Is the Formal Recognition Event (Banquet, etc.) for Recruiting New Volunteers?
Conceivably, heretofore apathetic persons, inspired by honors given super- volunteers, will hie themselves to the nearest volunteer recruiting booth. Maybe, but I doubt it as a rule. Again, “expectation of formal recognition” doesn’t seem to be a significant reason people volunteer. But shouldn’t the example of truly spectacular volunteers Inspire the laggards? Perhaps, sometimes, but I suspect reverse effects are at least equally likely. Among these might be the monkey-off-my-back syndrome: “With people like Martha Jones as nearly full-time helpers, I can relax and do other things with my time.” Then, there’s the pedestal cop-out: “If that awesome Ray Smith is typical of what volunteers are like, an ordinary person like me could hardly qualify.” Finally, we have the “society” dress-up atmosphere of formal banquets. For some, that’s comfortable, even attractive. But for many others, it practically shouts a negative recruiting message: volunteering is for high society folks. An affluent
