Part Timers Active Support Working Group

[Emma]

A friend said to me a few weeks ago that we needed a working group for those of us who aren't living or working full-time on-site at the park. At the time, she was saying this because there were inklings of the beginning of the divide between on-site and off-site and she could see that off-site people were going to start feeling "left out."

Now it's festered a while, and gotten worse in many ways, and virtually everyone involved is feeling the tension.

I am working on organizing part-timers to provide support for on-site operations. Right now I'm starting a push for weekly volunteer hours (running errands, serving food, whatever work the full-timers say needs done). I know that working together brings people together, and my hope is that this can open our hearts to each other again and we can grow together into whatever is needed.

I will be visiting camp tomorrow to talk to on-site folks about how to best make productive use of volunteer hours, which is absolutely vital to this idea succeeding.

I'm not sure anyone uses these boards anymore, but if you're an OFF-site person who has wanted to be more involved but not known how, email me ([e-mail]). If you're an ON-site person (just means you spend enough time there to know a bit about what's needed on a daily basis) who wants to snag a volunteer to help you with sanitation, food, etc, please email me too.

This is not yet worthy of being called a working group, but I hope it gets there. If you are willing to help organize these types of efforts, please post a reply!

[Emma]

Update: So far I have 6 people signed up to do at least one hour/week of active support roles. One is looking for off-site work to do in the evening (homeschooling mom of 3 - she will do on-site work during the day with the kids but it won't be a concentrated hour of work). Anyone have any work to delegate to her?

[pinkoblues]

keep in mind that there is another side to that rift in that many people on site take issue with those that only show up to the GA, particularly those who are very rarely around. Everyone must understand that most on board are part timers (thats what we tell the press at least and this isnt about camping) but people on the ground need help. Any support that anyone can lend helps. We should encourage more meetings on the ground outside of the GA and signup sheets to staff certain jobs are becoming more of a necessity. Lets make this happen. The coordination WG was designed to serve these ends but could use more participants.

[Emma]

pinkoblues - yes, that's why I'm organizing this in the way that I am. Get more folks helping out.

Problem is, I'm having a bear of a time getting tasks delegated to them. I had 16 people signed up to help here and there throughout the week and I made a schedule and I've talked to folks down at the occupation but when a friend of mine showed up yesterday at 4:30 to work in the food tent, she was told by the two people there that there wasn't anything for her to do. Also it had been a week since some folks told me they were in the process of making a "things you can do to help if you only have an hour" sign, and that sign has not been made. I don't hold it against those people who said it was in progress - I know they're working their butts off and we can't all get to all the things we want to do. But we have labor that is going to waste and yet we have things to do that are not getting done. Is there anyone from the coordinating committee that is actively trying to fix this problem, who I could talk to? I don't think I know anything about who's on that committee or what they actually do.

Meanwhile, I have been going for my own regular work-shift and it's great. I know some others are doing so too. We will figure this out, even if it takes time and runs into some frustrations.

Thanks!
Emma

[maryb]

Hi, Emma - -
It's been a month since I've had a meal here at Westview, and since Equinox is providing us with a boxed dinner tomorrow, I think I'll take advantage of the opportunity to re-connect with my neighbors here. I will trek - er, bus - down to OA to provide Info Desk relief shortly afterwards. Thanks for your organizing this. Also, if that "Things to do in an Hour" sign hasn't been done, perhaps I can provide it. Let me know. Happy Thanksgiving to all the Poteks!

[flashmob]

My suggestion would be to try to get working groups to come up with a training time when you get enough volunteers to help that WG.

Start with Food and Operations they need the most help. Info Desk Could use intelligent people who are available from 7am-2pm. If you can attend their meetings or even call one at a GA that would be your best bet.

Set up a time that you can get the part timers to show up to be taught how to run their positions and get contact info, so when they do show up they know what to do or who to ask.

[pinkoblues]

I am trying to get Wgs to hammer out what it is that they need and find ways for people to get involved. We need considerable restructuring. People are working hard to readdress food's needs but are becoming overwhelmed and disheartened. There is a coordination mtg tonight around 9 at the site. We need WGs to bring both their needs and specifics about tasks to a larger audience. Lets talk more and work out the kinks.