West Somerset Railway General Discussion

The old if you can do better , why don't you do it line.

I like it, this kind of attitude from people connected to the wsr is why people don't want to help them with any experience they have that's useful . Always finding 3 reasons not to do something when there's one decent reason to do it,

Carry on with the good work snifter, don't let this deter you .

 

Dan - agreed that you can't agree with everyone. That in itself is not a problem. It is the manner of how you disagree that is at issue. You come over as judgemental and confrontational before you have even started which suggests to me that you are not going to be a very constructive team member. I guess what I'm trying to say is that attitude is an important part of being a useful volunteer in any organisation.

Peter

 

Whilst it increases the consumption of popcorn watching this from the side how about reaching some conclusions and drawing a line under this topic of volunteer contact? I don't think we need anymore detailed information on who said what to whom, nor do insults and prejudices add to the debate.

What is clear is that these days with the benefit of instant communication the expectation is that replies are quick. My first weekend of volunteering on the Talyllyn (rebuilding Pendre level crossing) was organised by snail mail over a three month period. That sort of arrangement today won't work so there needs to be an adequate way to support this with a clear process and timeline.

A volunteer run organisation has other constraints such as time available by the individual to process such requests whilst possibly having other priorities (work, family etc.). But a clear expectation is to reply within a clear period, say three days maximum. Is there a process in place that allows that? A common email address with cc to those who can reply if the main contact is unavailable? The follow up should be clear and if necessary set out the steps that are needed to volunteer. It's not so obvious to some first time volunteers that you don't just turn up and drive the engine on your first day.

From the individual's side there also needs to be some realism and humility. Unless starting from scratch on day one of a project you are joining an established team and walking in and telling everyone they are doing it wrong won't win you many friends. Similarly a totally negative attitude towards the project won't take you far.

Remember this is non paid work which we do for fulfilment. We don't have to put up with additional stress. At work, although I enjoy my job, I have to deal with very difficult people and the only reason I see it through is because it pays the mortgage and keeps the family fed and clothed. In volunteering if I come across dictators, empire builders and hostile colleagues I will probably not continue. But I accept that it may be me causing these reactions so I will also look inwardly at myself before pulling the plug.

The basic point is that we do this for love. A bit of common sense and winding in of necks will go a long way towards creating a harmonious atmosphere in which it is a joy to be part of a team.

I can honestly say that the times I have volunteered I have enjoyed immensely. Stay out if the politics of you want a quiet life and at the end of the day sit back and enjoy looking at the fruits of your labours. Years later I still get a kick knowing that my efforts are being enjoyed by others.

The message should be:
Do something to put a smile on your face. You won't regret it.

As an aside volunteering can also be on remote activities or support, not necessarily physically touching the project. Today more than ever there are roles for people not able to attend or perform physical tasks.

 

Well said that man.

 

Instead of getting upset with the WSR, on the days when you were available (say a Sunday), you could have just gone to the railway and introduced yourself and say you are a new member and would like to start today, bring some overalls, boots and lunch. They would probably have shown you around and got you started with doing some tasks.

When I worked at the GWSR for example. I just joined, got my membership card, then turned up at Winchcombe and spoke to the guy in the booking office and said I was a new member and wanted to start in Carriage and Wagon. He said great thanks and took me down there and introduced me, they showed me around the current projects, then got me started on doing some jobs. If you prefer to work on some particular project you can then tell them.

Email is unreliable, better to just turn up and speak to someone and get started. You could have still mentioned the persons who you had been in touch with via email.

With volunteering you have to want to do it yourself and push yourself forward for the activities you want to do. It isn't like a corporate company where they send you a welcome pack and invite you to an induction day.

 

Agree with only one caveat. The expression "common sense" is just a way of dressing up "in my opinion"to make it sound more compelling.

 

It would be interesting to know why you are no longer volunteering on those two railways.

 

Actually some places do have an induction day. IMHO it is desirable

 

In a lot of places attending the induction day before starting work is compulsory.

 

This has nothing to do with the current volunteer issues on this railway. I gave up association membership after the last fiasco 2013/2017
having been associated with WSR since 1976. Volunteers do not need to be association members to work on the railway and in my view, such an important role as volunteer liaison should be managed by a full time paid member of the PLC clerical staff.

 

Why would that have anything to do with it? What if they are no longer at (insert name of railway here) for reasons such as want to volunteer nearer to where they live, they have moved into a different area. It shouldn't make a difference, they are giving time up for free, they are an extra pair of hands. It shouldn't be so difficult.

 

That tallies with my experience.
Although I had previously (20 years earlier) been a volunteer at another railway centre, after the break I decided to try a longer railway slightly nearer home.
I had been an armchair member there for many years, but not an active volunteer.
I went along to the main station and asked for a volunteer application form, which the stationmaster was happy to provide. After completing the form I returned it to him, for forwarding to the 'volunteer recruitment coordinator'. Noticing that I had ticked both footplate and signalling on the form, the stationmaster suggested that I might like a word with the signalling training officer who was on duty in the 'box there that day. I accepted that offer.
Long story short, I attended a different box less than a month later (August Bank Holiday) for an induction day with one of the assistant inspectors who was duty signalman that day. After a long chat and a 'hands on' session I was booked in for the next classroom course, and since that was starting several months ahead also booked in for training at a level crossing in the meantime. Result I have been a signalman now for ten years, signing two 'boxes and three level crossings.
I did not hear anything from the footplate department until after I had started the signalling course. Although I did do a few cleaner and third man sessions, I decided not to pursue that role further.
I later discovered that the "volunteer recruitment coordinator" had been ill, and subsequently there had been a lack of cover for the role. If I had simply written in or emailed, then that application might well have been lost in the interregnum. So an accidental gap in the normal process could have łed to me going away and trying another line. If it had not been for the initiative of the stationmaster to 'short circuit' the correct procedure I would have been lost to my present line.

 

Dangerous advice

 

Why not a volunteer member of the PLC clerical staff? Reading between the lines, I got the sense that some of the railway’s financial issues were due to an unchecked growth in paid roles. So why not consider clerical roles as volunteer posts as well - volunteering doesn’t just have to be the visible, operations and restoration type tasks?

Tom

 

Given that poster's posting history and style (not just on this thread), the question had occurred to me as well. I share the views of @torgormaig on the importance of team work - I don't volunteer on a railway but, where I do volunteer, the ability of volunteers to work well with each other even where they disagree. An organisation can suffer unduly from those who can't rub along, especially if they leave in high dudgeon.

 

Volunteer member as clerical staff! I think you miss the point. An existing trained paid member of clerical staff could deal with the initial organisation of induction, email contact and other necessary paperwork from the comfort of their office chair, within a small part of their working week. With paid staff, their work is more easily managed and best of all they are not involved in railway matters nor want to be. Their role finishes once the potential volunteer is passed through induction and department supervisors take over. This avoids the major problem as expressed on this thread of not feeling wanted. As previously expressed here, to pick up your boots and get stuck in, could be disasterous.

 

What does anyones posting history have to do with anything?, As long as it not a history of posting history that is questionable legally.

You've just said you can work with someone even if you don't agree so what's the problem?

 

A lot of sweeping generalisations is there! (For example “best of all they are not involved in railway matters nor want to be.“)

But more importantly - why does someone have to be paid to do that role well? A volunteer could manage the process just as well as a paid member of staff.

Tom

 

It is as much whether you can work with me as whether I can work with you that matters. And that is about the ability to work in a team.

The style of comments on NatPres had left doubts on that score in my mind. They have nothing to do with legality.


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