot count on that, and neither can the government agencies. Remember, they are counting on you to be realistic for their response planning purposes.

Another pitfall of being a coordinator is “not being around.” A volunteer you are, and your home/job/family is the most important thing. However, you can’t accept responsibility and not be assessable to the served agencies and the membership of your organization. If your life has changed, and you don’t have the time or resources to lead; pass the torch. There is no shame in that and doing so is far more honorable than not doing your job as well as you think it should be done. It is a sign that you care because you want to see things accomplished with the energy of someone who has time.

“I’m a volunteer, and I will run things how I want,” does not work. You are not a supervisor at someone’s place of employment. One hundred percent of your “power” comes from your ability to be an effective team member that others will follow due to your ability to navigate the overall landscape. If you are not “a part of the team,” not listening to input, and not acting upon changes in the environment in an effective fashion you will look behind you to find only your shadow.

That is a lot of responsibility. Volunteer organizations such as ours are dynamic, and they are wonderful because of the energy poured into them by people who care. As a leader of volunteers, you can go to the Moon, or you can sink faster than the Titanic. Whether you have 2 or 200 members, honest, committed effort results in the most satisfying experience you can have. “You make the difference.”

ARES/RACES members also have dangers in participating within the organization. Like a coordinator, you are a volunteer who must place your home, family and job first. However, if you make commitments, fulfill them. Be honest with yourself about your ability to contribute. Do not take on the responsibility or task if you cannot realistically fulfill them. Like a coordinator, if your life’s situation changes and you cannot do the task as well as you think it should be done, pass the torch.

Another danger of volunteers is being complacent with the status quo. “John Doe is the EC, he needs to ask me to do it.” Well, Manure is available at most home and garden stores for reasonable prices. If you see a need, do something. Failure to try to help the situation is like failure to vote; you don’t have the right to complain. Don’t sit back and quarterback when you have not expended effort as a team member to help other ARES/RACES members and coordinators fulfill and fix the problem. Otherwise, you will lose the respect of others. Being a team member is the key. Don’t go it alone, work with other members to accomplish the needs and goals of the group.

Consistent, honest effort and a common sense approach is the rule for all ARES/RACES coordinators and members.

Be realistic about your capabilities, limitations and willingness to “get out of your recliner.” Failure to do so will result in lack of effectiveness of the organization, result in unnecessary stress, and may create situations that can lead to personal feelings between volunteers.

Serving the community is not a matter of “I am a volunteer, and I can do what I want.” It is a matter of “I am a member of a team, and other people count on me to help create a serious organization.”