The “Spirit of Volunteerism”

I have read that some members fear that the 2007 AG events and controversy has killed the “spirit of volunteerism.” That sounds dreadful and certainly antithetical to the Mensa as it has been for 60 years. But the more I think about it, the less I understand. What tasks previously done by volunteers are now being denied to them?

As far as the AG went, the paid staff were assigned only two roles: Hotel liaison and Treasurer. That’s it. They also assisted with logistics, registration, and beer keg schlepping. Other than that, Mensa members did everything: Chair, Registrar, Hospitality, Programs, AV, Action Desk, Kids Trek, LDWs, Tours, Games, Security…

Which members are no longer volunteering—and why? A quick look at my Local Group shows that we have openings for a:
• Scholarship Chair—the previous guy has gone underground since a painful breakup.
• Webmaster—the fellow who had been doing it has decided he should spend more time finding a better paying job.
• South Suburbs Area Coordinator—the lady who had that position for years has grown frail and ill.
• Monthly Meeting Hospitality—this has been open for more than a year because it’s a hard job that seems to bring more complaints than compliments (remember, Chicago’s Monthly Meetings are the size of many RGs). The one guy who had been doing a great job at it quit in disgust when members wouldn’t quit sticking their fingers in the chip dip. Fortunately, we have Stacey, who is always quick to pick up any slack, so the position is “open” for someone new, but the tasks are still being done—by a volunteer.

I see no connection between anything any local or national leader has done and these gaps in our volunteer roster.

How ’bout volunteering at the national event level? Let’s see…groups of members are still excited about hosting AGs. Groups of members are still bidding on MindGames. Several member-run colloquiums are in the planning stages. Members are planning and running LDWs all over the country. Even the grievously-offended-by-the-AG southern members are putting together an RG in Memphis and advertising it nation-wide.

So how, exactly, has the “spirit of volunteerism” changed?