Re: [bworks_shop] ByteWORKS NEEDS YOU!!

[Steve DeLorey]

Theresa,
Just so you don't get completely frustrated, I'm responding to your impassioned 
plea. Unfortunately, I can't respond positively. There's no way I can get into 
the shop. 
I don't know what to suggest. We seem to have dead spots from time to time and 
this is evidently one of them. Nothing seems to be happening. 
Looking back, there have been a few "sparks" that have re-ignited interest. 
They all involve the arrival of a new volunteer with a new level of interest or 
a different focus and new methods.
The only things I can suggest are: 
 1) Keep recruiting new volunteers, particularly among co-workers at work or 
fellow members in professional or social organizations. People with an outside 
but common interest with the current volunteers. VolunteerMatch is a bit too 
much of a shot gun approach. Recruiting needs to be more focused.
2) Renew the all-volunteer meetings. Give people a chance to voice their 
frustrations and hopefully work out solutions. In particular, try to get the 
current volunteers to map out a strategic direction that THEY want to pursue. 
(I've given up on trying to get the Board to do this.)
3) Matt Dunn is supposed to be chairman of the Community Relations Committee. 
As far as I know he is AWOL.
If he does not respond, try to get a specific volunteer from the shop list to 
perform that function and get us some publicity in the media. That also will 
bring in some volunteers. (Perhaps I can help in this effort but I'm not close 
enough to what is actually going on to be able to spearhead it.)

Steve DeLorey 
 
  

________________________________

From: Theresa Kehoe <t...@cablemo.net>
To: bworks_shop@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 10:09:39 AM
Subject: [bworks_shop] ByteWORKS NEEDS YOU!!

I took a look at our Yahoo bworks_shop group, and we have 70 people
listed as members. Yet on any given Saturday, we are lucky to have 5-6
people in the shop.

We are advertising on VolunteerMatch, looking for help. Let's advertise
to ourselves as well!

You are on the shop list, which is why you are getting this email.

There are currently 185 children on the WAITING list ... at our current
rate, it's going to be nearing the end of 2011 before we get to all
those kids. That's not counting anyone else who wants to sign up in the
next two years, just our current backlog.

Another thing: the adult classes. I know we've got a waiting list for
that. I know there is strong demand for that. I know there are a group
of volunteers who are trying to get that program back up and running.
What I do not know, nor did anyone else in the shop last Saturday, are
any of the details. You know, answers to the questions we get when
people walk in or call up, wanting information?

When are the adult classes going to start? What are the details of the
program (class dates/times, curriculum, etc)? Who is going to build the
computers for the adult program? What work space will they need in the
shop, and what equipment? When will they be building them? Will they
come and talk with the rest of us volunteers who work in the shop, so we
know what we can do to help out?

Doc left us some pretty big shoes to fill. If we can do a better job of
talking with each other, that would help.

So ... you signed up for the bworks_shop mailing list. You must have
SOME interest in helping out at ByteWORKS. We need you! The kids need
you! Won't you please consider volunteering with us?

If not, would you please unsubscribe from the list, so we're not wasting
our time and resources attempting to contact you?

Thanks,

Theresa

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