Justified "NO" or missed opportunity?
By jillhill
@jillhill (37354)
United States
November 9, 2007 7:39pm CST
Three years ago I joined our local art center. I am an author and I also paint and attend art shows. I joined because I did the local art fair and met some of the local artist and entertainers. Well when I filled out my application I check all the boxes to volunteer to do anything they needed help with. Helping with flyers..volunteering at the shop at the art center...doing anything. I never got one call to help with anything. So I dropped my membership. Last week someone called me and said I had volunteered to decorate a Christmas Tree for the Festival of Trees...three years later and I am no longer a member. I felt like they had run out of options for people decorating them and were going down the list trying to find enough people so they would have their room full of trees. I said no. I felt like I was only an after thought and I have other things to do now. My sister said I shouldn't have gotten angry about the late invitation and should call them back and say I would do a tree. What would you have done?
4 people like this
6 responses
@AmbiePam (85273)
• United States
10 Nov 07
I don't believe I would have agreed to do it either. Sure, they might think, wow she helps and does a good job, let's get her more involved. But more likely they will think, hey next time when someone drops out, we can count on her to do it because she did it the last time when we had no one. I hate to sound so pessimistic because I'm usually not, but I hate to see people used. Unless you just really want to do it, I think you did the right thing.
1 person likes this
@BlueStarMom1 (931)
• United States
10 Nov 07
I would have done the same thing you did. If they didn't need you for 3 years it sounds a little fishy that they suddenly need you to do trees only after you dropped your membership. You didn't say if you had to pay for a membership but I suspect you did and they didn't want to lose the money. If not then they were just plain inconsiderate and it sounds like some of the other members didn't want to have to do manual labor. Bravo for standing up for yourself.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
11 Nov 07
Yes....you have to pay for the membership. In our little town it seems like the same people like to be in charge of everything and aren't very willing to accept new people. The art center itself is running into big time trouble. I would have loved to help turn it around with idea's I had for special events but now I have started doing other things. It's sad....very sad that they only now want to let new people in to share in the organization.
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
10 Nov 07
I would have told the person that I Was a member 3 years ago and I am not a member now. And then I would ask them to put me on their do not call list. Why would anyone settle gor being an after thought? if they really wanted your help ,they wouldn't have waited 3 years to ask.If they tried to call again then I would get really rude and hang up on them.But that's just me. If you are really want to volunteer, then you should.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
12 Nov 07
i would have accepted their request anyway. i'd be pissed too if i volunteered to a lot of activities but wasn't included. but since they took the effort to call me, i'll accept it. even if it was sooo late. i would just think they stup!dly overlooked my application. ^__^ but i won't apply again.
and besides, decorating a Christmas tree would be fun.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
12 Nov 07
It would have been but with short notice I wasn't able to get everything together either.....say they called in Sept. it would have been different. I do show to sell my books and framed poetry and this time of year I have to get ready to do all of those. Thanks for the input though!
1 person likes this
@aaidjs (1149)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
10 Nov 07
Hello Dear!!I know that we have to be flexible in our relationships but here is the system and principled problem!!For my opinion YOU are right!!It is not polite at first place to call you after years and besides all ,ask you for help!!In your place I would done the same!!Warm Regards Silvana
1 person likes this
@KarenLO (238)
• United States
10 Nov 07
I have a friend that belongs to that art center. The tree that you would decorate would be your own creation, I think. I was going to do one, too but didn't have time to make the things I wanted to put on it...I was going to do a tree in all dolls. Some do a Christmas tree with all Santa's,all horse stuff, all fishing lures, etc, they are very theme centered trees....I think you may have had fun with it...but they usually had so many people volunteering to decorate a tree each year and maybe they didnt have so many this year or they finally got to you on the list...they only have room for just so many trees...It is really fun to look at all of the different trees. I don't think they meant it as an afterthought...just wanted some different ideas...which you have...you are so talented.
