tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post4865909881764532729..comments2023-06-10T06:19:28.892-05:00Comments on Why me, Saint Lidwina?: What do volunteers do?Skate Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14099319126365762647noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-62513335499229598102011-04-28T16:08:06.193-05:002011-04-28T16:08:06.193-05:00This isn't a trashing. It's the two (and o...This isn't a trashing. It's the two (and only two) points where I saw problems. I can fully understand why it's hard to get people in the dressing rooms, because it's a hard job. I can see why it's hard to get people to vigilantly check ID's, because when it's not boring you catch flak. Just because you run the program doesn't mean you can oversee all your volunteers at every moment, and I understand that. But like it or not, there were kids in the dressing rooms who were dumped there for the free babysitting. (Not even in the show.) Even Dad commented concern when he walked past people who were supposed to be asking for ID. Again, if I had a dozen clones, I'd send them to do these jobs. <br /><br />If I'm speaking up about problem areas, it isn't because I hate things. I speak up precisely because I care.Skate Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099319126365762647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-65117796361309143152011-04-28T13:54:35.458-05:002011-04-28T13:54:35.458-05:00I run the volunteer program being trashed here, an...I run the volunteer program being trashed here, and I've been trying to write a response. But frankly I'm speechless. The one thing I really must say is Anon, NO ONE has been "refusing your offers to volunteer" That's just a lie. Feel free to go here and sign up: http://tinyurl.com/HerosVolunteer, or fill out a form and leave it at the office. I'll put you in charge of the tots.Alexandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087069977867729538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-83586359153391574242011-04-26T19:46:39.731-05:002011-04-26T19:46:39.731-05:00AMS, my point is this: In any situation with minor...AMS, my point is this: In any situation with minors, there needs to be vigilant presence of adults who ensure that no kid wanders off alone nor gets taken away by the wrong person. In every school or daycare situation Stitch has been in, there is a specified list of people authorized to take Stitch. Not on the list? Too bad. At his preschool, I was sometimes asked to show my DL even though the people knew me by sight and name. It was procedure. <br /><br />Anon, good on you for stepping up. I personally think there should be a post-show volunteer party with an open bar and taxi service home. And crab rangoon. Possibly a band. <br /><br />Sportsmom, this could solve your volunteer problems, too... think about it. A U2 cover band? Who wouldn't go??Skate Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099319126365762647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-88050419212332950792011-04-26T18:32:39.140-05:002011-04-26T18:32:39.140-05:00You get volunteers? We have to scrounge around an...You get volunteers? We have to scrounge around and usually end up using 3 or 4 parents, the skating club board and our older skaters. Wow, what I would give for volunteers! I agree though, they do need to know what to do and there should be some clear cut guidelines about it. Security is a must! These are kids we are dealing with.Sportsmom0323https://www.blogger.com/profile/06659330796247810080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-2803627393414059842011-04-26T13:22:38.816-05:002011-04-26T13:22:38.816-05:00I was the locker room mom for 2 shows at our local...I was the locker room mom for 2 shows at our local rink last Spring. I signed up for one, but ended up doing and additional show by default as the mom who had signed up didn't show up, and I wasn't about to leave my then-4 year old unsupervised back there. It was not an overall pleasant experience due primarily to 1-2 REALLY difficult to deal with kids (the rest were totally fine), but you're right, I felt good to have made my contribution. Will do the same this year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-10121156782474695622011-04-25T19:32:30.775-05:002011-04-25T19:32:30.775-05:00I thought the handouts said the parent badges were...I thought the handouts said the parent badges were for tot parents only. You got a volunteer badge because you were a volunteer. I didn't see a single parent badge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-29822266117231508982011-04-25T18:24:55.202-05:002011-04-25T18:24:55.202-05:00Ideally, small children without parents would have...Ideally, small children without parents would have someone take them to the bathroom and back. Bigger kids should be able to handle themselves. But I know the trouble spot to which you're referring and there needed to be a Checker there. <br /><br />As a parent, I would be thrilled if I were prevented from getting my kid and I had no ID. This tells me security is tight and my kid is safe. To my knowledge, every family was issued an ID Badge allowing one parent access to the dressing area. Statistically speaking, yes, random stranger poses little threat to random kids. However, maternally speaking, the "I don't need much excuse to go apeshit on your ass" speaking, the caution around creepy people stands.Skate Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099319126365762647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-28466326339094616282011-04-25T17:56:13.094-05:002011-04-25T17:56:13.094-05:00And one more thing: Rink repeatedly ignores your ...And one more thing: Rink repeatedly ignores your offers to volunteer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-952069064670643819.post-87528710756361088302011-04-25T17:54:36.323-05:002011-04-25T17:54:36.323-05:00There's no chance of enforcing the rules you t...There's no chance of enforcing the rules you think should be the rules. <br /><br />- ID checker - I don't think there was intended to be one at the Winter Show I volunteered for. Are you really going to try and stop parents, who were not given an ID, from seeing their own children? Particularly since many of these kids are too young to sit through an entire show and need to be picked up and taken home early. There should be IDs for the pros though. By the way, fear of the creepy stranger is irrational - the people most likely to harm a child are their own parents.<br /><br />-Keeping kids in the dressing room. Good idea, but the bathrooms have an exit into the hallway that you can't see from the dressing room.<br /><br />Only bring games that are indestructible.<br /><br />Don't be the "volunteer" I saw who arrived and left at random times, and lounged in the corner like a slug with an MP3 player in between.<br /><br />Other fun things:<br />Pro removes own child from dressing room, sets terrible example.<br />Kid's skate blade is falling off.<br />Girl keeps kissing all the other kids. Au pair comes and puts more lipstick on her.<br />Parents who decide to dress their daughter in the boy's dressing area (not that the two areas are really separate).<br />Parents who keep the whole family at the rink between shows then they were explicitly told to leave, tying up volunteers who can't leave them unattended.<br />Parents who leave their kid who can't skate and isn't in the show in the dressing room, with dodge ball, for the duration of the show.<br /><br />Consider a show with no lasting injuries to be a successful show.<br /><br />Can't volunteer this time since I'm performing.<br /><br />-AMSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com