To keep volunteering or to quit?

[laura*]

I've been gone from this wonderful forum for three years. When I left, I had been lurking in a different forum - one where I wasn't even a registered user. I got disgusted by the sexism in that other forum and decided to avoid anything bike related online. I'm hopefully back for a while!

In real life I've been volunteering (and sometimes even getting paid) at a bike co-op. I've become quite skilled at helping people fix their own bikes. I've "grown" a lot during my time there. However, I've also become very burnt out. A year ago, I already reduced my involvement with the co-op. I'm thinking it is time now to fully withdraw.

The mix of people coming into the co-op has changed over the years. I'd say there are now far fewer college students who are interested in bikes. There are more people who need to fix their bike but don't want to learn anything. This means the mix of patrons is less fun to work with. Also lately our staff has had to deal with repeated vandalism and theft.

A shift at the co-op is only a few hours. However, working there has always dominated my entire day. Many of those days in theory I could have been out on a bike ride. But instead I was helping other people with their bikes. Actually, I've hardly even been on a bike the last two years.

A few years ago, a transit bus destroyed a multi-purpose bike of mine. I started building up multiple bikes to replace it. You'd think that with access to a full bike workshop they'd all be done. However, I haven't wanted to spend additional time at the co-op. I now have four plus projects here that haven't been touched in a year.

So, is it time for me to move on?

[Crankin]

Off the top of my head, I'd say yes. Or at least cut down your commitment, while you figure out what you want to do.
Organizations and jobs (volunteer ones, too) change over time, and sometimes, we have no control over this. Nothing is worth the stress you describe. Volunteering is supposed to make you feel good. If this was a paid position, it sounds like you would be looking for another job.
Sit down and make a list of priorities. Write it out. If you want to ride more, than figure out how that can happen. I can tell you from experience that life is too short to worry about this stuff.
A few months ago, I commented here that organizations took advantage of volunteers, particularly women, to the point it made me feel like it was slave labor. Some didn't like that comment, but, basically, it comes down to the fact that I said before; volunteering should make you feel good. Perhaps my perspective is different, given that I have always worked in human service related fields. I don't feel the need to volunteer in "helping" things, because I do that every day in my real life paid career. I can see how this would be different if you had a business oriented career, where the bottom line was more important.
You have the opportunity to take the skills you learned at the co-op and build your bike! And maybe, you could even help others with their repairs, out of your home. One of the mechanics at a shop I used to go to left the LBS and now has a thriving business out of her garage.

[laura*]

Volunteering is supposed to make you feel good. If this was a paid position, it sounds like you would be looking for another job.

Originally, shifts were fairly evenly split between frustrating, neutral, and feeling good. And that was OK at the time. With my reduced participation, I've been choosing times with a much higher chance of "feeling good". But that doesn't seem to be enough anymore. Perhaps I'm not learning much anymore, and thus the time commitment is feeling excessive.

We've had a major drop in the number of core volunteers*, and are likely to switch to an all paid staff model. Most of the crew are actually interested in enough paid hours that this can be a half-time job.

* I think this is because of the change in our patron mix. There aren't enough "bike nuts" coming through the pipeline.

[ny biker]

I agree with Crankin, it sounds like you should stop going. There has to be some balance between what you give to them and something positive that you get back. Otherwise it brings you down and creates negativity in other parts of your life.

I would think you could even go back at some point if you want to give it another try. And you've learned so much, there are other ways to share that knowledge -- for example I learn from fellow bike club members when we're out riding and someone has a mechanical problem, and I've stopped to help strangers on the bike trail more than once.

And welcome back!

[rebeccaC]

One of the best models I’ve seen for helping others learn about working on their bikes was the Bike Kitchen in San Francisco. Helping others to become self-sufficient is good for the individual and for the community. From your words it seems you’ve lost that opportunity with the changes so it would also seem natural to re-examine your commitment.

I’ve always committed some of my time to helping others in my community….more or less time depending on my other life commitments.
The most valuable skills I can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude. I haven’t been in a volunteer position where things have changed to the point that you're writing about. I would be thinking hard about how to affect positive changes or even about my commitment too if it did though.

Perhaps taking the time you would be volunteering to just enjoy building up your bikes and go out riding would be best for you at the moment…..and if you want to…thinking about how you can continue to share your bike building/maintenance skills with others through a job or volunteering.

…..and thanks for the original commitment to helping others become self-sufficient with their bicycles, regardless of the what’s going on now know the intent was worthwhile and needed!!!!!!!!

eta...i recently just left another bike forum because of the alpha-male sexist attitudes being allowed without allowing comment on it.....it's just not really worth our time to participate in any way on websites like that.

[smilingcat]

I've volunteered in the past and know the feeling of being burnt out, USED and other negative adjectives. When you start thinking in the negative, its time to move on. If you were there to help teach others on bike maintenance but the clientele are more interested in freebie repair, that's a disconnect for you. I wouldn't feel bad to leave behind. Someone will fill your shoes.

Sometimes, leaving a volunteering job feel like you are letting down the people, but it isn't. And like Catrin says, it should be a feel good thing.

Also being a woman in bike repair, guys are more willing to butt in your work as though you don't know what you are doing. I was getting really burnt out on refurbishing huffy's, rusted out mud/dirt filled bottom bracket, one-piece cranks, rusted on seat posts, goose necks...

You did lot of good and its time to enjoy your reward at volunteering (experience as a bike wrench). Finish your bikes and go ride. Enjoy your life.