A very surprising plus: volunteering

[pb4uski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2B ....I have a very low desire to actively volunteer on an ongoing basis. Spot activities are possible but if I want a new job I'll find one with a paycheck.

My aunt who had a career as a secretary used to volunteer a couple afternoons a week in the office at the local hospital shortly after she retired. After a few years she got discouraged when she observed that she was working harder than the paid staff and she perceived that they were dumping work on her that they were paid to do so she decided to move on.

[friar1610]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb4uski I was quite involved in a community organization in my early 30s and it was the epitome of volunteer creep... ultimately becoming a job. I politefully declined when they wanted me to be President (just for a year they said... right). The volunteering that I have done since ER is helping out people that I know with different things, serving as guardian for my grandmother and a great-aunt, etc. just friends and family. I am thinking of volunteering at a local adult basis education organization tutoring people getting their GED at the local foodbank but am hesitant of volunteer creep.

Most of my volunteer work has revolved around adult literacy/basic math tutoring and I have found it very satisfying. I don't do any volunteer work that involves boards, meetings, etc. I was a management guy most of my working career and I don't want to do any of that any more - I want to be the doer, not the overseer.

[Meadbh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by friar1610 Most of my volunteer work has revolved around adult literacy/basic math tutoring and I have found it very satisfying. I don't do any volunteer work that involves boards, meetings, etc. I was a management guy most of my working career and I don't want to do any of that any more - I want to be the doer, not the overseer.

I enjoy that type of work, so that's what I do!

[Teacher Terry]

i volunteer at our local humane society. They have many tasks you can do. YOu can work in the office, walk dogs, play with the cats to socialize them, help with special events, help in the clinic, etc.

[Tekward]

I share similar sentiment. Yesterday a friend asked if he could nominate me to the board as Director of Outreach & Mentoring for a local professional group of ~3K members. It's hard for responsible people to say no or just go through the motions, but with experience, you can see it coming and dodge the bullet with a polite "no thanks.".

I will support the group periodically via a Veteran's Networking Group. It will serve some of the purposes but focused in my preferred area with reduced overhead. The key is managing expectations and controlling your schedule.

[scrabbler1]

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Originally Posted by brewer12345 Having heard the horror stories here, I have been very selective with what I am willing to do. Board membership sounds like hell to me.

A few times in the 6 years I have been retired, I have thought about being in the co-op board in my co-op complex. We have had several vacancies develop but I have decided against it for a few reasons: (1) I already do some volunteer work for the co-op by overseeing the annual elections for Board members and determining a quorum by using my spreadsheet skills to quickly figure out the quorum and counting the ballots if there is a contested election; (2) I don't want the headache of being on the Board even though the Board members and our managing agent know me and like me from my aforementioned work. My apartment happens to be right above the room the Board meets in so I get to hear some of the heated discussions (raised voices only, not individual words) coming through my floor from time to time and I think to myself, "I am glad I am not part of that!" (3) If I have a suggestion or comment to make about an issue relevant to the Board, they are always receptive to what I say because of the goodwill I have built up over the years.

So, if I am already getting some gravy, why seek to obtain some grief?