Guest guest Posted November 17, 2001 Report Share Posted November 17, 2001 I've volunteered to start doing the local NCT newsletter now that I'll have a bit more time on my hand (LOL). Spoke to the current Editor (and co-Chair I think) last week, and she asked if I could come over today to do some helping out. We tentatively said 4 O'Clock, but she was going to ring me in the morning to let me know what progress she had made and whether she still wanted me to come over. I then heard nothing all morning, and 2 O'Clock I went out assuming she didn't need me - it's a limit to how long I can keep babes and DH inside on a Saturday morning. Got back around 5.30 and there was a message saying to ring the Editor. Then rang her right away and got a really sourly reply saying she " thought we had agreed to 4 O'Clock " . I apologised and said I didn't think she needed me when I hadn't heard anything all morning - and I then asked if I could pop over tomorrow - or even come over and pick something up that I could finish off for her, or whatever. To this I got told that " oh no, she had already finished it all now " in the same sourly voice. I'm not upset but quite disappointed really, I just don't need this type of grief. I'm volunteering to help out - what's the point of this sort of blaming game? I had enough of that in the office! Is it me who's being unreasonable, or what? Couldn't help thinking either that if she had done it all on her own between 4 and 5.30, was it really such a massive deal that she had to do it alone? Karina Mum to Emilia (3) and Sebastian (1) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2001 Report Share Posted November 17, 2001 Sounds like a breakdown in communication to me! Don't let it put you off - maybe she was having a bad day. It does seem a bit churlish of her though especially as it was your first attempt at volunteering. Francesca Bad experience > I've volunteered to start doing the local NCT newsletter now that > I'll have a bit more time on my hand (LOL). > > Spoke to the current Editor (and co-Chair I think) last week, and she > asked if I could come over today to do some helping out. We > tentatively said 4 O'Clock, but she was going to ring me in the > morning to let me know what progress she had made and whether she > still wanted me to come over. > > I then heard nothing all morning, and 2 O'Clock I went out assuming > she didn't need me - it's a limit to how long I can keep babes and DH > inside on a Saturday morning. Got back around 5.30 and there was a > message saying to ring the Editor. Then rang her right away and got a > really sourly reply saying she " thought we had agreed to 4 O'Clock " . > I apologised and said I didn't think she needed me when I hadn't > heard anything all morning - and I then asked if I could pop over > tomorrow - or even come over and pick something up that I could > finish off for her, or whatever. To this I got told that " oh no, she > had already finished it all now " in the same sourly voice. > > I'm not upset but quite disappointed really, I just don't need this > type of grief. I'm volunteering to help out - what's the point of > this sort of blaming game? I had enough of that in the office! Is it > me who's being unreasonable, or what? > > Couldn't help thinking either that if she had done it all on her own > between 4 and 5.30, was it really such a massive deal that she had to > do it alone? > > Karina > Mum to Emilia (3) and Sebastian (1) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2001 Report Share Posted November 18, 2001 Forgot to say that I will still take over the editing of the newsletter from the next issue, but it will be harder now I've lost the current Editor's goodwill. Not to worried, I'm sure the NCT-Editors group will help, plus I did the advertising for a previous branch anyway, so I kind of " know " what it's about. But part of the point of volunteering for me is meeting some people, and it just makes me cross when people can't be normally friendly to each other. Sometimes I feel people in these sorts of positions start taking themselves far too seriously - you're not exactly the Queen who can order people about just because you edit a newsletter, are you? Sorry if I'm being too judgmental, but it's not the first time I have come across it. But yeh, maybe she was just having a bad day and is a really nice person - hope so! Karina > Sounds like a breakdown in communication to me! Don't let it put you > off - maybe she was having a bad day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2001 Report Share Posted November 18, 2001 Sounds like she was having a bad day and taking it out on you. I would just ignore it, and ask to help out next time round. If she was just being stroppy due to circumstances unknown to you, she may feel embarressed and will be glad you offer to help again, and if she is always stroppy, you will soon find out, and can leave her well alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2001 Report Share Posted November 18, 2001 >But part of the point of volunteering for me is meeting >some people, >and it just makes me cross when people can't be normally >friendly to >each other. Sometimes I feel people in these sorts of >positions start >taking themselves far too seriously - you're not exactly >the Queen >who can order people about just because you edit a >newsletter, are >you? Sorry if I'm being too judgmental, but it's not the >first time I >have come across it. Karina, Thank you for posting this as a reminder to me to relax a bit. I am newsletter co-editor -- sort of a Princess, then -- and have been trying very very hard not to get grumpy with all the people who owe me little bits and bobs for the next edition. For example, out of 5 areas for coffee mornings, only one has come up with any dates yet - and that one with only one date for the next two months (it’s my area, so I’ve signed myself up for 2 dates on top of that) -- the deadline was the 5th of November. As my co-editor said recently, she’s trying to be understanding and patient, since it is a voluntary thing and it’s not like they’re being paid and it’s not necessarily (and not supposed to be!) their top priority in life. It’s just hard sometimes, when you’re wrapped up in it and can’t do the job you want to do because others say they’ll do something and then don’t, or else don’t do it without 20 reminders and after the deadline. It’s not the other peoples’ fault (and in your situation, you are an eager volunteer and it sounds like the current editor was unclear and wanted you to leave your whole day open just in case), it’s more a case of expecting too much. Phyllis (extra grumpy because our newsletter email account is on hotmail and I can’t even get the page to come up today) __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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