This past weekend marked the start of my volunteering to tutor fourth graders in English and Math (in preparation for their advancement exams). These kids never cease to amaze me; and are a constant reminder that I won't be having any of my own anytime soon.
The week before was the mandatory training session. I've done them before, and given that it was my third year, I shared some stories and advice (what a surprise, huh?). What was new this year was the finger-printing and background check. Working with minors, it makes sense; and thinking about it, they should have done this in previous years, too.
That's all fine. I don't have any skeletons in my closet (that I'm afraid to share with the world). Fingers, fingers, thumb, thumb, done. "Did you bring the $25 fee for the background check?" Excuse me?!
They want me to pay for my own background check?! To volunteer?! In essence, they're making me pay to volunteer! That's almost as stupid as those prepaid credit cards!
Is it just me? Does anyone else see the issue here? Should I just pay the $25 fee, even though I think the organization should pay (considering I'm volunteering my time)? I doubt they'd stop me from volunteering, but do I want to risk having people be mad at me? And I love enacting power over those little brats (just kidding).
What's really surprising is how none of the other volunteers are opposing this fee (which is probably due to the fact that I'm one of two returning volunteers). Maybe I'm just that cheap observant?
7 comments:
No. Not Cheap. NOt at all. You're Smart. If I were you, I won't even breakin' pay the $25 for doing good deeds in volunteering. I rather donate the $25 to your friend Wayne, since he needs and loves money.
You've got to pay the fee. Every non-profit is always hanging on by the skin of their teeth. That said, you should tell them that even though you are a veteran volunteer, the requirement to pay the background check fee is a real deterent and they should look at finding some funding to at least defray that cost if not underwrite it.
Oh hell no. don't pay that.
Just make up the $25 by teaching the kids how to sew sneakers :-)
I suspect that they have no choice--that they're being required by some government regulation to do the checks--but they're short on cash. So they probably know it would be better to make it free, but they can't. Just a guess, but it makes sense.
If they charge the kids for the tutorials, they should have "donations" to pay for the credit checks. Plus they do get government funding regardless. Miss you babe!
I meant background check. =P
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