Category Archives: Volunteering

“All good things must come to an end”

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I was looking through my “bird folder” and found a few photos I really liked but didn’t remember taking. They are from April and May. I brightened them up in Adobe Camera Raw and cropped them.

“All Good Things Must Come to and End” is a line attributed to Chaucer, a 14th century English poet. It seems fitting for my life right now.

First, I decided to no longer serve on the board of my women’s group. Then I learned a few weeks ago that the organization is caput. I believe it lasted for more than 30 years and I’ve been involved for about three. I was in charge of communication for membership and for the public, promoting our work and events. The group post COVID had dropped in membership from 200 to 20. Plus a lot of women are getting older. It just wasn’t feasible anymore.

Next, I decided to resign from the HOA newsletter. I worked on the newsletter for four years. I enjoyed it, but a new board was micromanaging and it was no longer a joyful experience.

Does anyone know what type of bird this is? I’ve only seen it once. I’m glad I got a photo.

I had my last photography class last week for the semester. I’ve really enjoyed it and have learned so much. There are five other students who have taken the class for three to nine years. I’m the newbie and this was my first semester. I thought this was going to be an ongoing experience for me. In our last class, I was the last person to present my final project, which I posted HERE.

Then the professor said he had some business to go over. He said the community college may be discontinuing the class. He won’t know for sure until January. So this too may pass.

A Harris’s hawk taking off.

The class is over zoom and there was complete silence when we heard the news. Apparently a student in another one of the professor’s classes was causing trouble for him. He didn’t go into detail, but said the other issue is low attendance. The advanced workshop is by invitation only. It’s not open enrollment. The group is very cohesive and everyone is talented and open to improving and trying new things.

There’s nothing I can do but wait for the New Year and find out if I have a class or not.

Mourning dove landing on the fence.

What good things in your life have come to an end?

Put on the spot

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What a surprise to see this cactus in full bloom! I had to get photos in the morning light.

I was at a board meeting for the charity group that I volunteer for that raises funds for sex-trafficked victims. Unfortunately, the board decided to no longer fundraise for this worthy cause. The reason why? The subject matter is too tough. It upsets the sensibilities of many women. They don’t want to hear about it and deep down they are turned off by it.

Our new year for the group starts in September. I’ve been on the fence on whether or not I want to continue on the board. I brought this up a month ago to our current president who is stepping down from that demanding position and continuing with her role as treasurer (yes she was doing both!) She said, “Oh no! You have to be on the board.”

My job is communications which means internal communication with members as well as outreach to the community. It’s a lot of work. Yes, it’s satisfying, but lately feels like something I have to do rather than something I’m passionate about.

With my new interest in photography and the advanced workshop I was invited to join beginning in September, I’m leaning more towards not being on the board.

At the end of our board meeting the other night, I was put on the spot. The incoming president said, “I need to ask each of you a question. I need to know if you are continuing on the board.”

I really wanted to discuss my decision with the outgoing president before bringing it up in public. But here I was. I was honest. I think being put on the spot does that to me. I can’t come up with an excuse or a nice lie to get through the moment. I could see a few board members visibly upset with me. I explained about my new commitment to the photography workshop and not knowing how much time it will take. I told them I was still thinking it through and couldn’t commit to being on the board.

I drove home feeling guilty for not having this conversation with the outgoing president before a public announcement.

Have you been put on the spot? If so, how did you handle it?

What a Coinkydink!

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The Harris’s hawks have stopped by a couple days in a row. I got nervous when Red was hanging out on the fence near them. But he’s quicker than a hawk.

Whew to the end of another busy week! I had a birthday Monday. On Sunday, our Palm Springs friends, who moved one mile from us, invited us to Sunday brunch to celebrate my day. A friend and neighbor invited six women from our charity group to a French restaurant for appetizers and wine on Tuesday. Wednesday evening I had a board meeting — the last one before our annual fundraiser. Thursday morning was our coffee group and it was my turn to host. All that entails is picking a location (a local coffee shop), sending an email out to the coffee club, then calling the coffee shop with the number attending. Oh, and showing up…

All this while finishing the eight-page program for our fundraiser, writing plus photography class.

We had a good group of eight women for coffee and breakfast. The woman who hosted the French appetizer night was there. She’s the one who roped me into the charity group that helps raise funds for the Dream Center, the recovery, residential facility for sex-trafficked victims. I should say invited me to join, not roped me in. It’s just been a little too much work for me lately.

The conversation at coffee had us telling the other ladies about the charity group, our upcoming fundraiser, plus facts about the Dream Center and sex-trafficked boys, girls and women. (The Dream Center actually has a facility for young girls ages four to 12!)

A man was sitting at a booth across from our table. He approached us and said, “Forgive me, but I was eavesdropping.” Then he squatted near the end of the table and said, “I work for the largest organization in the nation that rescues and helps sex-trafficked victims.”

“What’s the name of it?” I asked.

“The Dream Center,” he said.

My neighbor and I said “Wow. We’re raising funds for you. We have a charity event next weekend.”

Like my daughter always said, “What a Coinkydink!”

I’ve written about visiting the Phoenix Dream Center HERE.

What are some coincidences you’ve had, or if you prefer coinkydink?

I found a mission

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Find a need and fill it. Find a hurt and heal it…

The Phoenix Dream Center

Screen shot from the Phoenix Dream Center.

Although I’m not the most social person, I said yes to attend a women’s group nearby with two of my neighbors. I’m saying yes to things like this to get to know more people in my community.

This women’s group selected one charity that fits their mission of helping women and children in need. The nonprofit they are helping is called The Phoenix Dream Center.

“We’re on a mission to stop human trafficking, end childhood hunger and educate tomorrows leaders.” –Brian D. Steele, Executive Director, The Phoenix Dream Center

Stephanie Lang, MSW, Development Manager of the Phoenix Dream Center, gave an eye opening presentation about human trafficking. To be honest, it wasn’t a subject that I’ve thought much about. The Dream Center takes people off the streets who are being human trafficked. They have a four-year residential treatment center to help heal and get these people back on their feet — whether it’s back in school or in a career.

Some of the scary facts I learned:

Phoenix is a human trafficking hub. That’s because of the freeway system. Phoenix is an easy place to access from California, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, etc.

The average age of women who are trafficked is 13. For boys, it’s age 11.

They have 67 beds and said there is a need for hundreds more.

The people being trafficked are not illegals crossing the border. 90% of them are Arizona residents from all walks of life.

Human traffickers prey on vulnerable people who want to be loved.

Unlike someone trafficking drugs or guns — who have to find a new supply each time to make money — the human trafficker can sell their human being up to 16 or more times per day.

Yes, I’m joining this woman’s group. I believe in their mission.

In addition to raising funds for the Phoenix Dream Center, we will take a tour of the facility in January. They are also working ways to volunteer in person there.

Have you found a mission that you can get behind and support through volunteering or fundraising? What is it?

Be worthy

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US Flag
This is the flag a the entrance to our neighborhood. It was donated by one of the residents.

Memorial Weekend I heard the phrase “Be worthy” repeated several times. It was in response to those who have sacrificed for our freedom. That hit a note with me. Am I worthy?

When my son was in eighth grade, his class traveled to Washington D.C. I was lucky to get one of the chaperone spots. I had never been to D.C. and felt so much emotion visiting the War Memorials and the Arlington Cemetery. If you’ve been there, you’ll understand. If you haven’t been there, you should plan a trip.

I wondered. Am I worthy? I try to be a kind person. I help my neighbors and volunteer in the community. I have for decades. I try to be a parent and wife who is supportive and understanding. I have my shortcomings. But have I done anything worthy of someone sacrificing their life for my freedom?

What do you think the phrase “Be worthy” means? How do you try to be worthy?

A New Low? Who Yells at Kids?

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man love people woman
Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I read an article yesterday about Girl Scout being harassed for selling cookies.

Seriously?

I wrote about being yelled at sitting at a booth registering voters HERE. If I was shaken up after being yelled at as an adult, can you imagine how a five or seven-year-old would feel?

The article was called “Girl Scout cookie sellers as young as 5 are being harassed for selling unhealthy food and a conspiracy theory about cookie money funding abortion” by Lela Moore on a website called Insider.

It turns out that young girls are being yelled at for selling cookies because “they make you fat” and they use “palm oil” that means forests are being destroyed. Then there are those who have linked Girl Scouts to Planned Parenthood because one local council had their Girl Scout logo on a Planned Parenthood brochure one time a decade ago.

Here’s an excerpt:

Girl Scout cookie season is upon us, and young saleswomen in uniform are everywhere: holding court in office boardrooms for an afternoon, manning booths outside the local grocery store, or posting cheery video messages on social media, offering door-to-door shipping. You may even have a Girl Scout under your own roof, filling your garage with cases of the chocolatey, caramelly, peanut-buttery goods. 

But Girl Scouts, and the women who lead their troops and volunteer with them during cookie season, say that the organization’s tradition of face-to-face sales is increasingly accompanied by customer harassment.

“I feel like in the last 10 years, and maybe especially since the pandemic, that people are getting even more aggressive with girls and the volunteers,” Oona Hanson, a Scouting parent in Los Angeles, said. 

https://www.insider.com/girl-scout-cookies-harassment-planned-parenthood-abortion-unhealthy-palm-oil-2022-2

Another thing the teen Girl Scouts have to endure is sexual harassment.

When I was in kindergarten, I joined Bluebirds, which was the youngest group of Camp Fire Girls. When it came time to sell the Camp Fire Mints — which were delicious by the way — my mom bought them all. She refused to let me go door to door selling mints. This was in the 1960’s. I was disappointed because it seemed fun to me. I’m sure Mom had her reasons, and she was very strict and overprotective.

What are your thoughts about Girl Scout Cookies? Has our society gone off the deep end with people yelling at the girls selling cookies outside grocery stores?

To be or not to be….

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The Newsletter Editor

flagpole in HOA
Flagpole at the entrance to our neighborhood.

Our community has a newsletter. In each issue it features an article about the latest homeowner’s association meeting, updates on city utility news like trash days are changing or when bulk pick up is scheduled. There’s always a recipe, an article about wildlife or plants and a welcome to new neighbors. It’s interesting and done by a husband and wife. ‘

For the past six months they’ve asked for a volunteer to take over the newsletter. The couple in charge have done it for more than ten years, since its inception. They are done. This current newsletter stated that if nobody volunteers — then the newsletter is over.

I thought, do I want to do this? Should I do this? I’m not a newbie to newsletters. My first job in PR, I wrote at least seven newsletters a month for various clients including a city, a realtor, a hotel and three or four for a medical center (staff, physicians, research, and a couple medical specialties.) After that job, I worked for a developer and I was in charge of newsletters for several country club developments for the members. That was before “desk top publishing.” I had to type my copy, drive it to a typesetter. I would work on a layout with a pencil on paper! I took numerous trips by car to the printer with corrections to the typesetting and real live photographs. Once I had a “blueline” I was relieved.

In my free time, I did the newsletter for the Desert Advertising Club. I was a board member and volunteered my time. While raising kids, I volunteered to do newsletters for their swim team and a charitable organization I was in.

I know I can do this newsletter, it’s in my “wheel house,” but do I want to?

I thought yes and no. The pros are it’s quarterly. Not monthly. And — this is the biggie — I moved less than a year ago and I don’t know anyone except for the realtor up the street who sold us our house and an occasional hello to next door neighbor Brad. The newsletter might help me be less isolated and more engaged in my new surroundings.

Our neighborhood has five clubs, book club, coffee club, wine club, etc. But they haven’t met because of COVID. They were supposed to start up this month, but they are holding off until 2022.

The downsides — do I want to do the newsletter? Do I want to have a deadline? Do I want to be more active in the community or do I like my quiet life more?

I texted the kids, talked it over with hubby. They all think I should do it. My kids especially think I should because they know I’m happy when I’m working in my field — even if I whine about it.

I decided to sleep on it. Two days later, I decided YES. I called the number in the newsletter of the current husband and wife editors. I got the “disconnected and no longer in service” message.

I checked the neighborhood directory and noticed there was a typo on the phone number. I dialed the correct number and once again — “disconnected and no longer in service.”

I looked up their cell phone and it went straight to voice mail. I left a message and emailed them.

That was Friday. It’s Sunday and I haven’t received a call back or an email.

So to be or not to be — Newsletter Editor? We’ll wait and see.

What are your thoughts about volunteering? Do you think it benefits the people volunteering as well as those who receive service? What do you think of people volunteering because of their own agenda or motives? Can you think of any examples?