Articles Index/Getting Involved
Posted 09/02/08
This is an election year, and ANTA will have some new officers and board members this coming Fall. We sometimes take these people for granted, just assuming that our club will carry on and we will continue to have wonderful events that we can look forward to year after year. But the fact is matches, picnics, seminars and clinics don't just "happen". It takes hard work and dedication to pull these activities together for our members.
When was the last time you thanked a volunteer for anything? In whatever clubs you have memberships or in whatever activities you participate have you taken the time to say `thanks' to the people who organize the events, man the booths, or stand out in the rain to judge a competition?
It's easy to complain. To find fault when things don't go according to plan. For some reason, though, we often don't stop and say `thanks for the effort' to the very people who give up their nights and weekends to make sure we have plenty of fun and interesting things to do with our dogs.
If you are one of the people who works hard for your club(s) who does all the behind the scenes stuff who hauls and builds and worries about the details then "Thanks!" we couldn't do it without you.
If you're not one of these people, maybe it's because you don't think you have any particular skills or you are unsure of your ability to participate. Well, don't be shy. Offer to stuff envelopes, make phone calls or bake cookies for a meeting. Sometimes it is the little things that count especially if it involves food!.
The agility clubs in my area require that people contribute a certain number of volunteer hours throughout the year in order to remain members in good standing. In my club, it is a very modest four hours. This is a fairly easy requirement to monitor for a club that draws its membership from a relatively small geographic area. It's not so easy with a far flung membership such as ANTA's.
But give it some thought. Write an article. Host an event. Think of interesting things our Club can do. You'll feel good about it and the rest of us will say "Thanks!" I promise.
Sheila Foran
ANTIC, June, 2008
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