The following is an except from:
Practical Reasons for Ham Radio Volunteering & Management
Frederick R. Vobbe, W8HDU
- March 10, 2010 (Revised: July 16, 2010)
www.eham.net/articles/24299

Volunteers are important.
But more important are the reasons for volunteering, and the way an organization is managed to make it effective. Take a moment and learn from the pros.

This checklist was adopted from a meeting I had the pleasure of attending this past winter. It was with a group of hams that are very involved in their community. Their participation spans from causal observation at parades, to real emergency events. Weather spotting is less than 10% of their mission. The rest is local community involvement. They have performed maritime directional finding, communication exercises with militia, training in schools and churches, and have drilled with other clubs to advance their skills in preparation for communications.

Their motto, "A Good Ham Knows: Preparation, Education, and Service to Community" speaks volumes.
The thing most impressive is they do this not for the recognition, but because it's the right thing to do. In preparing this article about their organization they specifically requested no mention. What they did ask is that their suggestions and information be distributed freely on the hope that it will help other organizations gain the proficiency and achievements they have.

The key point made at the meeting is that things just don't happen in a community. It takes people, local people, to be the soldiers of any organization. An organization, especially one in a rural area, is much more effective than asking the state or the federal officials to come in and solve problems. Volunteers know the community, know the people in the community, the communication capabilities, resources, and how to get things done! They are the link.

Volunteering is an important and essential contribution to society.
Without volunteers many of the tasks we face in life would be compromised. Without a volunteer fire department, how would a small community react to a downtown building fire? Without volunteer weather spotters, how would a federal agency such as NOAA get real time data from the field?

You can't take volunteering lightly.
Before pledging yourself to an organization, analyze all the reasons and your abilities. You should get involved if you can perform a service. You should not volunteer if you don't have commitment, ability, or preconceived notions how the organizations should be run. Bad volunteers cause problems within an organization, as well as personal and professional credibility issues. Most of all, they let down their community.

Take for example a weather spotter that decides it's his responsibility to chase down a tornado and get in front of it to observe the winds and damage it causes. He announces he's going in and is not heard from again. His fellow volunteers and emergency responders are now placed in the position of focusing on him, and applying assets for possible search and rescue.

How about groups of people that say they are volunteers, but don't do anything?
How are they helping, and what is the public's view of other volunteers and the organization they represent? What if a volunteer EMT Service organization never answered your call in a medical emergency?

Before putting your hand up to volunteer, think about the following.

Why do you want to get involved?
Is it because you have the time and talents, or is it for the fraternity and recognition? Can you serve a productive, required need?

The difference, between a volunteer organization and a club, is that the club is a fraternal organization.
It is there for the meeting of other hams, and the sharing of interests. A volunteer organization exists to serve a need. Many people try to mix these two together, and it usually doesn't work. Why should people perform work and service to community when their reason for joining a club was just to have fun and meet other hams?

We all have busy lives.
Even retirees have full schedules. Are you able to volunteer, or are you are already over-committed? How much can you shoulder realistically?

You should not feel obliged to take on a volunteer position if you are already busy with other things.
Over-extending yourself is the first step on the path to burn-out and failure. If someone pressures you to do more, you do not owe any explanation whatsoever. Simply say, "I already have things to do." Volunteer only if you have time to do so.

Are your talents needed?
Is there something you want to do? This is an important question because it focuses on your investment in the group's mission.

Are you joining a group of weather spotters because you want to provide information vital to public safety?
You shouldn't volunteer just to get a sticker for your car, a badge, name in the paper, or because your friends belong. Separate personal wants and needs from service to your community. If you are not participating for the right reasons it's safe to say you're ineffective to the organization, and probably wise to move on to something else.

Do you have the ability to perform the volunteer activities for which you are expected to perform?
You would not want to become a volunteer firefighter if you have asthma, and you're afraid of fire. You would not want to be on an EMT Service run if you faint at the sight of blood. Ask yourself the simple question, can I do what is asked of me?

Tell the volunteer organizer about your skills, and explain to them any concerns you have to fulfilling your duty.
Allow them to find a position best suited to your aptitude and interests. Don't take offense if your services are not required at first.

Are your efforts competing with other volunteer and hobby positions?
Are they politically challenged? To whom do you owe your loyalty? These may seem like odd questions but suppose you live on a county line. You're a volunteer with ARES in one county, and a RACES member in another county. Both counties call you up. Whom shall you serve?

Another situation might be where you are a member of a club, and your buddies have a loyalty to the club and don't want you to be a volunteer of what they see as a competing organization.

If there is competition, how might that affect your effectiveness in the scope of volunteering? If members of a club are going to attack you for belonging to another organization, it might be better not to volunteer. It's not fair to the volunteer organization if you have to keep looking over your shoulder for conflict, or your buddies are sniping at you on the radio. As a rule of thumb, if there is conflict, choose one or the other.

Besides radio clubs and emergency positions, you shouldn't have to compete with family, church, school, and other personal commitments. If there is conflict with family or personal commitments, the club and organization should be a far distant second. Family first!

Are you physically able to volunteer?
There are certain stages in your life when volunteering may not be a good option. Someone who is retired and out of physical shape should probably not be involved in strenuous activities. However, their services could be used as net control, clerical roles, or simply to assist in coordinating activities.

If you want to help with fieldwork, perhaps you could be a spotter for overhead electrical lines, or buried infrastructure. Or maybe just coordinate activities for the organization.

Do you have the right equipment and resources to perform what is asked of you?
Does your radio work properly? Do you know how to set repeater offsets, tone settings, and memories?

As ridiculous as these sounds, I have witnessed hams that don't know how their radios work!
If you can't operate your equipment, or don't have the proper equipment, perhaps you should resolve this problem before hindering an organization. You should know your equipment intimately.
- If you can't remember, carry a manual or instruction card with you at all times. Having spare batteries or a spare radio is a good idea, but it's an investment.

Are you joining because of peer pressure?
Sometime our friends are our own worse enemy. They may want more "numbers" in their organization. Or they may want someone to take over a position, and for whatever reason they feel you want the job. People are bullied and even coerced into volunteering. This is not a good reason to be a volunteer.

It is not unusual to be elected at a meeting that you do not attend. Or be pushed into position in front of a meeting, belittled with questions why you won't accept on the spot. If you are present at such a vote, vocalize strongly your refusal. State clearly that you do not want the position, period, and ask those who are pressuring you to stop.

If it should happen in your absence, send a carefully worded letter refusing the position, setting out brief reasons why, or simply say "I do not accept". I would also recommend sending this by USPS letter, receipt requested. With e-mail there is often the temptation by the recipient to forward it on with comments, or it can escalate into a long e-mail debate.

Are you joining because of sympathy?
Believe it or not, many people take on positions with volunteer organizations because they fear the organization's failure. "Ok, I'll do it because nobody else will", is a comment a lot of people have made, only to regret later.

You shouldn't have to become a volunteer because you fear an organization's demise.
This sounds harsh, but if an organization fails because nobody wants to be a part of it, then maybe it's not needed, or there is a lack of community support. Sometimes failure is an option when there is lack of need. And if needed it will rise from the ashes like the Phoenix.

If you have to step in due to a vacancy, it is acceptable as long as you state a reasonable time period for your replacement. 90 to 120 days is typical. But never accept a long-term status out of fear that if you leave, you're responsible for putting the organization in the grave.

Can you find a way to be a volunteer without killing your time, energy, or finances?
Being a volunteer is a commitment. It can easily become a second or third job. Your position has a responsibility, but will it take you away from family, friends, and other duties?

You should not volunteer if, after your shift, you feel physically stressed, or exhausted.
Nothing will make an employer unhappy that to have you less than productive because of your extra curricular volunteer work. And your long-term employment could be affected if you choose to go spot weather events all night, and then call in sick to work the next day.

Most volunteer organizations don't pay expenses.
If you are called upon to drive distances, (as in weather spotting), do you possess the finances for gas? Will this activity affect the condition of your car to the point where you can't get to work? Can you afford to do the things an organization asks of you? Sometimes your volunteering is an investment.

One trap volunteers get into is pledging their personal assets, or money to purchase assets for the organization.
You should not entertain the thought of providing for group resources until you have carefully considering the consequences, and weighed all the options.
Radios, antennas, cable, vehicles, generators, and places to hold meetings should not be donated unless you have a clear understanding that once you "give" them to the organization, there are no strings attached, conditions, or reasons to take them back.

What is your level of commitment?
Are you dedicated or are you just mildly interested? If you are prone to making excuses for not participating in events, nets, training, or meetings, this is probably a sign you have not invested fully in the organization. It is not fair to the rest of the organization if they can be 100% and all you can muster up is 40%.

Do you use language to suggest that being a volunteer is less important, with no commitment?
If you use the phase "I'm just a volunteer" as a way to explain away not performing your duty, you just established what you and your organization is worth. Nothing. If you can not commit, it's best to quit. And never make excuses.

Are you risking your safety?
You would be surprised at how many people have now made the transition between storm spotter and storm chaser. In some cases I have seen normally sane people get caught up in the excitement and drive into storms or dangerous positions.

In the case of ARES, you encounter many situations where you might not be prepared or knowledgeable. Have you been properly training in hazards and health risks? You should request training from your organization on the dangers you will encounter.

If you feel unsafe, consult the person in charge and let them know.
Trust your instincts. If you are denied any safety training, you are within your rights to leave an organization.

These are but just a few examples of questions you need to ask yourself when thinking of joining a volunteer organization.
Be fair and honest with your assessment of your priorities.

It's far better not to volunteer, than to say you will then not live up to your end of the bargain.