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I volunteer in a leadership position for a non-profit. We hope that our volunteers will stick out the year because it affects other people negatively if they do not. They make the commitment to a teenager for a year (it's actually about 10.5 months) and develop a trusting relationship with them. In addition, they make the commitment to submit monthly reports to the organization, who must report to the U.S. Department of State. If they disappear after three or four months, it's not the end of the world, but it means that someone else has to pick up the slack. If someone says they only want to volunteer for a few months, it's not a problem; we would just assign them to a task that doesn't need a year-long commitment.
Be honest with the organization because you will be letting people down if you say you'll do it for a year and then drop out after a few months. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control, so the organization does have a contingency plan, but why put them in that situation on purpose? There are plenty of volunteer opportunities that are more appropriate for a 3-month commitment or an occasional commitment. Look for one of those if that's the amount of time you can contribute.
So, good volunteer options are out there. Don't think you're somehow weird or crazy if you have to try a bunch of them before you find one that's a perfect fit. For some reason, a lot of organizations treat volunteers badly. .
What I've seen is they just don't respect volunteers. They respect the people in paid positions. I used to volunteer for a political campaign and told them I wouldn't go door knocking (I have a limp) and I wouldn't do cold calling. They gave me a lecture that this was a "bad attitude". I don't have to listen to anyone's lectures when they're not paying me. They just wanted to shove the dirty jobs off on someone else.
What I've seen is they just don't respect volunteers. They respect the people in paid positions. I used to volunteer for a political campaign and told them I wouldn't go door knocking (I have a limp) and I wouldn't do cold calling. They gave me a lecture that this was a "bad attitude". I don't have to listen to anyone's lectures when they're not paying me. They just wanted to shove the dirty jobs off on someone else.
Not surprising. I had offered to volunteer for a political party, and when they discovered that I wasn't totally up on all of the issues and candidates, etc., they completely blew me off. I told them I'd be happy to march in parades, stuff envelopes, call people, etc., but I didn't make the grade.
Silly thing was, I was living somewhere where their party was by far the minority party, and when they marched in local parades there was maybe a half dozen of them. Yet, they preferred their small group to having an outsider join. Totally bizarre.
I did volunteer for a food bank where I drove to pick up food from restaurants to deliver to the food bank, and I liked that I was basically on my own, but could chat with the food bank workers when I delivered the food. It was a Christian organization. I'm agnostic, but had no problem with the organization.
But, one of their staff members took it into her head that she had to convert me, and became somewhat of a scary, creepy stalker. I had to quit when she actually stalked me by waiting in the parking lot for me once and tried to kind of practically kidnap me by nearly trapping me between her and the building. I felt lucky to get away. The really nice organizers begged me not to stop, wanted to have meetings with me and her and staff, etc., and I told them it was just way too much drama. Sorry, but I'm not willing to deal with that.
I have other stories, too. But, people should be aware that there are a lot of really weird and creepy volunteer situations out there. That doesn't mean you shouldn't keep looking for a good one. Just know that if you encounter something that seems completely odd and alien - that you are definitely not the first person who has been in that situation.
That’s quite a long commitment for an unpaid position. What if you get another job or something? It’s true about what others say though about being honest. Perhaps this isn’t the best opportunity for you. I’ve noticed lately that a lot of places want so much from unpaid volunteers and forget that people have to work and go to school.
Not surprising. I had offered to volunteer for a political party, and when they discovered that I wasn't totally up on all of the issues and candidates, etc., they completely blew me off. I told them I'd be happy to march in parades, stuff envelopes, call people, etc., but I didn't make the grade.
Silly thing was, I was living somewhere where their party was by far the minority party, and when they marched in local parades there was maybe a half dozen of them. Yet, they preferred their small group to having an outsider join. Totally bizarre.
I did volunteer for a food bank where I drove to pick up food from restaurants to deliver to the food bank, and I liked that I was basically on my own, but could chat with the food bank workers when I delivered the food. It was a Christian organization. I'm agnostic, but had no problem with the organization.
But, one of their staff members took it into her head that she had to convert me, and became somewhat of a scary, creepy stalker. I had to quit when she actually stalked me by waiting in the parking lot for me once and tried to kind of practically kidnap me by nearly trapping me between her and the building. I felt lucky to get away. The really nice organizers begged me not to stop, wanted to have meetings with me and her and staff, etc., and I told them it was just way too much drama. Sorry, but I'm not willing to deal with that.
I have other stories, too. But, people should be aware that there are a lot of really weird and creepy volunteer situations out there. That doesn't mean you shouldn't keep looking for a good one. Just know that if you encounter something that seems completely odd and alien - that you are definitely not the first person who has been in that situation.
Just 3 days is enough to be considered AWOL here on these forums!? I typically engage in my own and other threads, but sometimes, work, chores, errands, and out of town trips come up that keep me away from the company for up to over a week at a time. If he's still not back by 2 weeks, then I'd reconsider. Otherwise, we need to ask all OP's for at least a 1 year agree commitment
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