This month I want to say thank you. Thank you to all the people who volunteer and give their time to help other writers. Ten days ago, I attended the Pennwriters Conference like I do every May. I've been the secretary for Pennwriters, a state-wide writing organization, for almost two years and a member of PW for much longer than that. Until I volunteered to serve as secretary, I had no idea how much work went into making the conference, online classes, mini-conferences, newsletter and social media run smoothly. Hours and hours of work and it's all done by volunteers just to help their fellow writers.
If you've participated in the A to Z Blogging Challenge, you know it's a lot of work. For the amazing people who run it, it's many times over the amount of work for them. And it's all volunteer. Thank you to all of them.
And here we are on IWSG. As a participating member, you only have to post once per month and then have fun visiting. But behind the scenes, a lot of things go on. Facebook, the newsletter, Twitter and don't forget the two anthologies. All volunteer work. Thank you to my fellow administrators.
This weekend will be the monthly meeting of my local romance writers group. RWA have very strict guidelines for local groups and how the officers are elected. But again, all volunteer. Once again, there is an amazing amount of work going on behind the scenes. Thank you to all those unpaid workers.
The writing community, online and in person, is very generous and supportive. I hope we all remember to pass it on. Volunteer when we can. Help someone starting out as someone at one time
helped you.
On a lighter note, from The Old Farmer's Almanac:
There are about 900,000 poppy seeds in one pound.
One should know everything that one says, but not say everything one knows. (1901)
Do you volunteer in any writing organizations? Have you thanked a volunteer lately? Do people come to you for advice? Who do you think counted those poppy seeds?
36 comments:
I can't imagine how time-consuming it must be to volunteer in communities like this. So much dedication, for sure!
Beautiful post. I believe in passing it on or paying it forward as some would say. To share what I have learned from my own experiences bring me a lot of joy especially when I know it is helping someone else. The last time I thanked a volunteer was yesterday. I have volunteered once to be co-host on IWSG. Maybe, I should volunteer to help out in an online writing organization. I hadn't thought about that, so thanks for mentioning that. I don't know who counted the poppy seeds but I love the quote, one should know everything that one says, but not say everything one knows. It is beautiful.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat Garcia
http://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/2016/06/iwsg-june-2016-recovery-is-not-matter.html
Lots of work with putting on thingd, a thankless job at times, I am sure people appreciated your efforts in helping with the conference. Who would take time to count all those poppyseeds?
Betty
So much goes on behind the scene of any organization and it seems the ones who rely on volunteer do the most work. It's the giving heart that does the most.
It must be hard work to volunteer to help an organisation and your thanks means so much to them.
A wonderful post Susan.
Yvonne.
Excellent post and reminder, Susan! I've done some volunteering here and there, and I am always amazed at the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes.
You know what it's like behind the IWSG and the Challenge. So much work people never know about. I certainly appreciate all you do for the IWSG!
Volunteering for such things is a big deal indeed. Always tons behind the scenes.
I have a lot of respect for all the volunteers! Thank you!
Love the quotes, Susan! Especially the last one. How appropriate! I think what Alex and you and the crew do is marvellous! Volunteers are special, that's for sure.
I used to volunteer when I wrote novels. I enjoyed it and I think I got more out of it than just being a regular member. I certainly met more people. :)
If I ever got out of the house... I used to volunteer for things. Maybe I will again one day when I'm not going crazy with little kids. ;)
I do several volunteer jobs, but not with writing groups. I'm going to look into that. I get so much out of #IWSG, I should volunteer for a monthly thing, shouldn't I?
I second that THANK YOU to all the volunteers in the writing community. My writing volunteer work is more on a one-on-one level. Big groups freak me out, but I really ought to get more actively involved in one.
Instead of counting the poppy seeds, i hope they weighed one and figured it out with some complex math from there. Anyway, yes, in any volunteer organization, the people who come in and do the work are the backbone of the system.
I always try and thank everyone who helped me. The IWSG team is amazing. I know they do so much and work so hard. Thank you for all you do.
I do a ton of work with young writers and those just starting out in the biz. Poppy seeds are for eating, not counting.
@Kathleen01930 Blog
The past 2 years I've volunteered to help with the A to Z and have seen just a little of the work that goes into it. People who often volunteer amaze me. They always seem to have so much energy.
"Help someone starting out as someone at one time helped you." I love that. That's why I do what I do. I also help others because I didn't have someone to always help and know what that's like.
I help when I can, and I hope to teach my son the value of volunteering. :) Have a great week.
Funny that we both posted about volunteering, though mine was a different tone. I've been volunteering for two different writer's groups for a long time (and was an A-to-Z co-host for a couple years). While I'm not happy with myself that I ended up over-investing my time, I AM still volunteering for one of those writer's groups. I had to stop working with the other one in order to pare down the amount of time I was investing. I do enjoy helping other writers, so I can't see leaving PPW any time soon.
I volunteer at/through church and with my daughters' canoe and kayak club, and I've been asked to beta read a few projects for friends who aren't in the online writing community, and I've proofed a number of high school project senior essays from friends' and neighbors' kids. I don't volunteer with a writer's group, but then . . . I need to get the courage to go check one out in my local area again. And, I just remembered a reference letter I need to write for one of my past students . . . so yes, I volunteer in bits here and there.
It's good to invest in our community, whether it's for an hour or a year. And, I agree that it's amazing how many volunteer hours run organizations.
Way to go with volunteering and writing!!!
That's a lot of poppyseeds. Thank you.
Great post. I say think you to all those volunteers. I try to help and aid where I can. Happy IWSG 'Day.
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
Volunteering got me into a lot of trouble and a lot of fun. I started by saying, "I can bring the coffee for that meeting," and I wound up managing all the group's publicity including the website and other social media and teaching a writing workshop each spring. I love it, but the time investment has been surprising.
A fantastic and worthy post of praise, Susan. It is so important to stay grounded and to appreciate and thank people who give their time and expertise to others. Thank you!!
Hi Susan - good Farming advice this week ... but counting the poppy seeds on some bread would defeat me - 900,000 is a seed too far!
But I do appreciate volunteers and I do serve on a couple of committees and help others with talks etc ... I am joining a writing group in the Autumn - should be interesting ... good luck and cheers Hilary
I made it into the Query Kombat contest and I'm sure the hosts and judges are volunteering half of their lives away this month! I'd like to get more involved in writer's groups (outside my CPs/group) but I know how committed you have to be!
I volunteer with Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers as co-editor of the organization's blog.
I wonder who did count those poppy seeds. It sure wasn't me.
We never do realize the hours invested, do we? :)
Great job on all that you do!
Heather
I hadn't thought about how much volunteer work went into conferences. I'd like to find out what events are near me. Sounds like there was one very dedicated farmer!
Thanks to volunteers, lots of stuff gets done that wouldn't otherwise. My hat is off to you, Susan!
Awesome volunteer work! I volunteered at a local literary festival in April. Lots of work, but great fun.
Here here! And it's cool you got to help out and find gratitude in it!
I am thankful for all those who volunteer to help and give their time to fellow writers! I helped with some set up work for an event when I was in college, and it is amazing all of the prep work involved in the background for events and conferences.
This shows how truly selfless you are :) I am inspired.
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