Volunteers

During the week I received a book I had ordered.  It is called “The Volunteer Effect.”  I have read very little of it at this point, but it is something I will get into.  I have done a bit of research about such things and have been and am a volunteer, and also have been and am responsible for volunteers.
There have been a couple of things I have learned which really stick in my mind.  I have done some of the things.
Firstly, I find that volunteers are a keen bunch.  Often too keen for their own good.  Often it seems volunteers volunteer for too much.  In the initial excitement they think they can do anything and maintain enthusiasm above and beyond what is reasonable.
It ends up being what I call “the all or nothing syndrome.”  It seems down the track, while enthusiasm does not wane, the ability to maintain a breakneck speed does.  So often it seems people are faced with a choice.  Unfortunately, they can be so locked in without the backup, that because the breakneck speed cannot be maintained all is forsaken.
It seems to me everyone suffers as a result.  Someone did the lot, and did it well, and suddenly there is a void.  No one is indispensable, and the slack is taken up, but often others need to step in unexpectedly while help is found.
 Another thing I have found is it is very hard to find out the true costs of running an organization.  Volunteers love to give and often rather than submit the costs of items they buy them themselves.  This is always very welcome, but budgets need to be set up with these costs accounted for, so they are not a shock when the costs are no longer paid for by the volunteers themselves.  Any expenditure by volunteers is very welcome but I am of the belief no one should be out of pocket doing their duties as a volunteer - unless they choose to be. It should never be an expectation either stated or unstated.
They are things that immediately come to mind.  It seems to me volunteers will be needed more and more, as governments cry poor and funding becomes unavailable.  These are very interesting times, and it seems adaption is more and more the order of the day.