If there was a 12-step program for joiners, I would be president of Friends of Steve.
It is a long-standing addiction. If a group forms, I will join. If someone asks me to serve on a board, I reflexively answer "yes."
When I lived in Oregon, I served on several boards: political, charitable, social, faith-oriented. And I enjoyed them all.
But I knew, as retirement approached, that I needed to be a bit more frugal with my time. My volunteer work would grow to occupy what was once the work day. That was not inevitably a bad thing. I just had some other things I wanted to do. Like nothing -- now and then.
Never being a person who does things by half, I went cold turkey. Well, I went cold turkey by running away to Mexico where the time temptations would be fewer.
Or so I thought. I immediately joined the English-speaking church in Melaque. And even taught the odd Bible study.
Last year, a member of the church board approached me and asked if I would be wiling to serve on the board. I told him I would pray and think about it. But I had my doubts.
When the official offer came, I accepted. Admittedly,a bit reluctantly. If I was going to serve on the board, I wanted to be an active participant. But I still had quite of bit of traveling in Mexico to do.
After two board meetings, I have concluded it was the right decision. The church in Melaque has the same type of service commitments that drew me to The Salvation Army. It serves the spiritual needs of the English-speaking community. But it also serves the physical needs of the full community.
This board is one of the most diverse I have served on. The nine member board is made up of men and women; part-time and full-time residents; Canadians and Americans; retired and actively-working; farmers, teachers, businessmen, lawyers, builders. Mirroring our community in flux.
And they have numerous approaches to living our lives. That aspect can tear some boards apart. But because of our respect for one another, we can strongly disagree while keeping the church's purpose in mind.
I am one of those people who love change. I get a bit impatient whenever I hear: "We tried that once and it didn't work" or "If it's working, why bother it?" And I am fully aware that my approach can often sound like change for change's sake.
But I think that will not be a problem if I can keep our broader mission in mind. A week ago,our pastor based his sermon on Philippians 2. I though ht of our board when he read two verses: "[3] Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves—[4] look out for each other's interests and not just for your own."
It was a good reminder for me. The church is not about me. The board is not about me. Even I should not be about me.
And, if I can keep that in mind, I am going to be a joyous joiner. With or without the Friends of Steve.
It is a long-standing addiction. If a group forms, I will join. If someone asks me to serve on a board, I reflexively answer "yes."
When I lived in Oregon, I served on several boards: political, charitable, social, faith-oriented. And I enjoyed them all.
But I knew, as retirement approached, that I needed to be a bit more frugal with my time. My volunteer work would grow to occupy what was once the work day. That was not inevitably a bad thing. I just had some other things I wanted to do. Like nothing -- now and then.
Never being a person who does things by half, I went cold turkey. Well, I went cold turkey by running away to Mexico where the time temptations would be fewer.
Or so I thought. I immediately joined the English-speaking church in Melaque. And even taught the odd Bible study.
Last year, a member of the church board approached me and asked if I would be wiling to serve on the board. I told him I would pray and think about it. But I had my doubts.
When the official offer came, I accepted. Admittedly,a bit reluctantly. If I was going to serve on the board, I wanted to be an active participant. But I still had quite of bit of traveling in Mexico to do.
After two board meetings, I have concluded it was the right decision. The church in Melaque has the same type of service commitments that drew me to The Salvation Army. It serves the spiritual needs of the English-speaking community. But it also serves the physical needs of the full community.
This board is one of the most diverse I have served on. The nine member board is made up of men and women; part-time and full-time residents; Canadians and Americans; retired and actively-working; farmers, teachers, businessmen, lawyers, builders. Mirroring our community in flux.
And they have numerous approaches to living our lives. That aspect can tear some boards apart. But because of our respect for one another, we can strongly disagree while keeping the church's purpose in mind.
I am one of those people who love change. I get a bit impatient whenever I hear: "We tried that once and it didn't work" or "If it's working, why bother it?" And I am fully aware that my approach can often sound like change for change's sake.
But I think that will not be a problem if I can keep our broader mission in mind. A week ago,our pastor based his sermon on Philippians 2. I though ht of our board when he read two verses: "[3] Do nothing out of rivalry or vanity; but, in humility, regard each other as better than yourselves—[4] look out for each other's interests and not just for your own."
It was a good reminder for me. The church is not about me. The board is not about me. Even I should not be about me.
And, if I can keep that in mind, I am going to be a joyous joiner. With or without the Friends of Steve.
