Volunteer Incentive

[admin]

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2009/1209/front_page/023.html

The program is accepting applications for 2010. There is a $250 fee to cover material and program costs. Applications can be downloaded from www.visitmonmouth. com and are also available from the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service at 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, or by calling 732-431-7260. The deadline to apply is Jan. 4, 2010


A couple of weeks ago I posted this entire article elsewhere on the site. Here is an idea, and I know some NPC members read this site.

How about a reward program for volunteers who do a great job related to NPC? Can the town scrape up a few dollars to award grants so that people who earn it can have the application fee paid for?

Think about someone like Antonia who did such a great job and won ribbons at the fair. A reward like this could be a really nice gesture for someone who earns it.

[lisa]

I've already spoken to Antonia specifically about becoming a Master Gardner; I will talk to and remind her of the sign up. I know she is Interested as I'm sure other people may be in this program. As one who did take the classes, I will say you do need dedication and time to do this. But I do think this would be an awesome incentive for people that live in the Boro. Personally I would love to see more people involved for what it could possibly do for our town.

[dfx]

Sorry about that! Here's the entire response:

While I think the idea of rewarding volunteerism is a unique approach to stimulating people to take pride in their community, it begs the question: doesn't payment negate the very concept of volunteering?

Aside from the philosophical differences, let's talk about practical reasons why this idea would be difficult - at best - to implement:
- Who would be responsible for determining if a volunteer was "worthy" of a payment?
- What would the judgment for payout criteria consist of? (Time spent volunteering or something more visible/tangible?)
- Where would the reward payment come from? (Keep in mind that our state is in financial shambles right now & dollars are scarce. To implement a payment program would mean that another budget would have to be reduced...)

I'm not trying to be negative, only realistic. While this is an interesting idea, it needs to be proposed in a practical manner - believe me. As an unpaid volunteer member of the Neighborhood Pride Committee, an unpaid volunteer member of the school board and an unpaid volunteer member of Freehold Fire Department I've learned firsthand that (contrary to popular belief) coming up with an idea is the easy part. Truly making it work is the hard part.


dan xavier

[admin]

Dan,

I am not going to disagree with anything you wrote, and you asked all the right questions. Your one question blows my idea right out of the water: doesn't payment negate the very concept of volunteering?

The funny thing is, and I am not saying this to support the idea I posted, I have actually seen paid volunteers participating in volunteer programs.


I certainly do not view your thoughts as negative, but very realistic. I just like to put ideas out there to see what it stirs up. Maybe this in itself is a bad idea, but gets someone thinking of something better. Or, it is just a bad idea and turns into a post that fades away.

Speaking of volunteer initiatives, before I abruptly left CIC, Councilman Sims was speaking of the idea of some sort of volunteer recognition. That is something that gets done in other places and I am sure we will see something nice coming from Jaye.

And Dan, while I have your eyes, your post reminded me of Andrew Defonzo when he was on the BOE and participated here. I believe one of the first things he corrected people on was the wrong perception that the BOE was a paid position. Some people believed that, but Andrew corrected that pretty quick!

[Mike Rosseel]

Paying people to Volunteer does NOT promote any good for a town. It becomes a job not a passion! Is our world so screwed up that you think you have to pay people to get involved? Come on DFX, that takes the whole volunteering part of community right away! I applaud you for all you have listed above but pay isnt the answer!

[dfx]

Mike -

I think you misread what I wrote. I am philosophically opposed to paying for volunteerism - hence why I posted what I did. I just also took the time to post some of the practical reasons why I feel it would be difficult to implement.


dan xavier

(Sometimes I feel that you disagree/misinterpret what I write simply for arguments sake.)

[Mike Rosseel]

DFX, i dont understand why people cant vocalize there opinion like you do without being attacked. Trust me Dan, i dont "disagree" with you just to argue, i have better things to do. Im just stating my opinion! One line of my response addressed you, thats it. I was actually saying i didnt think people should be payed! I actually complimented you for all your volunteering!

(I certainly wasnt writing to you, i was writting to the topic, relax dan, i dont attack you or misread you!)

[dfx]

Mike -

Reread what you posted: "Come on DFX, that takes the whole volunteering part of community right away! I applaud you for all you have listed above but pay isnt the answer!"

If you don't want me to raise my guard, don't make statements that imply I'm saying something that I am not. Words are extremely powerful and are often taken out of context in today's society.


dan xavier

[Mike Rosseel]

There is nothing neg. in that statement. Words are powerful but lets not make more out of a simple statement then there needs to be. Keep your guard up, do what you have too, i'm going to continue writting what i write, hopefully you will not think its addressed to you!