Re: Beautiful>Since
Andrea,
Interesting thought. Seek out volunteers to do the work the volunteers
don't want to do.
There are 15 of us to do the work 7 of us used to do. We have enough
willing hands to do most of the grunt work. It's the behind the scenes,
more-specialized help I need. Making hang-tags is at-home research and
computer work, but since I send everyone plant profiles and photos for our
100+ plants, the initial research is done; they just need editing to get
them on a small tag. And printing. I can supply the software if they want.
But no, the room was very silent when I asked for a volunteer.
Then there's the production manager's job, oranizing the workload. What to
dig when, what to pot, directing people, checking with the Soil Technician
that enough medium will be available, that sort of thing. Both this job and
the tag making job were done previously by me and then by a married couple
for a few years, but now they want to do other stuff with their time.
That's fair, but I need someone else to step forward. Again, silence.
As to R&D, if they wanted to join the Propagation Group, you'd think they'd
want to do some propagating. To be fair, I did get commitments for
Maintenance, Construction, Security, Communications, Shapers, Nutritionist,
Crew, and Sales Staff. I'm already the Director and am doing more of the
Manager's job and I'm the Supply officer and Sales Manager. I had hoped for
someone to take on Marketing (hang-tags, signs, etc), Production Mgr,
Foreman, and Education Director. As to "BUT that's what delegation is
for!!!!!", a nice thought, but my experience has been that most volunteers
don't follow through on what they actually committed to, much less on what
they are told to do.
I asked the Manager, who insists on being called Co-Leader, to send out a
message summarizing our meeting, since weeks have gone by and she hadn't
done it yet. She wrote back, "it would be easier for you to send the
information."
I am going to try to be optimistic and hope that more of the group will step
up to the plate as spring approaches, stirring those inner green feelings.
But since I'll have to do more of this time-consuming stuff, I'm going to
cut back on the group work. I like potting, but I won't give whole days to
it. I'll show up to get them started, but then they'll have to do it. And
if things don't get better, I'm scaling back production for 2008.
Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrea Hodges" <andreah@hargray.com>
Kitty-is there a local college that has a horticulture program or a
"vocational" high school? I know they're aren't really called that anymore
but you know what I mean. Maybe some of the students could help if so.
Possibly for part of their grade? I bet teachers would be willing to let
them do that just for the experience. Just a thought.
A
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Beautiful>Since
Zem, I feel your pain...
I think your message sounds more like it should be under the current
subject line "Since no one..." wants to contribute...
I'm in somewhat the same boat. Our MG Nursery is very successful but I
struggle trying to get volunteers to commit to time-consuming tasks. I
can't do it all. Our group has swelled to 15 people who wnat to work in
what is called "The Propagation Group", but which I refer to as the
Nursery because there's virtually no propagating going on. I have 5
people willing to start one or two varieties of plants from seed and/or
propagate from cuttings. No one is willing to organize the potting and
digging production of 1500 plants. No one is willing to make the 2000
hang-tags. But I do have 6 members who meet at coffee shops to plan our
herb container experiment. 6 people to pot up 12 to 20 containers to see
if there is consumer interest in them. This is a small trial run that,
if it pans out, we would expand next year. I appreciate their interest
in this project, but there's a lot more things that NEED doing. If this
pattern continues, I'm just going to have to scale back the whole
program.
Kitty
neIN, Zone 5
----- Original Message -----
From: "Zemuly Sanders" <zemuly@comcast.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] Beautiful
Auralie, you have every right to be "puffed up." Our pitiful garden
club might have to go by the boards this year because nobody wants to
serve as an officer. I knew they didn't dig (their words), but I'm
saddened they don't want to participate in any area of the club with the
exception of eating. I was the secretary for 3-1/2 years, and I think
that ought to be enough as I'm currently secretary for our local
historic zoning commission; however, I'm feeling guilty about not
volunteering again. You are very fortunate in having the group you have
in your club.
zem
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