The Service Site program is like a prom dress.
On
the surface, a person witnesses an exquisite masterpiece. Every thread,
lace, and fabric is sewn to perfection. It is the embodiment of elegance
and poise. But lurking beneath the glossy mold is a melting pot of boiling
chaos, overflowing with the constraint and suffocation of the fine hem.
It looks great on the outside, but on the inside the person is dying to get out
of the dress.
The
service sites are brilliant displays of generosity and opportunity on the
outside, but in the core they are dying like the person in the dress. The
essence of the program is suffocating within its finely outlined mold.
At
the beginning of the year, everyone was invigorated and excited for the annual
service site block held in September. Students were generous and willing
to volunteer. The leaders captured this spirit through sign-ups, and oh,
did the students come. Every site was overflowing with signatures, some
numbering into the hundreds. Every name was a mark of interest, an
example of the potential for opportunity.
But
now, who volunteers?
Several
sites have only a few, if any volunteers left, including the Ronald McDonald
House and the Boys and Girls Club. Together, they each had more than 120
signatures in the beginning, but they are now left with fewer than 10
volunteers. With so much interest, it is mind-boggling how the sites
danced off into the night.
I
admit as a freshman and sophomore I blamed the leaders. I claimed they did not
call, e-mail, or leave a homeroom note. If I had taken off my blinders, I
would have realized that I was contacted. Everyone is contacted at some
point.
The
announcements are there. Homeroom notes do appear on desks.
Meetings actually do exist, and leaders actually do care if people show
up. Marian even has a service site website linked to its main page with
contact information for each site.
The
puzzle is almost finished. The last piece remains in the hands of the
volunteers.
Commitment
is needed. Joining service is never too late. The service site
program runs all year long. It never hurts to try on something new, and
this is a truly rewarding experience. However, the best site is not
always found to be the most convenient. A volunteer must take some effort
in the beginning in order to feel comfortable in the end. Take the
initiative to shop around. Donıt give up upon first glance.
If
nothing else, just simply show up. The leaders need help in maintaining
their sites. An empty meeting is like getting ³stood-up² on prom
night. This can be very detrimental to the credibility and longevity of a
program. The leaders must be able trust their volunteers wholeheartedly.
The
challenge is this: find a dress that fits. It may be in the very
back corner of the store, but it is there. Let yourself breathe for a
change. Unleash the core of emotion to make the service site program as
exquisite on the inside as it is on the outside.