Volunteering / Club Duties

Originally posted by JimC Originally posted by Sussex Lad Quick question to anyone who reads this: False question. Conventional UK good manners is to thank anyone who gives you good service even if it's part of their job.

exactly, we thank bus drivers as  we alight  the bus if it;s front entrance bus  - obviously slightly difference if it;s dual door otr  the rare occasionas the rearmost doors on a borismaster are in use , the counter staff at  the take away when they hand over   your  order ,,

Originally posted by Late starter Interesting point. I've been thanked for running OOD, PRO, or safety duties but in my experience committee duties can be thankless.

It is interesting isn't it. We thank people at point of delivery as it were where we see them in action, but if its something done out of sight like a committee meeting then I think by and large it happens much less. In my head I find it natural to thank the people on the Committee boat, say as I pass through the finish line, but it feels rather odd to consider when I might thank the person who maintains the damn boat so its there for the RC. The only time it feels as if it might be appropriate is applause at an AGM. Probably futile to look for too much logic and consistency in social custom. But bearing in mind the care and feeding of volunteers is one of the most crucial aspects of club management maybe we should think about this more.

Originally posted by Sussex Lad Quick question to anyone who reads this: Do you consider it appropriate to thank volunteers for volunteering? or... Do you consider it something that should be done by all members as a matter of duty and therefore require no thanks?

Originally posted by Sussex Lad Quick question to anyone who reads this: Do you consider it appropriate to thank volunteers for volunteering? or... Do you consider it something that should be done by all members as a matter of duty and therefore require no thanks?

Originally posted by Sheetpuller What a weird question. Why wouldn't you thank anybody for volunteering? The simple fact that they are there and volunteering means that they aren't somewhere else doing something for themselves. I'll ask you an equally silly question in return; What would stop you from thanking them? What downsides do you foresee?

Personally I don't see any downside. Here's a reply I posted to someone else earlier.

Originally posted by Sussex Lad Originally posted by Noah   I think it’s just good manners to thank those who have run the racing, for example.  It is also nice to receive thanks and/or compliments having run racing for a day. How are a race team to know the event could have been improved if no-one tells them? There are, of course, nice ways and less nice ways of doing this! Thanks for e.g. a work party normally come in the form of a supplied lunch or similar. In my previous class a whip round was made to raise some cash to buy goodies for the trolley crews who were generally the youngsters from the host club.  My thoughts exactly. Sadly I have heard the other option voiced several times over the years. IMO being miserly of spirit is not a good look.