Responses
to September 2007 Hot Topic
Positioning
Our Profession
Response
posted by DJ Cronin, President, Australasian Association
for Volunteer Administrators, Brisbane, Australia
Forgive
me if you will for responding as an attendee to the
next retreat. But I still fear we are suffering from
the “Silence Syndrome”. I know of no other website
like this in Australasia that offers a forum for Volunteer
Program Managers to speak out, debate the issues and
put in their own two bobs worth! Yet responses to
Hot Topics can be sparse to say the least. I have
always argued that the advancement of the sector cannot
be left to the consistent few. The voice of the sector
cannot be spoken by the same voice lest they get hoarse.
The Retreat does provide a forum where a group dedicated
to positioning the sector can listen to what the sector
is saying and can formulate plans for our future.
My last check indicates that this site or rather the
OzVPM yahoo list has 400 members. Writing a piece
can of course be a challenge. Who, apart from the
experts, doesn’t worry about how they articulate themselves
or what others may think of their writing style or
indeed views! Write anyway! Got something to say but
fear others may disagree? Say it anyway! My point
of view is that there are no silly points of view!
They are just that – a point of view that can be digested
by others who may or may not take on board what you
have to say. Vincent van Gogh once told us that if
we ever hear a voice within that tells us we cannot
paint, then we should by all means paint and the voice
will be silenced!
There
are people who are dedicated to improving the lot
of the volunteer manager in terms of giving our profession
a voice plus recognition and support for what we do.
But we need a louder voice. And more voices combined
create more noise. And people notice noise! Here,
on this forum, is another opportunity for VPMs to
have an input into the forthcoming retreat. I hope
that this opportunity will not go begging.
“You
think that your silence on certain topics, perhaps
in the face of injustice, or unkindness, or mean-spiritedness,
causes others to reserve judgement of you. Far otherwise;
your silence utters very loud: you have no oracle
to speak, no wisdom to offer, and your fellow men
have learned that you cannot help them. Doth not wisdom
cry, and understanding put forth her voice? We would
be well to do likewise.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Let's
hear what you think!
Return
to current month's Hot
Topic
Visit
this month’s ‘Hot
Topic’ on the Energize web site
The
contents of this Hot Topic are copyright © 2003
- 2006 OzVPM.
You may reproduce this Hot Topic in part or in full
on the condition that the author, source and website
address (www.ozvpm.com)
are quoted.
|
