A trademark characteristic of Wondermom Wannabes is their habit of constant volunteering and almost unavoidable compulsion to lead or chair those volunteer groups once they become involved. I don’t know if it’s because we just hate letting people down so we have a hard time saying “no,” or if it’s because we realize that if we don’t like how something is being done we’re the best solution to fixing it, or if we truly think it’s no big deal to take on just one more thing. I’ve used all of these explanations over the years when my husband asks me how I mysteriously ended up as PTO VP or chairperson for the fundraising committee. In the end, it doesn’t really matter WHY we do it. The important thing is to accept that if we can’t stop ourselves, we need to go in with realistic expectations and our eyes wide open. So, here are some things you may already know but probably need to be reminded of before you leap headfirst into your next I’m-going-to-change-the-world position.
You Will Have to Cope with Alpha Females
Although there are some gentle, laid-back volunteers who sometimes get mixed in with the wolf pack, most of the ladies (and sometimes gentelmen) that comprise the leadership team for a volunteer organization are strong-willed, Type A personalities. If you are one of them, you can expect to butt heads at least occasionally with someone else on the team and be willing to fight for your ideas to be implemented. If you aren’t one of them, you will have to play mediator to those who are or endure some lengthy battles and likely, a lot of campaigning to win you over to a certain side. There’s nothing you can do to avoid this reality, but if you come in expecting it you will be more likely to be able to accept and cope with it.
Accept That You Won’t Be Able to Make Everyone Happy
Most people get involved in volunteer activities because they truly want to help others. What a shock it is to us the first time you spend several unpaid hours in service to others and then get criticized or complained about/to for: doing it wrong, not doing enough, or wasting other people’s time. Here are some important things to remember about the critics/complainers:
- They’re rarely the people who are willing to put forth their own time and effort so they usually don’t know what they are talking about and aren’t willing to be part of the solution.
- People are more likely to give feedback if they have a negative experience so even if the complaints outweigh praise, it doesn’t mean more people were unhappy than happy.
- People are all different so as long as you are meeting some individuals’ needs, you need not worry about meeting everyone’s.
Not Everyone Plays by the Rules
Oftentimes, in volunteer organizations, everyone is so thankful that other people are stepping up, they go to great lengths to avoid insulting one another. One by-product of this behavior is that sometimes we don’t question things we should because we don’t want someone to think we don’t trust them. Guess what? If you aren’t doing anything wrong, you shouldn’t mind being asked about how or why you do things, as long as it’s not framed as an accusation. Don’t assume that everyone is going to follow the rules and be honest and forthright, but also don’t assume everyone is a criminal. Make sure checks and balances are in place so that everyone involved has an incentive to keep things above board.
When There’s Money Involved, Don’t Take Chances
Keeping in mind the previous point that not everyone plays by the rules, if you are involved in an organization that handles money, protect yourself by having clear protocols and policies in place. When I make a purchase from the snack cart (our fundraiser at the high school), I give the money directly to one of the other volunteers so that there’s no question that I paid the correct amount for an item. At the end of each day, one person counts the money and the treasurer confirms the amount before depositing it in the bank. Other typical rules are that no PTO board member can write a PTO check to him or herself for reimbursement and that all checks require two signatures.
Also, I strongly recommend that due to the nature of board member changes every year and the large amounts of money that typically flow through a PTO, that you get professional help at least once each year for taxes and/or an audit. Although this can carry a cost of hundreds of dollars, it’s preferable to fines of thousands of dollars if there are accounting mistakes in the organization’s books. You can hire a local CPA. An acquaintance of mine recommended some great new professional tax software from Sigma Tax Pro that includes support from a consultant, and the software is very reasonably priced.
That’s all I’ve got. Have more insights? Please share them with us in the comments section below.