Well, this pirate has actually done both, work for pay and piles of volunteer work. As with many people, my first paying job was when I was 16 and I was a library messenger at the Providence Public Library downtown. Because I was working for a nonprofit they could pay under minimum wage at the time, lucky me. (So I was sort of volunteering). My paid jobs have gone from library messenger, secretary, medical transcriptionist, attorney, and now, sometimes I get paid for writing.
However, some of my most interesting and fun work has been volunteer work. At 14, I was a candy striper (not the stripper you might expect from a pirate) at a local hospital. I worked in the pharmacy which was fun and made me want to be a pharmacist until I took chemistry and realized that wasn't going to happen. I came from a family that embraced volunteerism, my mother eventually becoming President of the Rhode Island YWCA. My parents took in refugees from Europe in the 1950s and did many other things pro bono, that's "attorneyspeak" for free. This stuck with me.
While I always needed to have a paying job, I spent many interesting hours knitting hats and making meatballs for school bazaars; running fundraisers; and even was a Girl Scout Brownie leader for a year (pirates do not make good Brownie leaders!). In this period of my life with a newborn, a 5 year old and a husband overseas, I met many good friends through this "work".
This blog is not about a pirate turned good person, (that never happened, still a pirate) but it is rather about the fact that some of the most fascinating work and people can be found in the volunteer sector. As an attorney, I did my pro bono through the bar association and elderly affairs being a guardian for people whose families were either living off them or disappeared. I enjoyed helping these folks through probate court. I also loved working with Lawyers in the Arts helping artists and creative folks with intellectual property issues. Once again I benefited the more than the clients from this work by meeting some great people and entering lives I would not have otherwise seen.
Today, too crazy to be a lawyer any more and trying to make some money writing, i.e. retirement to some, I am back at the library. This time as a volunteer, shelving books and meeting people in our very diverse local branch. This is excellent exercise and a great way to find books you might not have thought to take out, but the pay is even lower the before, just plain 0, but the world opened by volunteering is "priceless". Or in pirate terms, that's something with ARRH booty!
There is so much value in volunteer work and the rewards are rich! I always thought that working in a library would be fun.
ReplyDeleteGreat take on "work!"
When I was a snot-bucket, Mom would drop me off at the community center to volunteer, until she was ready to deal with me. Such attitude my mother has.
ReplyDeleteI too was once a Girl Guide leader (no Girl Scouts here in Canada). Now I volunteer at a local cancer centre. Volunteering makes the world a better place!
ReplyDeleteI know a lot of people enjoy volunteering and I admire them for doing so, you, of course, included.
ReplyDeleteI am still enjoying the lack of structure or should I say, my own designed structure since I will always have a list of things to do. Volunteering would be I would have to be somewhere at a designated time and maybe one day, but not today. Therefore, I am indebted to people like you who do make that sacrifice.
Great history, btw for a pirate.
Long time BSA scouter (One Eagle I am proud of). Coached a bit of soccer. Still pitch in at recycling events and trail restorations. But that isn't work...
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. This is just one area of the broad topic of work. In most states pro bono work is required of all attorneys, so some of the time volunteering was part of my work work. If that makes sense. Thanks for reading.
ReplyDeletePam
Volunteer work is simply admirable!
ReplyDeleteA candy stripper.... conjures visions of curvy women adorned with glittering candies, slowly unwrapping and eating one sweet at a time to the breathless anticipation of the paying customer!! Loved this, Pam :o)
ReplyDeleteI admire you for all the wonderful volunteer work you have done in your life...Society functions only with the help of volunteers like yourself :o) It is something I hope to do in the future, and something I think is more valuable than paid work...Visiting via GBE 2 :o)
ReplyDelete@mojo, lol love that description.
ReplyDelete@CM, and fun too.
@chantell, thanks for reading, all endeavors and to your life whether paid, volunteer or just plain fun.
I was a hospital volunteer once, after my first week I started calling in sick. Partly because I felt like I was catching everything, and partly because I cried all the time over the burn victims and pediatric cases. After my hospital stays for cancer though, I feel called to go back...it can be a lonely and scary place. Congratulations on having a satisfying paid and unpaid career!
ReplyDeleteI was a candy striper, too--at a nursing home. It was a really good experience. Holy crapanoly--I just thought back on how many years ago that was. Wow.
ReplyDeletea volunteer pirate! HA
ReplyDelete@word nerd: More years for me than you and yet I still remember it (a bit).
ReplyDelete@The Frizzy Hooker: You've got that right, lol.
Volunteering in a library would be ideal for me, except I probably wouldn't get any work done...I'd go hide in the stacks somewhere and read. Seriously, that is something I'd like to do when the day comes that I have more time. Also considering doing something with dementia patients. In the meantime, I've already made a few things for charity with my new crocheting skills and look forward to doing more of that. (Other volunteer things I think about: food bank, soup kitchen, animal shelter, adult literacy...someday!) Enjoyed reading this, Pam.
ReplyDeleteI've volunteered a lot over the years...you do meet some characters. Volunteering in a library, though? Not something I've ever tried or thought about. Hate to say it, you sound too good to be a pirate (except the attorney part).
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post, and am now following. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteAs for volunteering I did lots when my girls were young -- Brownies, Girl Guides, sewing for the drama dept at their school, filming the school play, Fun fairs, etc. I even volunteered at a theatre production company locally and got to design their invites and thank you cards, something I definitely wouldn't have had the opportunity to do otherwise (ties in with my artsy-craftsy background).
Thanks D.G., sounds like you've had some great volunteer experiences too. Always happy to welcome new readers too.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that I have been a volunteer my whole life. I too was a Candy Striper in the local hospital of my hometown. I loved it. Also among my fav volunteer jobs was as a USO hostess in the '60's. My volunteer positions in my church were many, but the longest was 15 years in my church thrift shop. I "retired" from all my volunteering activities because I think I am just plain used up, but I still catch myself volunteering online for this and that.
ReplyDeleteSadly (for me) came the realization close to the end of my 36 year career with the state that I wish I had become an attorney. Nonetheless, I had a fabulous career and am now more than happily retired.
I'm glad to have found your blog. I'm following now.
You are a professional volunteer! That's one way to incorporate variety in your life.
ReplyDeleteI've done my share of volunteering too, and each of those moments collide into savoured smiles for later. I am not sure that I ever really went out of my way to do it, I just came across opportunities that could not be missed.
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ReplyDeleteVolunteer work can be very rewarding and it appears you have found a niche in the library system. Great work if you can remain quiet. Invariably my cell phone will blow someone's ears off and I'll get those steely glares from strangers reading Charles Manson or something.
ReplyDeleteMoreover, at one point in time I considered joining the Peace Corps but it was fleeting. I don't think I could have stomached the misery of others for a two-year commitment.
You can be proud of your spirit of volunteerism, Pam.