BFTP: The pig with a wooden leg
Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 11:30AM 
A weekend Blue Skunk "feature" will be a revision of an old post. I'm calling this BFTP: Blast from the Past. Original post February 10, 2009. See also the post, The Pig and the Horse.
A fable, if you will:
A manure spreader salesmen was driving past a farmyard here in southern Minnesota when he spotted a pig with a wooden leg. His curiosity aroused, he pulled in the driveway and over to where Ole was repairing the corn crib.
"Say, Ole," says the salesman, "that's an interesting pig you got there. How'd he get the wooden leg?"
"Oh, yah," says Ole, "that's some pig. Once when the old barn caught fire, that pig rushed into the flames and let all the animals out of their pens so they could run to safety.
"Anudder time when the river flooded, our whole family was on the roof of the house and about to be swept away when that pig swam to the neighbor's house and swam back towing a fishing boat to rescue us.
" And just last summer when a tornado was coming right at the farm, that pig rounded up all the kids and got them into the storm cellar. The house was a goner, but the kids were OK."
The salesman was amazed. "Wow, that is quite the pig, Ole," says he. "So then, during which adventure was it he lost the leg?"
"Oh, he didn't lose the leg," replied Ole. "It's just that you don't eat a pig that good all at one time."
I've been soliciting volunteers to help with different tasks in our state's school library and technology organization. Little things like serving on committees for the upcoming state conference, writing short articles for the newsletter, and taking part in legislative activities.
What percentage of our 600 member "volunteer" organization steps forward? I'd say we have fewer than 50 people who ever take more than a completely passive role. 8%. And of that 50, maybe 20 who are dedicated. 3%.
Why is this? Why can some people with the same 24 hours in a day, same commitments to family and work, same need for leisure still work on volunteer basis while others simply refuse to participate. I am not condemning anyone since I am absolutely certain everyone has a great reason for doing what they do. And god bless every volunteer effort no matter how seemingly small.
Is it something we current active members are doing? Are we too set in our ways? Too clubby? Too poor at communicating the organization's needs?
Here's my fear. I am afraid like the pig with the wooden leg that we may be eating our best people alive. That at some point they will simply say "I've done my bit, served my debt to society the organization, and I am retiring as a volunteer." And the organization loses a wealth of information and experience and talent.
What is your perspective on this? Does the same active vs. inactive ratio apply in the volunteer organizations to which you belong? And what can we do about it?
Reader Comments (2)
I have to admit that sometimes I feel that I've done my bit and someone else needs to step up to the plate, but then after a bit I'm right back in there. I guess volunteering to do things must fill some need I have that others may not have or if they do they satisfy that need in different ways.
Along with service and work comes satisfaction and purpose. It's too bad so many people have not figured this out.
Doug