Why Volunteer

Those that know me know that I manage two retiree groups.  These are people that retired from the company where I worked about 30 years.

The job is a lot of hard work and can be very frustrating.  I am often asked why I continue to do the job.  It’s a volunteer job and nobody says I have to do it.  My usual response is, “Somebody has to do it, and someone else might not do it the way I think it ought to be done.” 

Then there are those occasional ‘thank you’s’ that make everything seem a little better.  But, at a meeting today, a woman named Julia came over to me to say thank you.  It was her first meeting to attend.  She explained that she had just found out about the meetings and since her husband died, she felt totally alone when it came to understanding the benefits provided to retirees.  Julia said, “I have no one to turn to with my questions.”  Then she said, “Now I have a place to get the information I need.”

Earlier this year a retiree contacted me because he had a problem with getting a prescription that he had to have to stay alive.  There was a mix-up in the system and no one had been able to get the problem solved.  Because I’ve been doing this for a long time, I have a lot of contacts at the company.  It took a couple of days to find the problem and get a temporary fix so the man could get his prescription refilled.  The problem was later solved and he is back on the service he needs.

Why volunteer?  Well, it only takes a couple of these events to realize that we are all put here to serve others.  Please!  I ain’t no saint.  I just get more out of helping than those that are helped.

I still think this job is still like herding cats.

PMO
©2015