At the age of about 13 or 14 I started doing volunteer work. I volunteered regularly until about 18 years ago when my volunteering kicked into overdrive. Those last 18 years have seen me holding executive positions (often multiple at one time) and committing as many hours to volunteering as I was working (I sacrificed sleep, not family time). Tonight I have finally been able to relinquish my last positioned volunteering role as the president of the high school P&C Association.
I actually wanted to stand down last year, but (and sadly literally) 4 hours before the AGM we went into covid lockdown. The AGM didn’t happen. What with the craziness of last year I was unable to handover my position. Even this year, when the AGM was many weeks ago, no-one stepped up and I had to work hard to find a replacement.
But after 3.5 years, I am no longer president. I just returned from my last meeting in that role and the relief is physical – a weight has lifted from my shoulders.
As a parent it doesn’t mean my volunteering is over. As needed I will help, but I no longer have responsibility, and that is key.
Do you volunteer, or have you been a volunteer in the past?
June 7, 2021 at 9:43 pm
I volunteered all through high school and university. In Ontario all high school students must complete 40 hours in order to graduate. I did that within the three months of grade 9 LOL I even ran the volunteerism club during grade 11 and 12! Got to meet the head of a very high profile charity who came to my school. Of course the people who joined in grade 12 just to put it on their university applications took over because they were also in student government (I may still be a little bitter hahaha) but it was great all the same! The charity was actually just in the middle of a huge political scandal though and I don’t think they are going to survive in the after shock 🤭
June 8, 2021 at 7:06 pm
That’s actually a really nice thing to make students do, although I am sure many don’t think that.
June 7, 2021 at 11:58 pm
Yes, I have volunteered and I probably will again, at some point. I am taking some time to settle into retirement first…and to figure out what it is I want my life to look like, in my remaining years. A blogger friend recently wrote a post about volunteering after a Zoom discussion in our group about that same subject. Even though most of us were not “officially” volunteering, she wrote that she felt we were all “giving back” in many, mostly-unrecognized or under-recognized ways. As most women do. I have to agree with her.
Deb
June 8, 2021 at 7:10 pm
It’s true, there are often ways we are giving without formalising it under the banner of volunteering. If I was you I’d be wanting to settle into retirement as well.
June 8, 2021 at 12:47 am
It does seem that those who volunteer do everything. It isn’t spread evenly. I used to, a lot, but now I write.
June 8, 2021 at 7:10 pm
That’s what I’m hoping I’ll be bale to do with the extra time I now have! As they say, need something done, ask a busy person…
June 8, 2021 at 9:12 am
Oh man, that’s the worst. Being stuck in a position that you’re done with. I’m glad you were finally able to step down.
June 8, 2021 at 7:11 pm
It is great to finally be officially done, because when you aren’t really wanting to do it it is hard to be enthused.
June 8, 2021 at 9:08 pm
For some it did kind of suck. Like my brother hated the idea! Although he used his air cadets stuff to fill out the time. I was already doing Sunday school at church and was a trainee for their Monday night children’s program which turned into a leader and then add up the week-long sleep away camp in the summer that I did as a leader from grade 10-end of university. I had no problem getting the hours lol my friends volunteered for this little kids hockey thing once a year, it was like 12 hours a day for a weekend so I did that too to be with them and around hockey players 😍😍 lol
For the kids I used to nanny it will be TOUGH. They don’t do anything hahah
June 9, 2021 at 7:57 pm
And not helped by the fact their parents probably won’t want to take them anywhere!
June 9, 2021 at 8:59 pm
And if they do take them, they will be late almost every single time. The oldest daughter was trying to get some public transit freedom but that wasn’t going too well when I was leaving. And now with the pandemic? Hahaha ooooo man.
June 9, 2021 at 9:06 pm
Why does that not surprise me…
June 9, 2021 at 9:07 pm
😂😂
June 13, 2021 at 11:29 am
You had a good run! I volunteered more when my boys were younger. Hopefully I will have more opportunities as things open up again.
June 14, 2021 at 5:13 pm
Ugh, I’m hoping I don’t have any opportunities opening up 😉