Volitics -- My New Favorite Word

Personal note:

While I love volunteering and helping others, I choose to spend my time at organizations that I want to spend time at. I understand that there will always be politics in the things that are out there any time where you have a group of diverse minds with different goals, but, I always hope that the goals of the non-profit can come first: helping others learn, sharing our love of teaching with others, and helping other non-profits by providing resources and support so that they can perform their missions in the community.

I do a fair amount of volunteer work when I can – be it helping at a homeless shelter that has kennels on-site for those who are unhoused with animals, working as a volunteer EMT/Paramedic when I was in undergrad, volunteering and being on the board at Hive13, Cincinati’s Makerspace, and doing a lot of Ham Radio Volunteer Examiner things for my local Ham Radio Club/Ham Radio Village/GLAARG.

What I don’t tolerate is politics. I’m here to drive the values of the organization forward…not here to be your personal serf. If there’s a committee or other sanctioned group has an approved plan to get things done, I’ll do whatever I can do push that goal forward – just like I would for my job or anything else. I’ll follow whatever internal GRC and other controls that are in place, and I won’t personally profit from the things that I do for the space.

If I show up to meetings, read the emails that I’m being sent by the organization, there’s really no reason for me to bitch and complain when those who don’t show up to meetings or read their emails then raise hell because they’ve missed a registration deadline, then start playing armchair lawyer claiming that the bylaws and the state laws dictate a different thing (pro tip: it doesn’t, but this isn’t legal advice).

I’m a workaholic – both professionally and personally.

I get burned out (for the record, no, I’m not burned out now).

I still love to volunteer; that will never change.

Being a fan is all about bringing the enthusiasm. It’s being a champion of possibility. It’s believing in something that is higher than yourself, and when you do it right, it’s contagious. When you’re around someone who is super excited about something, it washes over you. It feels good. You can’t help but want to bring the enthusiasm, too.

Confidence is impressive, but enthusiasm can change people’s lives.