Volunteerism: Why, How, And What For

[Anonymous]

*Fanfare*

Good Morning GaGers:

You wake up in the morning and wonder why "Why do I do what I do, and get no thanks for it?" Well sometimes that thought crosses my mind and still I haven't found an answer to it.

What is a volunteer?

1. a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking.

2. a person who performs a service willingly and without pay.

- and circa to the post Vietnam War time -

3. Military. a person who enters the service voluntarily rather than through conscription or draft, especially for special or temporary service rather than as a member of the regular or permanent army (hence the Song - Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane)

Now volunteers can range from everything from working in a food pantry, in an animal shelter, count homeless people, or even work for your politician to get them elected. You can even volunteer on a state, local, or federal level. As for myself, I did the state, local and federal level.

Now what made me make today's Take? I posted something on my Facebook wall a few years back. I was with a military organization. And the unit which I was in, was unique in some ways. The formation of the unit, in the words of the founder to some of the adults which was slowly filtered to the cadets was purely done for selfish reasons. And when those reasons came to light before the higher ups, they deny it. But when they were confronted and told to step down, wheels were in motion to make sure the person who was outside of the fold not to get the position, but the person who actually the unit was created for. I left the unit because I couldn't deal with the issues.

So I remain with the city and local level.. The city level is gotten to be a point where I am not appreciated due to the fact of a person who literally bribed his way up is ineffective as everyone else, and everyone stands by him, while people like me who give 110% get nothing.

They are some who don't think we deserve recognition because they are some buffs, this goes with the law enforcement aspect. They think they are actual law enforcement, while you got the Barney Fife type who are clueless as the days are long. When you get no respect from those within, it makes you wonder why work so hard and get nothing in return...

There is a light. for every dark turn, someone, somewhere, will thank you for your hard work and it will go noticed. May not be now, ten years, or maybe fifteen, but someone will see your struggles. and say thank you.