Volunteers, Public Servants and Politicians

Yeah. I’m going to put it out there. There’s a difference. You hear the words often enough: “he’s a career politician,” “he serves the people of his district,” “she’s the ultimate volunteer.” Being involved in several aspects of this dynamic, I have maybe a different view of what these terms encompass. In light of some of the shenanigans going on locally, let’s break it down without naming names.

Can’t really run a charity, an event, or really even a city without volunteers. I know lots of them and have shared the workload for a good cause with many good ones. They’re the ones who turn out for a good cause – whether that’s a festival in the park, someone who needs a Christmas provided for a family, raising money for a dreaded disease, rallying troops for a blood or platelet drive, or organizing community events. For these people, the time investment to make the world a better place is all the reason they need to get out of bed at 5:00 a.m. to set up tents, stand in the middle of the road or ring a bell. It’s a non-paying job that often becomes a driving factor in the life of a volunteer.

Within the volunteer hierarchy, there are those that have an idea, take it to local authorities to handle the legalities and then go about making it happen. I’ve worked with a few of these and I can tell you, the months of planning before the event or opening day take on full-time status with military precision. When this is combined with a cooperative city along with a thankful and involved citizenry, the “thank-you’s” are all it takes to begin the planning for the next event.

Along with this kind of leadership, there are the dozens of volunteers who “get it done.” Giving up their free time to make something good for somebody else. Gives you the warm-fuzzies, doesn’t it?

Occasionally, a volunteer will “take it to the next level” and we’ll call that “public service.” Realizing the needs of their community or a specific cause and realizing that more can be done with an organized effort of like-minded people, they will serve on planning committees, advisory councils or even run for office. Usually, the political aspect of this scenario will take the public servant by surprise, because, well, they’re not in the game for a career, but to make a difference.

And then we have the politicians. For certain, there are some politicians who are public servants, but just as certainly, there are those who are “career.” You’ll recognize these because they really haven’t had a “secular” job that wasn’t a stepping stone towards having a title that held a modicum of power. It’s not usually about the money or doing something significantly good for their community, it’s forwarding a personal agenda with power attained by that title. And though there are some “politicians” who are and will always be “public servants,” I personally pigeon-hole them with the “serves his district” label.

And here comes the formidably sad part of this mix. When some politicians attain office the volunteers, public servants and the spirit of a community become the victims of crony-ism, revenge and even just the need to wield power in a very public way.

I am always astonished when volunteers are “fired.” How in the world can someone look around and say “I no longer want you to work for the community FOR FREE … you’ll have to take that 60 hours a week and apply it elsewhere!”

I recognize that it isn’t a city’s responsibility to provide entertainment for its citizens; but it IS a city’s responsibility to create an atmosphere of cooperation in which people will want to live and businesses will want to set up shop. From a strictly monetary basis, the tax dollars of a fruitful citizenry amid successful businesses which draw additional tax dollars through a strong visitor base is a win-win situation for any city. And if you can achieve this status as a city at little no expense to the tax-paying citizens (AHEM! Because of your VOLUNTEERS!) – again …. WHY would you even consider replacing them or tearing down their efforts

The citizenry becomes confused, volunteers will recognize that the spirit of the event is gone, and battle lines will be further defined between those who serve and those who abuse their oaths in such an ugly and public way. I can only assume that the power of office in the hands of immature or ego-centric people must create a lapse in good judgment and common sense.