This is a post brought about by a late night conversation with Lissa this past weekend.

People on Filk_UK use the word "volunteer" like a swear word: "I almost used the v-word!" they say, as if it were something filthy. I know that there is a certain amount of light-hearted joking involved with this usage, but here's the key - the people who talk like this? They actually *don't* volunteer to do anything.

You can currently count active filkcon runners on the fingers of two hands, I think. And that might be counting some people who have silently sworn, "never again!" to themselves, but haven't let it be known publicly. Some of us have been forced to temporarily retire due to family commitments - Tim and I, Phil and Lissa, Mike W., Brian and Dawn (I assume - I only have 2 to their 3, and find those two make it impossible!)... But it just doesn't seem as if new people are stepping up to the plate.

It is nothing unusual for a filkcon these days to have 140+ members. Some of them are children, and some of them are the harrassed and overworked parents of those children. But that's still an awful lot of people who *could* be doing something and aren't.

I wonder if it is because of this unconscious acceptance of the fact that it is somehow funny to *not* volunteer. As if doing nothing was somehow... cool. I also take issue with the fact that after every UK filkcon, there is inevitably a big discussion on Filk_UK about the mistakes that the concom made. I know we are mostly english, and running down our fellows is practically a national past-time, but honestly... I remember Quinze, run entirely by conrunning first-timers. It was, IMHO, one of the best scheduled and day-to-day run conventions I have been to. But what was the discussion about? Their novel use of timer cards to keep performers on time, thus preventing overruns? No. Their thoughtfulness about providing extra spaces for listeners during loud program items, allowing people to participate but not get overexposed to volume? Nah. The heating system in the hotel? Oooooh yeah. The fact that the program room was too hot. Endless conversation about it. Leading some people to say that the program room was too small (we'll gloss over the "always unused seating" issue, shall we?). A hundred positive points, but all the discussion focussed on the one bad thing. *sigh*

Argh!!! No wonder people use the "v-word" like that!

But here's the kicker: filk isn't a business. Filk isn't a charity. The people who run cons are not an employed elite. We are all part of the same *community*. It isn't a "them and us", situation - it is an "us and us" situation. If we want to carry on having filkcons, and meeting up with our friends, we all need to actively participate in it.

So volunteer to do something this year. Running a convention isn't *hard* - it just takes a bit of time, and the ability to have meetings with other concom members. There are people out here who have done it and are *more* than happy to help out with advice and a little practical help. If you don't want to run a convention, than think about hosting a housefilk, or looking around your local neighbourhood for event venues. Just help to run things a little bit.

We can't all be Rafe, or Lissa, or Minstrel or Gytha or any one of the people who have done so much over the years to build this community. But we can all do a little bit. And we can all stop using the word "volunteer" like it's dirty. Volunteers have helped to create this community that I love and feel at home in. I'm proud to have been one for a bit. Circumstances preclude me volunteering again right now, but when the kids are grown, I will do it again, and with great happiness.