Posted 12/9/00
Submitted by Pat Harrell, Director, Volunteer Programs, Lutheran Medical
Center Community Foundation, Colorado, USA
Mavericks of the world unite and we shall prevail! The hospital setting
in which I work is not noted for encouraging dream chasing and is,
in fact, almost prohibited from doing so by the stifling rules and
regulations and regulatory issues which govern our industry. Although
my staff members' eyes roll and faces blanch every time I begin a
sentence with "What if....?" we have succeeded in converting some
dreams to operating services. With the encouragement of Susan and
Ivan and the previous responders, I intend to set a 2001 goal of becoming
a major dream catcher by recruiting volunteers with the courage to
look past the skeptics and eye-rollers and the creativity to make
the system work for, not against dream catching. Thanks, Susan, for
the affirmation.
Posted 12/9/00
Submitted by Patricia Semark-Jullien, Voluntary Services
Manager, NHS, Southampton UK
Mavericks Aren't we all "Mavericks" by virtue of the very nature of
our work? I have never yet met a Voluntary Services Manager who is
a shrinking violet, - and how refreshing when a whole bunch of us
get together! Volunteers come from all walks of life and each one
brings in something special, but that is not because they are volunteers,
but PEOPLE. The real problem is the bureaocracy many establishments
are so enmeshed in and swimming against the tide makes us all look
far more rebellious than we really are. the main issue however seems
to be that we are"neither fish nor fowl" and don't really fit into
the mainstream hospital structure. it's a closely guarded secret that
I think that I probably have the best job of the lot!!!
Posted 12/7/00
Submitted by Kate Munro, Mater Community Integration Manager, Newcastle
Mater Hospital , New South Wales, Australia
As usual Susan you capture the conversation everyone is having at
this time of the year - end of 2000, beginning of 2001. As a manager
of volunteers working in an institition (hospital) I have often felt
as if I am swimming in a different stream to my work colleagues but
it is often the Volunteers who keep me thankfully swimming in this
direction because they truly understand what it is all about and bring
such dreams and visions for care to their work environment every day.
God Bless dreamers and mavericks as without them we would be living
in a very dull world. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a
Fabulous International Year Of Volunteers -here in Australia we are
starting to wear our shorts and sunscreen and looking forward to spending
time on the beach!
Posted 12/7/00
Submitted by Linda Fletcher, Co-ordinator of Volunteers, Brisbane
- Australia
I agree with your comments regarding paid workers. Although having
a dream also, we do get caught up in the day-to-day administration
duties, meetings, management issues etc. We also have to conform to
the way the organisation is seeing our roles and the roles of the
volunteers. Perhaps that need for a "living" as you put it, restricts
us from taking risks too often, not knowing what the consequences
may be.
Posted 12/1/00
Submitted by Evelyn Ewing, Volunteer Director, Lenexa, Ks.
Mavericks are missunderstood so many times, and can be classified
as rebellious. All of us who fit into that title know that we are
the dreamers. We also are the action people, the risk takers, putting
our necks on the line for what we believe in. It is so rewarding to
invision a program, put it together with people and funding and then
watch the happiness unfold before your very eyes as those involved
receive the greatest gifts of all the joy of meeting needs, changing
lives and peoples situations. Thank God Mavericks have a chance to
be who they are and do what they love doing.
