BFTP: The Pig with the Wooden Leg
Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 05:59AM 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.
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 fishin' 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 do 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 - or not 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, 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)
The secret to keeping volunteers (or anyone who works for free or nearly free, like, I don't know, educators) is to make the experience both intrinsically and extrinsically rewarding. Different people are motivated in different ways, and I find it necessary to reward people for a job well done in both a visible, concrete manner, such as an award or even a sticker, and in a reinforcement of the reasons we volunteer (or teach) in the first place, such as a public recognition of service. When we wring the last bit of time, effort, money, etc. out of our volunteers (or teachers, for that matter), then cast them aside or let them go gently into that good night without recognizing their contributions, we reinforce the disposable nature of those who serve. Those who serve are complicit in this, because time after time, we continually volunteer to take on more tasks (often without recognition), knowing our value to the organization, but unable or unwilling to "toot our own horns" for fear we will seem self-serving.
I do not advocate a parade for every volunteer (or teacher) out there; this concept flies in the face of rewarding the very best - when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy no longer matters. We should recognize those who do an excellent job every day, but fly below the radar and do not get the public recognition they deserve.
I'm still waiting for my sticker for flailing away in the trenches of public education for 15 years. Bitter? Nah.
Hi Len,
Intrinsic motivation is certainly a key, but being shown appreciation is always nice. Most of us operate like Anne Dillard when she writes "You do what you do out of your private love of the thing itself."
Thanks for the comment. I can send you a badge. Will that work as well as a sticker?
Doug