The “old-guard” of community volunteers needs new blood
An OPINION by Heather Forness-Thomas
If you’ve ever been to a Balloon Rally, a State or County Fair, a Strawberry Festival or any event like it, you probably don’t realize the ridiculous number of volunteer hours it takes to make those events a reality. And, more importantly, you may not realize that the people behind the scenes, the people who make these things happen? Many of them desperately want to retire.
So, if the Old Guards want new blood, why does it seem like they are out for it?
When I say, “Old Guard”, I’m not talking about age. An “Old Guard” is a seasoned volunteer often, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. In some arenas, I am an Old Guard. Although I don’t yet qualify for senior discounts, I do have an AOL email address from the 90’s but, my Snap streak, pure fire. In other arenas, I am a complete Newbie, wanting to be a part of the change, struggling to figure out how.
I’ve spent the past few years trying to understand this conundrum. If the Old Guard’s really do want to pass the torch, and there really are New Guards ready to step up, what gives?
So far, I have found these things to be true: the OG’s do want to pass the torch, there is a passionate, capable group who want to step up, both groups are ready for change, and neither is very good at it.
You may think, “The Old Guard’s don’t want to retire! I’ve tried to help, they won’t listen, they don’t want to try new things!” And you may be right.
You may think, “These kids have no idea what they’re doing! They could ruin our legacy; they could destroy everything!” And you may be right.
I often hear older guards cite lack of ambition, lack of work ethic, or lack of passion as reasons the younger generations aren’t involved. Nothing could be further from the truth. In general, the generations that follow Gen X are some of the most passionate, empathetic, creative and driven people this Country has ever seen. Don’t believe me? Drive through a city center on any given weekend and you’ll find young people completely engaged in matters that will often never affect them. They are born with an inherent hunger to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and they cannot shake it. So, they get involved the only way they know how, they dedicate their passion and time to groups that openly welcome them, people with a mission, greater than themselves. If your organization doesn’t have leaders from this talented, enthusiastic generation, that my friends, in on us.
We have young people who want to do more, and we are failing them.
Some of these young citizens may not realize the immediate and significant impact they would have on their communities, or maybe they went to one of your meetings and suggested something completely insane, like “accepting donations online” and someone who doesn’t even know what a tweet is, dismissed them and they never returned.
When my kids were little, they had an awesome playhouse. As they grew, I’d change it up to fit their ages, decorating it with Hannah Montana murals, John Deere gear, slides and rock-climbing walls. And when the time came to give them ownership and creative control, they immediately… Set. It. On. Fire.
In a celebratory “school’s out for summer” party, they set their old notebooks ablaze on the top floor of the playhouse. But, as fires do, it quickly got out of hand. Lucky for them, they were able to put it out. Unlucky for them, they posted their fun on TikTok, and of course, I watched it. I was furious. More luck afforded this OG time to think about how to respond.
I did not yell, or ground them, or lecture them on the egregious display of disrespect and irresponsibility. I simply said, “I saw your video” and they did all the talking. Although I could not show it at the time, (you know, the whole parent-poker-face thing), I was proud. Not of what they had done, but what they had immediately learned from it. There was no punishment but to fix the playhouse, on their own.
They spent the rest of the summer doing just that. They recruited neighborhood friends to help with design and construction and used their allowances to pay for materials. I handed over what I thought to be a perfect playhouse. After all, I built it with hours upon hours of love. All they needed to do was… well, NOT burn it down.
But those flames fueled new perspectives. They were brave, admitting their mistakes, and gifted with the freedom that only comes from genuine accountability. And that freedom afforded them the space to create something even better. Complete with a secret door (obvious reasons), retractable ladder, rope swing and a fairy garden, that playhouse surpassed anything I could have imagined.
In any volunteer driven event or organization, everyone plays a part. We all visit the playhouse. Some of us built it. Some of us are current caretakers. Some of us look at the playhouse and see new possibilities, and some of us will simply enjoy it. Each role is of equal importance. Regardless of the role you play, it is essential we figure out how to successfully pass the flickering proverbial torch to the next generation because the alternative is grim. Your playhouse may become a once revered masterpiece, now abandoned, dilapidated. Gone, and quite possibly, forgotten.
To the New Guards: please don’t let grumpy people stop you from trying again. If you do, you’ll only “prove them right”. The Old Guards think they can’t count on you because they only saw you once. They honestly have no idea that the reason you didn’t return may have been because of them.
Because being right and doing right are not always the same thing, sometimes you choose.
Being right is telling the governing board that accepting on-line donations are an absolute must, doing right is waiting your turn and respectfully making that suggestion in a way that honors the history and experience in the room.
Look, I consider myself pretty open-minded and relaxed but I still have a hard time keeping a straight face when a complete stranger shows up for their first meeting and starts listing all of our wrongs.
To the Original Guards: make the New Guards feel welcome. It seems silly to say that, obviously we should make new people feel welcome but the first time I went to a meeting, they asked me if I was lost. No joke. I certainly did not feel welcome.
Leaders go first.
Any volunteer needs a healthy handshake just for showing up. And, if you know the new person, and you know they are great, and you can immediately see great things for them… hold that thought. Too much too soon might feel a little sus, give them time to get comfortable.
To everyone, all the time – be patient with each other. Sometimes we (old and young people) know what we should do, and we still miss the mark. I recently asked our town supervisor if she would consider me for an open seat on the board. She very kindly and graciously suggested that I start by coming to a meeting. Yikes! I know better than that!
So, when I go to the meeting, I will heed my own words. I will sit, observe and learn.
I will respect and honor the experience and dedication of those in the room.
And, when I do speak up, please be patient.
I won’t bring old notebooks and matches but maybe, just maybe, I can bring a new perspective that lights exactly the right kind of fire.
