One can volunteer lots of things - time, money, and even one's
life. Some people have volunteered their lives doing something
which they feel is worthwhile.
The whole point in volunteering is to contribute what you
have to a cause that you find worthwhile.
Don't confuse the spirit of volunteerism with failure in
administration. Why is administration so important in charity?
Because charity has real long term beneficial effects ONLY if it is
consistent, well researched, and far reaching.
Many volunteers only see one side of the coin - they evaluate
their entire experience of donating their time/money through their
own eyes and often an adhoc volunteer experience. But unless you
have been a consistent long term volunteer, few will realise the
amount of work that goes into making sure that ad hoc efforts can
measure up into long term benefits.
For many people who are involved in administrating charity
work - it isn't about those few old folks you visited that weekend,
it is about a much larger picture and how to tie up all the loose
ends so it isn't simply a sporadic short term joy that you bring to
them!
It is similar to the argument of salaried people working in
VWOs. The theory being that if these people want to help others,
they should do it for free. But if I honestly ask you whether you
would give up your current job to take a big pay cut so that you
can do something worthwhile FULL TIME - would you? Until you know
what it takes - then perhaps you know why it takes more than you
expect.
However, in view of the recent cases of mismanagement of charity
administration - I think for the individual, what is most
important to THEM is this - do you let someone else's failure
become your excuse not to do something that is worthwhile? That's
simply pointing fingers from your arm chair and sucking
your thumb becos you think you are better than the rest.
If you truly believe in contributing to society - be it through
time or money - then DO IT. Do it in your own way without the need
to depend on someone else to tell you HOW to volunteer. Start your
own project and see how you can make a difference.
... all this elaboration changes little about the HUman Nature,
with regards such organizations...
... if and when I donate or contribute, I personally deliver - I
don't use the Middle Man method...
.... I want to be sure that $10,000 means exactly $10,000
reaches the needies... not dwindle down to $3000 by the time it
reaches them...