Erik H. Wrote:
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> Marty Bernard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > If you don't like something at a Tourist RR or
> RR
> > Museum which depends on volunteer to exist, go
> > help them fix it. Volunteer!...
> > So Tom Rodgers, you have identified areas you
> > found as a visitor which need polishing. Why
> > don't you help them polish? Complaining here
> > accomplishes nothing.
>
> I'm going to take offense of the above statement
> as it broad-strokes a lot of people and doesn't
> take into account several factors:
>
> 1. The guy lives in Salem, Oregon (I believe).
> Chehalis is a long drive, >100 miles. Sure, some
> folks do it. Most don't. My wife would murder me
> if I took the (only!) car to Chehalis each weekend
> leaving her stranded home alone. And she'd demand
> to know why I'm spending hundreds of dollars in
> fuel and vehicle maintenance that could be used
> for other, more important things.
>
> 2. I have indicated to some closer groups that I
> wanted to volunteer. I've patronized several
> closer-in groups on repeat times. The responses I
> received were...well...let's just say not
> conducive to my continued interest in the group.
> Some were downright rude, the others were more
> ignorant. And I'm just simply showing an
> interest, not telling them how to run their
> organization or making snarky remarks. One group
> even sent me an e-mail berating me about one word
> in a post I made (the word "acquired") on a
> discussion forum. He seemed to be more interested
> in his personal ego.
>
> 3. The one time I was "accepted" as a volunteer I
> was pretty well given a VERY menial task and
> ignored by the rest of the group. I understand
> that grunt work has to be done and I'm not
> complaining about that, but to be ignored while
> the "higher-up" volunteers huddled together and
> ignored the rest of us was a put-off. The best
> way to make things happen is that everyone shares
> in the grunt work, everyone shares in the "desired
> work", everyone works together. It's all for a
> common goal and a common cause. And everyone is
> one team, not "us versus them".
>
> The times that volunteers really did like me to
> join...unfortunately were model railroad clubs
> that also wanted me to pay as much as $60 -- A
> MONTH -- to join. Sadly that is out of my reach.
>
> So...in a nutshell that is why I'm not a volunteer
> anywhere. I'll spend my money on one-time
> excursions with my son, and I'll pitch in a few
> bucks at the souvenir table or the snack bar.
> That way both parties win - I can enjoy the train,
> the group gets a few bucks out of me. I would
> love to volunteer but unfortunately driving 100
> miles (each way) is not an option for me so the
> number of opportunities in my area is pretty low
> as a result.

Well said. Its nice to get insight on this much repeated subject from a different perspective and someone who actually has gone out of their way to be involved both as a paying rider and volunteer. The whole, "if you don't like it, quit @#$%& and do something about it" remark every time someone posts something about a negative experience or opinion is tiresome and immature. As Erik clearly states it: its not always so simple or black and white.