The Pig with the Wooden Leg
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 10:10AM 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 (7)
http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php
Not the answer, just a different way of looking at things.
I'm dealing with something similar. I'm working for one of these "membership organizations" where we have an incredible amount of buy-in to our services, yet getting people to participate is very difficult. We are playing with the question right now of "what's worked well with our 'workgroup' concept of people volunteering their time" around certain initiatives. The best insight thusfar: It's not only important to start these initiatives/causes/task force/volunteer groups, it's critical that you know how and when to stop them.
I don't belong to any professional organizations, in part because I live on the western slope of Colorado. Most professional organizations operate on the eastern slope, e.g. in Denver. However, speaking as a many-years member of various parent-teacher organizations, no matter which one I've been involved with, we end up with a few key people who do all the work. I first volunteered at the age of 4, stuffing Easter Seal envelopes. I've found new ways to volunteer with the advent of the internet. In other words, I was *raised* to volunteer. (I still volunteer even though I have two jobs). When I won a volunteer award a few years ago, the principal praised me for helping with band and being active in PTA. When the assistant superintendent shook my hand, she said, "I wanted to say that you were active in *my* PTA too" (which was about 6 years earlier). Many moons ago, when I did a practicum at the Iowa CIty Public Library, they advertised for volunteers. Volunteers had concrete job descriptions and were interviewed for jobs. I've always thought that was a good idea--let people know *clearly* what will be required and what skills sets are needed. It wouldn't hurt to include the benefits to them. (Major benefit of belonging to PTA? You get to know the principal, staff, and other parents in a way that you wouldn't otherwise). A few years ago, we were disbanding one PTA, deciding which of two schools should get the funds. The people present at the meeting were the principal, two teachers, two other parents, and me. One of the parents asked, "We get to make this decision? Shouldn't all the parents be involved?" I said, "We're the parents who are bothering to show up, and therefore, by default, the decision is ours."
My experience is the same--few people do most of the work. I'm sure there are a myriad of reasons, but here are a few I've encountered:
-The people doing the asking like to ask people they know will say yes--so they ask the same people over and over again (I've been guilty of doing this!).
-People new to an organization feel like they don't know enough or have enough experience to volunteer--especially if it's advertised as "serve as such-and-such officer" (I think the word "officer" scares people away!). Alternatively, people who are interested don't know the right way to get involved--this seems to be more true of larger organizations, or geographically diverse organizations (even with all the virtual means of communication now available).
-I'm sure some of it is that not everyone is willing to give their time, and many truly feel unable to do so. There are many organizations that need volunteers!
I feel a full-disclosure need to acknowledge that I currently only volunteer at one activity (Sunday school), and it's only a once a week, sometimes once every two week, commitment!
Everyone might have 24 hours in a day, but not everyone is equally talented in all areas. I think, as the other commentators have stated, that the 3% idea is the norm rather than atypical. So this means that the talent that is present in an organization that isn't contributing to helping out is simply investing their energies in other places. In other words they're part of the 3%, just not with you.
This same problem is prevelant in schools as well as outside organizatons. At my last school we were required to be on one school site (building) committee and one district wide committee. However, I found that the people that actually did the work of these committess were basically the same from committee to committee. Why? I have several theories: several were extremely organized type-A people that could cram 40 hours a week into 24; some couldn't say no to anyone so were easy targets; others felt 5-10 extra hours a week of afterschool activities (a requirement), meetings, and general committee meetings were enough; and others just felt that they were paddling as fast as they could already. Unfortunately, what I say happen was that many of the ones that had been or currently were on many committees and actually working, decided that enough was enough. "Let some of the new folks or those that haven't participated before step up and take a turn." Not an unreasonable comment, just one that may spark less getting accomplished along with frustration about apathy.
Hi John,
I have been having this internal dialog about the signs that an organization has outlived its usefulness. Is a lack of willing volunteers one of them? Hard questions to ask...
Doug
Jude,
The idea that volunteers have "job descriptions" and specific duties is a good one. Thanks for passing it along.
Doug
Hi Libby,
I appreciate your observations. I would agree.
If EVERYONE volunteered, might not your once or twice a week efforts be a great plenty?
All the best,
Doug
Hi Lane,
I would like to think that everyone is doing his/her bit someplace but I am not so sure...
Doug
Hi Gwen,
Based on my wife’s comments about her school, this must be the same everywhere. It makes wonder how “site-based” management ever works!
Thanks for leaving the note,
Doug
Great lines and paragraphs all. Thank you.
(And I can definitely identify with Milo!)
Doug