Awards for Volunteers
22/05/19 04:27
I attended the Black Hills Spirit of Volunteerism Awards luncheon yesterday. The event is sponsored by the Helpline Center with the support of major corporate sponsors including a bank, a large construction company and the area’s electricity supplier. Volunteers were nominated by various groups throughout the community in several categories: Youth, Group, Corporate Humanitarianism, Up and Coming (19-49), and Shining Bright (50+). All of the nominated volunteers were people who had made exceptional contributions to our community and the award winners were deserving of their recognition. It was fun to see how many dedicated volunteers are at work in our community and what meaningful work volunteers perform.
The event, however, left me feeling a bit uninspired. One would expect such an event to be a celebration that invites and inspires others to become involved. It didn’t have that effect on me, and I’m not sure exactly why I had such a reaction.
Parr of the process, I’m sure is that they had so many nominees. Nearly 50 individuals and groups were profiled in short descriptions from the podium in a 90-minute event. That meant that they read profile after profile with almost no separation between them. The short amount of time for each nominee meant that they barely covered the surface and didn’t speak at all about motivation or note those who volunteer for multiple organizations. The event came off as if the most valued volunteers were those who volunteer for only one organization, despite the fact that many of the volunteers are not so single-minded or focused on a single organization. It made it seem as if the organizers of the event believed that individuals should pick a single organization and feel that their work was sufficient. We humans, however, are complex and have many different interests. I work at a full time job and yet find time to volunteer with at least four different organizations that do meaningful work in our town.
Another reason for my discomfort for the event was that it was filled with promotions for the corporate sponsors. The program booklet, color printed on expensive paper, was filled with advertisements. The screens at the front of the room displayed advertisements for the sponsors. Representatives of the sponsoring organizations presented the awards. the whole thing came off as if the reason sponsors donate is for recognition and the reason volunteers give of their time is for recognition.
I work in a voluntary organization. I see dedicate volunteers who serve without any thought of recognition. I work with donors who donate for the purpose of doing good, not for the public recognition. I know a lot of donors and volunteers who weren’t at the luncheon, many of whom have given as deeply as those who won the awards. Each individual is special and I have no disagreement with the judges choices of award recipients, but awards and luncheons aren’t the reason that volunteers serve.
The sponsor of the event is a relative newcomer to our community. The Helpline Center promotes itself as a one stop place for service. They operate the 211 phone line that connects those in need with organizations that help. Their shrives are not yet well developed in our town. The times we have called trying to connect people in need, they have been less than helpful and we have ended up working directly with organizations ourselves. The Center has, however, been very successful in obtaining funding. They have received grants that previously went to other organizations. My frustration is that the Center doesn’t provide any services at all. It just is a coordinating group. It seems to operate as another layer of bureaucracy in a world that doesn’t need more bureaucracy. I like the idea of a single phone call that connects those in need with services, but so far the system doesn’t work in practice in our community.
There has been a big effort in our community to centralize services. The Helpline Center has a lot of support form the Mayor and other community officials. They also have been promoting the development of a single campus that consolidates all services tor people who are homeless. The idea is to create public-private partnerships that are as big as the problems that are faced. The problem with that idea is that there are very good niche service providers who know they can’t solve the whole problem, yet continue to serve faithfully in one small area. The Mission provides emergency shelter, but is not able to provide addiction recovery services. Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing, but is not able to provide transitional housing. Love Inc, provides classes and some direct services, but is not able to do food distribution. Hope Center provides drop-in day services, but is not able to provide overnight housing. All of these organizations work together in diverse locations with services that are spread out. The idea that they all should become part of a huge county-owned campus doesn’t align with the mission of many of the groups.
The Black Hills Spirit of Volunteerism Awards is a nice idea, but it falls way short of recognizing all of the volunteers who make our community work. And that is just fine with the volunteers. Among the most dedicated of volunteers are plenty of people who have no need of luncheons and awards and recognition. They don’t serve for that purpose. They gain reward from the people they serve and the knowledge that they have helped. That is sufficient reward for them.
There were plenty of pictures taken under the Helpline Center banner yesterday. They showed award winners and corporate sponsors together. The pictures will show up on public media and will be displayed in corporate headquarters and offices. There will be plenty of sponsors and volunteers for next year’s award luncheon. I’m thinking, however, that I’ll skip the luncheon next year. That would give me an hour and a half that could be given in volunteer service to one of the organizations I love and support. My absence from the luncheon won’t be noticed and I can leave the recognition events to those who enjoy them. I prefer to hang out with the unsung heroes.
The event, however, left me feeling a bit uninspired. One would expect such an event to be a celebration that invites and inspires others to become involved. It didn’t have that effect on me, and I’m not sure exactly why I had such a reaction.
Parr of the process, I’m sure is that they had so many nominees. Nearly 50 individuals and groups were profiled in short descriptions from the podium in a 90-minute event. That meant that they read profile after profile with almost no separation between them. The short amount of time for each nominee meant that they barely covered the surface and didn’t speak at all about motivation or note those who volunteer for multiple organizations. The event came off as if the most valued volunteers were those who volunteer for only one organization, despite the fact that many of the volunteers are not so single-minded or focused on a single organization. It made it seem as if the organizers of the event believed that individuals should pick a single organization and feel that their work was sufficient. We humans, however, are complex and have many different interests. I work at a full time job and yet find time to volunteer with at least four different organizations that do meaningful work in our town.
Another reason for my discomfort for the event was that it was filled with promotions for the corporate sponsors. The program booklet, color printed on expensive paper, was filled with advertisements. The screens at the front of the room displayed advertisements for the sponsors. Representatives of the sponsoring organizations presented the awards. the whole thing came off as if the reason sponsors donate is for recognition and the reason volunteers give of their time is for recognition.
I work in a voluntary organization. I see dedicate volunteers who serve without any thought of recognition. I work with donors who donate for the purpose of doing good, not for the public recognition. I know a lot of donors and volunteers who weren’t at the luncheon, many of whom have given as deeply as those who won the awards. Each individual is special and I have no disagreement with the judges choices of award recipients, but awards and luncheons aren’t the reason that volunteers serve.
The sponsor of the event is a relative newcomer to our community. The Helpline Center promotes itself as a one stop place for service. They operate the 211 phone line that connects those in need with organizations that help. Their shrives are not yet well developed in our town. The times we have called trying to connect people in need, they have been less than helpful and we have ended up working directly with organizations ourselves. The Center has, however, been very successful in obtaining funding. They have received grants that previously went to other organizations. My frustration is that the Center doesn’t provide any services at all. It just is a coordinating group. It seems to operate as another layer of bureaucracy in a world that doesn’t need more bureaucracy. I like the idea of a single phone call that connects those in need with services, but so far the system doesn’t work in practice in our community.
There has been a big effort in our community to centralize services. The Helpline Center has a lot of support form the Mayor and other community officials. They also have been promoting the development of a single campus that consolidates all services tor people who are homeless. The idea is to create public-private partnerships that are as big as the problems that are faced. The problem with that idea is that there are very good niche service providers who know they can’t solve the whole problem, yet continue to serve faithfully in one small area. The Mission provides emergency shelter, but is not able to provide addiction recovery services. Habitat for Humanity provides affordable housing, but is not able to provide transitional housing. Love Inc, provides classes and some direct services, but is not able to do food distribution. Hope Center provides drop-in day services, but is not able to provide overnight housing. All of these organizations work together in diverse locations with services that are spread out. The idea that they all should become part of a huge county-owned campus doesn’t align with the mission of many of the groups.
The Black Hills Spirit of Volunteerism Awards is a nice idea, but it falls way short of recognizing all of the volunteers who make our community work. And that is just fine with the volunteers. Among the most dedicated of volunteers are plenty of people who have no need of luncheons and awards and recognition. They don’t serve for that purpose. They gain reward from the people they serve and the knowledge that they have helped. That is sufficient reward for them.
There were plenty of pictures taken under the Helpline Center banner yesterday. They showed award winners and corporate sponsors together. The pictures will show up on public media and will be displayed in corporate headquarters and offices. There will be plenty of sponsors and volunteers for next year’s award luncheon. I’m thinking, however, that I’ll skip the luncheon next year. That would give me an hour and a half that could be given in volunteer service to one of the organizations I love and support. My absence from the luncheon won’t be noticed and I can leave the recognition events to those who enjoy them. I prefer to hang out with the unsung heroes.