There are always articles on how the 'Youth of America' are spoiled, whiny and have no work ethic. This happens every few years when some reporter doesn't get lucky with the the college kids anymore. We think the youth are changing America. The work ethic is there but it is different. It is fascinating to listen to a college senior already sure of the fact that they will not work their lives away for large corporations. This may be the first generation to have parents laid-off from job after job. (Remember the late 90's y'all? They sucked!)
The Statesman today has a refreshing piece on the Youth. The volunteer more than you do. Volunteerism is one of America's greatest assets and apparently if it weren't for the Youth there wouldn't be any. So, take a minute and re-think your positions on the whiny and apathetic youth....maybe it's you.
I wasn't trying to make it a generational war. I just thought we could say something nice about the next generation because lately all we've read is negative. (Besides...I'm trying to get laid over here!)
A hidden agenda. I feel so used.
Volunteerism is for young people. I served on many boards over the years, and one thing I noticed over and over is that volunteering tends to turn normally tolerant, sane people into fractious control freaks. What is with that?
There was more maneuvering, backbiting, and jockeying in nonprofits than I've ever seen in business or even politics. I got so tired of trying to mediate between factions, I finally left every single volunteer position. Now the ONLY volunteering I do is as a worker bee blockwalking for campaigns and occasionally serving meals for the homeless.
The ability to deal patiently with board politics is doable, but wears off with age. So go for it, youngesters! (And one of these days you too can smile when someone tries to recruit you and say "No, I'm sorry but I don't do volunteer boards anymore. I paid my dues.")
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PD, I can't speak for you, but everyone I know volunteered more where they were younger, before they had, you know, jobs and kids and taxes to pay and responsibilities and stuff. I think it's always been that way, so let's not make it a generational battle. But yeah, we should all volunteer more, adults too.