Re: advice please re paying a stipend to a gardener

There is a big difference between recognizing people who do work above and beyond the call of duty for the benefit of all and paying people to do work.  The former can be inspiring and heartwarming.  The latter can lead people to think that they need not work unless they get paid.  If you pay the guy who does the bulk of the work, you encourage the kind of entrenched leadership which was the subject of an exchange of emails a couple of weeks ago.  My opinion would be to offer all kinds of recognition and praise and maybe a flashy gift, but do everything you can to avoid having it look like you are compensating him for the work he is doing.  If you are going to compensate people for work, you should let people know that you intend to do that and then allow people to apply for the job.

Jack N. Hale
Executive Director
Knox Parks Foundation
75 Laurel Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860/951-7694 x11
f860/951-7244



-----Original Message-----
From: Jude Carson [cleobar@nbnet.nb.ca]
Date: 10/06/2004 02:55 PM

Our garden has 100 plots and most of the people who garden go about their own business and do not help with communal jobs. This is despite people agreeing to help, signing up, etc. We have one gardener who has done most of the important routine tasks, like setting up and maintaining our water system, mowing common paths and areas, and dealing with any labour-intensive issue that arises. We would be lost without him but feel he is being taken for granted. Here's where the advice is needed: we would like to pay him a stipend, honorarium, whatever you want to call it, of maybe a couple of hundred dollars per season that he does this work. He knows nothing about this idea. The money's not a lot but at least it would recognise his importance to the continuance of the garden. We also have a significant amount in our budget so would not be adversely affecting the garden's financial situation. Appreciate any feedback; the committee has a me eting tomorrow(Thuirsday) night.
 
Jude Carson
Saint John, Canada
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