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KATHERINE BRANDON
Gina's Alter Ego
Gina's Alter Ego
How to Give Back (Relatively) Painlessly...or Finding
Time to Volunteer
by
Gina Ardito
by
Gina Ardito
An organization is only as good-as strong-as its members. But in this day and age, when we already have
so much on our plates, how can anyone be expected to take on more responsibilities, more tasks?
Especially when you're not getting paid for these extra headaches? While I don't have all the answers,
and honestly, each person's situation is unique, here are five tips that have helped me find time to give
back to the organization and chapter that give so much to me:
1. Start small. Dip your toe and test the Volunteer Waters before diving in head-first. Be part of a committee where the workload is shared or divided. Or choose a position that takes advantages of skills you already have in your repertoire. You can always work your way up to President later. (And if you don't raise your hand for the post, you might be "volunteered" anyway.)
2. Judge a contest. Love to read? Excited about finding new authors? Judge a contest! Chapters are often desperate for judges and the time you donate benefits them, the entrants, and you. Yes, I said you. Sometimes seeing errors in others' works gives you new insight into your own writing mishaps. Contests have specific rule sheets that make it fairly easy to score each entry on its merits. Find a contest with limits that work for you. Can't do five entries of 25 pages each? (That's 125 pages to read; about a third of most paperback books) Look for chapter contests where you're only reading the first ten pages. Or a synopsis. Whatever works for you. Every little bit helps.
3. Write an article for your chapter newsletter. How to be fabulous, how to deepen POV, how to train your kids to know a true emergency from a so-so emergency that can wait 'til you finish this page. You've got more skills than you realize. Share them with your fellow writers! Trust me; your newsletter editor is always eager to receive something written by a chapter mate. Is your how-to article too long for the newsletter? Turn it into a workshop and present it to your chapter mates at a meeting. Host a talk at your local library for other writers. Send a proposal to RWA for possible inclusion as a workshop at the National Conference.
4. Avoid the vacuums. Blogs, loops, computer games: timesuckers! Now, personally, I do participate in all three, but I limit myself. Love to read certain blogs or participate in certain writing loops? Great! Visit. No more than twice a day. And don't feel the need to comment on every post or read everyone else's comments. It's easy to get sucked in, thinking you're contributing something valuable to the conversation, but your input could be so much more valuable elsewhere. Sadly, games also fall into this category. Don't give up what you do to relax or recharge your batteries, but use those games as a reward for a job well done. Drain the battery before you recharge it. And don't overcharge it. Set a time limit: one round or two rounds maximum. Don't continue to hit "Play Again." Limit all the vacuums in your online life and you'd be amazed at how much time you'll gain to help others!
5. Don't be afraid of the word HELP. Whether you ask for it or give it, be brave enough to open your mouth and say something.
The RWA and all its local chapters thrive because people behind the scenes give their time, knowledge, and support in a thousand different ways, whether it's every day or only once in a while. If you're not lending your own unique perspective to our organization, every member is missing something special that might make a difference.
1. Start small. Dip your toe and test the Volunteer Waters before diving in head-first. Be part of a committee where the workload is shared or divided. Or choose a position that takes advantages of skills you already have in your repertoire. You can always work your way up to President later. (And if you don't raise your hand for the post, you might be "volunteered" anyway.)
2. Judge a contest. Love to read? Excited about finding new authors? Judge a contest! Chapters are often desperate for judges and the time you donate benefits them, the entrants, and you. Yes, I said you. Sometimes seeing errors in others' works gives you new insight into your own writing mishaps. Contests have specific rule sheets that make it fairly easy to score each entry on its merits. Find a contest with limits that work for you. Can't do five entries of 25 pages each? (That's 125 pages to read; about a third of most paperback books) Look for chapter contests where you're only reading the first ten pages. Or a synopsis. Whatever works for you. Every little bit helps.
3. Write an article for your chapter newsletter. How to be fabulous, how to deepen POV, how to train your kids to know a true emergency from a so-so emergency that can wait 'til you finish this page. You've got more skills than you realize. Share them with your fellow writers! Trust me; your newsletter editor is always eager to receive something written by a chapter mate. Is your how-to article too long for the newsletter? Turn it into a workshop and present it to your chapter mates at a meeting. Host a talk at your local library for other writers. Send a proposal to RWA for possible inclusion as a workshop at the National Conference.
4. Avoid the vacuums. Blogs, loops, computer games: timesuckers! Now, personally, I do participate in all three, but I limit myself. Love to read certain blogs or participate in certain writing loops? Great! Visit. No more than twice a day. And don't feel the need to comment on every post or read everyone else's comments. It's easy to get sucked in, thinking you're contributing something valuable to the conversation, but your input could be so much more valuable elsewhere. Sadly, games also fall into this category. Don't give up what you do to relax or recharge your batteries, but use those games as a reward for a job well done. Drain the battery before you recharge it. And don't overcharge it. Set a time limit: one round or two rounds maximum. Don't continue to hit "Play Again." Limit all the vacuums in your online life and you'd be amazed at how much time you'll gain to help others!
5. Don't be afraid of the word HELP. Whether you ask for it or give it, be brave enough to open your mouth and say something.
The RWA and all its local chapters thrive because people behind the scenes give their time, knowledge, and support in a thousand different ways, whether it's every day or only once in a while. If you're not lending your own unique perspective to our organization, every member is missing something special that might make a difference.