Volunteer Sign Up - They Don't Want Me!

Hi Everyone and Happy Spring!

I'm kinda bummed. I signed up about 2 months ago to be a campaign volunteer. I won't say who because I don't think it's appropriate to talk about who we are for or against but I'm happy to share or discuss off the boards if anyone wants to PM me.

Well, since then I've been kind of given the runaround. The organizers in my area claim that I'm on the list and that they desperately need mine and others help. But I find out about meetings minutes before they happen. At one meeting I did make it to last Sunday they told me my neighborhood captain would be in touch to help with voter registration drives. I'm in PA so the deadline for registrations to vote in the primary is this Monday. It's Friday and I've heard nothing at all. They didn't even give me a name and number to follow up. In fact, the place was so packed Sunday that we were basically just shuffled out the door within a half hour, whether we had time to ask questions or not.

Now I'm not a face-to-face kind of person. I prefer to be behind the scenes - entering data, helping with mailings, research, etc. I know there isn't as much demand for someone like me, but at the meeting they did say they needed multiple data entry people. Sounded perfect for me.

I feel personally insulted and rejected although I do tend to be overly critical of myself. Maybe this is just how these things work and they are not organized properly?? I'm trying hard not to take it personally but I've had trouble all of my life feeling invisible, especially in situations like this. This doesn't help.

I guess I'm not really looking for the magic answer, but just some reassurance that it's probably not just me - that it's just the nature of these types of volunteer projects. Anyone else had something similar happen? Were you able to let it go and learn not to take it personally?

Thanks guys! Namaste...
Misty

Contact your NATIONAL committee, that's how I registered. I have had no problems with the local people, and even was invited to and went to a private party where I met and shook the hand of the candidate.

But with that said, I have had terrible experiences with volunteer work forces, even though I was also a volunteer. Some of them have been doing their volunteer "work" so long, they are jealous and very possessive of it, and not open to any new helpers.

namaste'

It sounds like a cattle drive, I wouldn't want them! I wouldn't take it personally, that they don't want "you" but rather that they don't know you. I think big things like this always call for a whole lot of volunteers, just to make sure they get enough. I agree with you, really sounds poorly organized, if organized at all.

Oh bummer! I'm sorry! (grrrrrrrrrrrrr at that) I don't have much experience with this but I don't think it's you at all!

I'd say that it's definitely not you - it's them. Sounds like the whole thing was poorly organized. If you really want to volunteer somewhere, there are lots of organizations that need help and in some communities there are even agencies that match people with volunteer opportunities. Just contact groups you think you might be interested in.

Don't let one set back discourage you.

---splitimage

Hey,,,,,I would not take it personally. Some organizations are SOOOOO disorganized that they have no clue what is going on. Other organizations are like "clicks."

I know someone that was rejected from an organization that has a wait-list for people....no real reason given. And this organization would not have even interacted with it's volunteers except at the first matching.

Oh, I had a co-worker who is gay and an organization would not take him and his partner even though it was the holidays and they desparately needed help.

So, don't let it get you down! There are so many others that would love to have you!!!

PS: Sometimes if it involves children, you might be rejected if you have a history of substance abuse or illegal activities. But that is a safety issue, not a personal thing.....

One time, I offered to volunteer at my church and was told the committee prayed about it and God told them I needed to....'....grow more...' that hurt. Other times I was left off a volunteer schedule or told 'well...we haven't seen you around to discuss it..' ( I WAS around...)

Come to think of it, I HAVE grown since then and fit in other places now besides church, perhaps you would be PERFECT- just somewhere else that's more "YOU.." ( behind the scenes sounds good )