 | 30 Aug 10 |
Today we welcome Silver James to the MSW blog! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Silver in person, as well interacting with her online and she’s lovely in so many ways. One random commenter will win a paperback copy of her new release, FAERIE FIRE, coming out September 17th. Enjoy!
Some of you may remember me from the guest post I did a few weeks back about my life and career in forensics. Today, S.J. has granted me the opportunity to talk about something near and dear to my heart: Giving back. When I first started on my career in the fire and forensic services, I began as a volunteer. I had a talent and expertise. My local fire department had need of it but there was no budget to cover a position. So I volunteered. My daughter’s tee ball team needed another coach. I played softball back in the day. I volunteered. In school, the PTA or various committees always needed help. I volunteered. Church? Civic groups? Trade associations? They all needed time and talent and I shared mine whenever I could.
Don’t paint me out to be a saint. I’m far from it! I spent my time bashing my head against various walls and hidebound practices. I learned how to deal with the age-old argument of, “But we’ve ALWAYS done it that way!” But that doesn’t mean I didn’t drive home from the meeting muttering invectives and some very inventive curses the entire way. And it doesn’t mean that I didn’t consider quitting, walking away, and letting someone else worry about whether things would get accomplished. But my dad didn’t raise me to be a quitter.
My dad, who’s been gone fifteen years now, was a most interesting man. Dad was a man of old-fashioned values. Born and raised on a ranch in Wyoming, he truly believed in tenets we now consider tropes of Western literature like: A person works from can see to can’t see to get the job done, or you ride for the brand (which means you give your boss his due and you don’t bad mouth him until you quit!). Dad instilled two things in me as I was growing up—a love of reading and words and a sense of duty. If my Girl Scout troop needed help picking up the boxes of cookies or delivering tents to the local GS camp, he was always right there. If the church needed someone to serve on the board, he raised his hand. And it wasn’t just the volunteering of his time or money. He voted in every single election he was eligible to vote in. National, state, local. The secretary of the local election board told me at his funeral that Dad’s name was invariably the first one on the list of voters in his home precinct.
What brought this subject about? A couple of different things. RWA Nationals was a month ago. I attended the General Membership meeting. This is the time where the officers and board members present items to the membership for vote. Only…we couldn’t vote on anything. There wasn’t a quorum present. A quorum is the percentage of voters needed to conduct business in an organization. Those votes can be made in person or by proxy. A proxy is a legal document giving someone else the ability to vote for you. When I got home, I mentioned this to several writing groups and was shocked when I learned how many people had no clue about the process. They didn’t know about proxies or quorums, or the fact they didn’t have to attend to vote. I’d already made up my mind to run for the RWA Board of Directors from my region (under my real name, Penny T. James), and this just cemented one of my goals if I am elected—educating and communicating with the membership how important their participation is to the health of the organization.
This holds true for every organization, and every government. Exercising the right to vote is an honor and a privilege and it should be a duty! And organizations don’t run on air. They need volunteers to help in all sorts of ways. From local animal shelters to literacy programs to schools, there is a place for everyone to exercise their talents and spend a little of their time to make this old world a better place. If you are an RWA member, ballots are sent by email on September 1st. Please vote. School has started just about everywhere. If you have a child, please find some way to help your school. If you have a little time, expertise, or even extra money (I know, times are tight for all of us!), please considering donating a part of yourself to your favorite cause. National elections here in the US are November 2nd. Please vote.
And please tell me what you’ve done, do, or plan to do to give back. One random commenter will win a paperback copy of my new release, FAERIE FIRE, coming out September 17th. I’m not here to promote the book. If you’re interested, you can go to my website, www.silverjames.com, to get more info. I’m here today to play Jimminy Cricket, to poke everyone’s conscience just a little. We all have so many demands on our time, talent, and pocket book. But if we all find some small way to give back, think of the positive change for good that could happen.
© 2010, Sylvia Day. All rights reserved.
Sylvia Day is the national bestselling, award-winning author of seventeen novels. A wife and mother of two, she is a former Russian linguist for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence. In addition to her novels, she's written numerous novellas and short stories for both print and electronic-original release. Sylvia's work has been called an "exhilarating adventure" by Publishers Weekly and "wickedly entertaining" by Booklist. Her stories have been translated into Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Czech, Italian, and Thai. She's been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the EPPIE award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA Award of Excellence.
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Great topic. I have found it really doesn’t take that much time to make a big difference. My kids school is always happy to an extra set of hands for noon duty, kitchen duty and the library. That is where I focus my time and energy these days.
by Rory G August 30th, 2010 at 4:02 amThanks, Rory. I know schools really appreciate parents like you! There are so many who just drop their kids off. Being involved in your children’s lives is a wonderful thing.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 1:47 pmHi, Silver – I’ve done the volunteer thing so much of my life. Scout troop leader, classroom volunteer, and on and on. I think the most rewarding volunteering I’ve done was for the Adult Literacy League in Orlando, both as a one-on-one tutor and then as a trainer of new tutors. There’s very little that can top the feeling you get when your student says, “I read a magazine article that said you could get sick if you didn’t cook your hamburger long enough. If you hadn’t helped me read, I would never have known that.”
Terry
by Terry Odell August 30th, 2010 at 8:15 amTerry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Hey Silver, great write up about giving back. I am a big proponent of that “forum” as well. Your dad was a great man to teach you two such valuable lesson.
I try to volunteer when time permits and I donate to my favorite charities regularly. I think my service in the military was one of the biggest ways for me to give back to this country that provided me with so many opportunities.
My next goal is to help out in a battered women’s shelter. The process is a long one, but I hope to be able to make a difference in the lives of the women and children who find themselves in need of these shelter.
I hope you have a great time here at MSW today. Looking forward to reading Faerie Fire.
Peace and love,
by Paula R. August 30th, 2010 at 9:04 amPaula R.
Hi, Paula! Yes, thank you for your service! I know I’ve told you before, but I can’t say it enough. Serving in the military is a big deal to me! And now you teach and work with kids, and still want to open your heart to battered women. You are made of awesome. Thanks for dropping by, my friend.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 1:49 pmThanks, Silver. I like that. I am made of awesome…I might have to use it as my FB status one day…LOL!!!
I would like to thank you for all that you have done to give back as well.
Peace and love,
by Paula R. August 30th, 2010 at 3:20 pmPaula R.
I usually volunteer my time at schools because I am working on becoming a teacher. It gives me experience in the classroom as well as a sense of achievement because I am helping younger children.
by Stephanie McCarthy August 30th, 2010 at 9:17 amOh, wow, Stephanie! Teachers have my profound respect and thanks! My mother taught for over 30 years. There’s no way I have the patience for it. Good teachers make for good students. More power to you in your quest and thank you for wanting to pass knowledge on to the generations to come.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 1:50 pmI am on the Board of Directors of Mystery Writers of America, and I’ve served as a judge for the Edgars too. Both have been very rewarding experiences and I hope my contribution has meant something too…
by Lori Armstrong August 30th, 2010 at 10:05 amHi, Lori! Am I’m asking for a bunch of headaches if I get on RWA’s board? I’ve been there, with another organization, and I have to say that being able to help guide a group like MWA or RWA has got to be an amazing feeling. I AM talking about the warm fuzzies NOT the heartburn. LOL
FYI, I think MWA is lucky to have you on the board. RWA is lucky to have SJ on their board, too! Just sayin’…
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 1:56 pmGreat post, Silver – and I wholeheartedly agree! I have voluteered from everything from sporting stuff to Senior’s homes (there is nothing like sitting down to tea with someone who has a history she’s excited to share). Since our latest move, I haven’t signed onto anything, yet – thanks for the reminder, I will be soon.
As for charities – The Husband and I pick 12 charities every year, they each get assigned a month and that’s where we send a contribution. A way to help in many ways – and offer assistance to the many people who need it
I’m going to get myself acquainted with the voting procedures for RWA – I’m guilty of not filling out the forms when they come in the mail.
by Janet August 30th, 2010 at 2:37 pmJanet, what a great idea for giving year round! You Canadians are so smart.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 4:40 pmAwesome post Silver! Your dad sounds a lot like my dad. He was always the first to volunteer to help out at church and school, even when he was working swing shifts. He was youth director at my church when I was pretty young and set up the “Haunted House” at the PTA Halloween carnival every year while my sibs and I were in elementary school.
I donate books to the library every few months. In Nashville, any they don’t/can’t put on the shelves are sold to raise money to buy more books. I also collect clothes from friends and family to donate throughout the year. I took last year off, but helped teach kids Bible study at my church. I really missed it this past year and plan on going back this fall.
by Liza August 30th, 2010 at 2:53 pmWe’ve talked about our dads before, Liza. They are/were such wonderful examples and mentors as we grew up. How’s the marathoning going?
Great idea to take books to the library. Our Friends of the Library have a huge book sale every year from donated books. I send my extras to the local VA hospital.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 4:42 pmThe running is going well. I run my first 10k on Labor Day and start training for 1/2 marathon on 9/11.
Dads are pretty awesome. I’m lucky enough to still have mine and thank God every day.
by Liza August 30th, 2010 at 6:19 pmWelcome, Silver! Thanks for being our guest today. And you are so right about organizations not running on air. I need to keep this in mind as I go around being busy.
by Laura Griffin August 30th, 2010 at 3:39 pmAck! I missed your post the first time around, Laura. It’s amazing how some people think that’s how organization work–that or there are little brownies who creep in at night to do stuff.
by Silver James September 1st, 2010 at 6:50 pmSilver, excellent post and reminder of our obligations to the organizations we love!
I’ve volunteered in the schools, soccer, little league and my RWA chapter. Probably other stuff I’m forgetting.
I’m really excited your running for office!
by Jen Lyon August 30th, 2010 at 4:00 pmThanks, Jen! I hope enough people feel the same way, LOL! This is something I’d really like to do and have the time do it now.
I think most of us with kids have volunteered at least somewhere because of them. Those darn teachers are just tenacious when it comes to “twisting arms”. LOLOL! (Or maybe I just never learned to say no?)
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 4:45 pmFantastic post, Silver. I’ve volunteered many times over the years, and it’s always a rewarding experience–though it’s always work, and sometimes, a bit like herding cats or corralling mosquitoes to get everyone headed in the same direction.
That’s just part of the process, though, and organizations need more people to participate.
I know my first three or so years at RWA, I didn’t even realize that I was welcome to attend the AGM. I didn’t know what it was, or why they would want/need me there. I think your goal of educating the membership about that need/process is a great one.
by toni mcgee causey August 30th, 2010 at 4:41 pmToo funny, Toni, and way too true! I am so gonna remember that phrasing everytime I have to go into a committee meeting now!
FYI, I’m sort of headed your way this weekend–Writers for New Orleans once again sang her siren song and I couldn’t resist. I do have a bone to pick with LSU, though! How dare they play in the Superdome the night I have to get through all the traffic to get to the Quarter. I hope y’all all stay home…just sayin’!
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 4:50 pmHey Silver! You know, we were talking about voting this weekend at my local chapter meeting and someone (in the know) said that only about 3,000 members of RWA vote for the Board! I was stunned – that’s about 30% of the membership. Get out there a vote, kids!
Like so many others here, my volunteer time is given to the schools. When I was single, I used to read to the blind, which is something that gave me enormous pleasure. When I’m an empty nester, I plan on doing that again. I found it to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.
Thanks for guesting – you’re a regular around here now! And we love it! xo
by Roxanne St. Claire August 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pmAwww, you make me feel right at home, Rocki! We only had half the number of votes to make a quorum at the AGM. I was really surprised. And yay for you and your chapter! Those ballots come out soon! It only takes a few moments, if people will just take the time.
I read for the blind way back when I was single, too! I enjoyed it though I think I’d probably scare people with my voice now. LOL! My accent is showing.
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 6:33 pmI have voted in every election since I was old enough to do so. When the kids were little I volunteered for anything I could. Headed any board or committee I could.
I have never seen the AGM at any National RWA Meeting be able to vote – no quorum. That is too sad. I’ll be voting for the board when elections come up.
by Jill James August 30th, 2010 at 7:43 pmJill, I am sending kudos your way! I think if members understood the importance of proxy votes, they’d respond. So many don’t. Good on you for voting in elections and for having the volunteer spirit!
by Silver James August 30th, 2010 at 9:23 pmhey silver, thank you so much for a great post and a reminder to all of us to do what we can. I used to volunteer in my kids’ schools and on their teams and scouts – so much so that it felt like a part time job and occasionally a full time job. I don’t regret any of it, and as you point out, we get so much back from giving.
Now I spend so much time on my writing and the writing community that there is little time for anything outside of it. But that’s ok. I know that life will ebb and flow its way back, and some day I’ll be back doing those things again, or finding something else.
My dad was my example, too. He has been a volunteer firefighter and paramedic for 20 years, and is a member of the coast guard auxiliary. all this in his 70′s – can’t beat that!
by sophie littlefield August 30th, 2010 at 10:10 pmSophie, hats off to your dad! Give my best and tell him I want to be him when I grow up!
I love that I’m “preaching to the choir” here on MSW. Of course, I’ve always thought you gals were the best and your followers are, too!
by Silver James August 31st, 2010 at 10:38 amWell I’m on a fixed income but I do what I can. I save Boxtops for Education for my grandkids school, they also save pop can pull tabs to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. I also try to give as much as I can to Childrens Miracle Network. If it wasn’t for all the equipment they helped buy for the local NICU my born at 23 week granddaughter might not be here. She is our little MIRACLE. So we definitely support them.
by Linda Henderson August 31st, 2010 at 11:55 amGood for you, Linda! Children’s Miracle Network is a most worthy cause! And sometimes, it’s not the money but the time one can give that’s most important. Thanks for stopping by!
by Silver James September 1st, 2010 at 6:51 pmSilver, that was a very thoughtful post – thanks for sharing! I do the best I can to help my community…
by Melanie S. August 31st, 2010 at 2:46 pmThanks, Melanie. If we all do a little, it becomes a lot!
by Silver James September 1st, 2010 at 6:52 pmI know many people think that they havent got time to give back or that they need to do some momentous activity to give back. I think not.
by MichellekCanada August 31st, 2010 at 8:18 pmI give blood when I can. I attend school trips as a chaperone. My company is big on volunteering so they allow some time of work every quarter so I volunteer to fill food hampers at the food back 4 times a year. Every July for 1 weekend I volunteer my efforts to run a food/rest stop for the 150 km MS Bike ride.
I support numerous friends when they do walkathons, dog walkthons, walks for cancer etc. Just takes a little to go a long way.
Michelle, you do a LOT! It’s people like you everyone who commented that make the world a better place!
by Silver James September 1st, 2010 at 6:53 pm