Volunteering for your local ATV club, snowmobile club or motocross club can be a juggling act of time and willing participants. It is estimated that 12.5 million volunteers provide 2.1 billion hours of volunteerism in Canada.
The STP rule has hit many clubs: It's always the Same Ten People who give time and effort to the club. Volunteer burn-out is common, and the spirit in the club can quickly shift from enthusiastic to dismal. Balancing life and earning a living have many volunteers questioning their commitments.
I know this well, for this past season I found myself not only the president of my local snowmobile club, but the president of our provincial association of British Columbia snowmobile clubs. Along with those duties came a variety of offshoot coalitions and projects that found me in a tailspin of exhaustion and frustration. I knew I needed to take a step back and prioritize my life.
Priorities
I thought about the top priorities in my life, including my desire to be a great mother and wife. Everything else comes after I satisfy the needs of my family. I take great pride in my domestic life, so when I found my time constricted I knew I had to take control of my situation and do what my heart was telling me to do: Look after my family. This included my paid work as a writer, sales associate and holistic health practitioner. I love my work and I need to provide for my family, so no matter how often the phone rang, I knew I had to focus on first things first.
Passion
Ultimately what leads powersports enthusiasts to volunteerism is the passion we have for our sport. My passion, of course, is snowmobiling, yet with all the demands and paperwork surrounding me it took much of my energy to fulfill the tasks required from my volunteerism. To combat this fatigue I busted out my braaap, enjoying every moment I could riding with my husband, friends and children. This renewed my energy and my passion and made me a more productive person all around.
Building a support network
My trusted friend Judy Kriese, who is also treasurer of the Kokanee Country Snowmobile Club, gave me some sound words of advice.
“Trish, you can’t do everything yourself. Reach for help.”
So I did. It was incredible the amount of support I received not only locally but for our provincial ABCSnow organization. We formed a phenomenal board of directors, all equally passionate and productive, and the weight of the world slipped from my shoulders and I felt a newfound inspiration for my volunteer work.
Keeping the love fire burning
Volunteerism can take its toll on the love relationships in your life. My husband is not only supportive but also incredibly strong, and has been patient but firm in my time commitment to volunteerism. Our spouses must be taken into account when we choose to volunteer our time. I try to keep him in the loop and limit my venting, be it about caribou issues, land issues, or any other challenge we’re up against. I do this out of love and respect for our quality time together. He will call me on it.
“Honey, enough. Let's talk about other things,” is all he has to say to get me back on the path of reality.
Kevan shared in the celebrations at our ABCSnow AGM, and he was proud seeing his wife in action. Having him participate gave a sense of relevance to my efforts and also helped him to understand why I am so passionate about my involvement.
I plan on being involved for a long time to come, so as time goes on I keep learning the fine art of balance. Certainly a strong support network both within the organizations I volunteer with from my family and friends makes all the difference in the world.
Signs of volunteer burn-out
- Physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.
- Doubt in the message or purpose of the organization.
- Cynicism and callousness.
- Feelings of failure, panic and helplessness.
As a leader, here are some ways I've used to keep momentum in an organization, along with preventing volunteer burn-out:
Purpose
Help bring to light the impact volunteerism has on your club, organization or sport. When people see the difference they are making, it is like fuel for their passion. People enjoy being a part of something productive and amazing.
Focus
Help create positions of focus for volunteers so they can concentrate on the task at hand. If everyone has a job or a duty to perform, it is much less daunting and time consuming than trying to be a part of everything.
Fun
Keep it fun! It can’t all be about paperwork, issues and fundraising. Keep your volunteers and your organization alive by scheduling fun events everyone can participate in. Laughter and lightheartedness are key to keeping your board of directors and other volunteers enthusiastic.
Productivity
Keep meetings productive and as quick as possible. Have your committee members submit reports before each meeting and dialogue via email, so come meeting time you and your board are prepared and in the position to make motions rather than using your meeting time as a place for extensive dialogue. Many organizations meet via conference call, with many conference lines available for a minimal fee. The lack of travel can be an attractive factor, inviting more volunteers to participate.
Take a break
Everyone needs a break. Respect this by encouraging your volunteers to take a holiday from all the demands of your organization. Breaks can be taken at different times depending upon the issues at hand. Respite from the ever-present demands of volunteerism keeps minds fresh and enthusiasm preserved.
Network
ABCSnow has many member clubs, with thousands of riders beneath its umbrella. Search out volunteers with experience in specialized areas such as grant writing/sourcing, technology and graphic design, safety and stewardship. Reach out via newsletter, telephone calls and emails to enlist the help of many, rather than delegating duties to only a handful. Creating the feel of community and family will produce a longstanding strength that grows your organization.
Intention
On any board of directors it is imperative that everyone has the same intention for participation. In the organizations I belong to, the ultimate goal is to support our clubs and grow our sport in a healthy way to preserve our right to ride for generations to come. Sometimes skewed intentions can create internal turmoil that slowly but surely implodes the core foundation of existence. Be clear and communicative with your board so everyone is on the same page and can move forward with positive momentum. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made, but time is precious. No one has time to waste on dysfunction or hidden agendas. There is no place for teenager-style drama. Sometimes less really is more when building a solid, strong, proactive board.
Be gracious
Be thankful for all the people involved in your organization. Rewards, public and private thanks go a long way when it comes to the strength of your staff and volunteers. Acknowledge efforts and be aware of those striving to make a difference. These people are the heartbeat of your organization. Never take them for granted.
Don't look behind
Associations and organizations are formed for a reason. Sometimes the needs of organizations can grow or transition and all volunteers have to keep this in mind as they work to make a difference. Some have trouble letting go or dealing with change, and like to focus on the events of the past, both good and bad, to direct their energies. “You can’t drive a car backwards,” said a trusted friend and colleague, meaning you need to continually be looking forward and dealing with the task at hand to effectively facilitate the needs of your organization. Bitter disputes from the past can frustrate new members of your board who have no history or frame of reference for this resentment. They joined to contribute and to make a difference to the sport they feel passionate about. They will become frustrated and disheartened if old resentment dictates the focus of your organization. This most certainly will limit involvement or eliminate it all together.
Ultimately the success of an organization depends upon those who volunteer and support it. Success can be long term when steps are taken to preserve the integrity and productivity of the organization, club or association.
Be realistic and be positive, for the energy you put out is the energy you will get back, especially when it comes to representing the needs of others.
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