HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT IN VOLUNTEER LIFE

 Avoid Burnout by Finding Your Threshold of Volunteerism

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

Saying “yes” to a cause you care about is easy—maybe too easy. Before you know it, your calendar is overflowing, your inbox is bursting, your patience is thinning, and burnout is just around the corner. The irony? Once burnout hits, you're not just sidelined—you might even harm the cause you set out to help.

The Power of Knowing Your Threshold

The word threshold is ancient, tracing back over a thousand years. Historically, it referred to the literal first step into a building. Today, it also describes a critical limit—the tipping point that, once crossed, triggers a significant reaction. In our context, it’s the line between passionate engagement and total burnout.

Whether you're involved in clubs, boards, trail cleanups, or land use advocacy, learning where your volunteer threshold lies—and staying just this side of it—is key to long-term effectiveness and personal well-being.

A Quail Hunt Analogy

Imagine volunteering like a quail hunt. You spend hours walking, burning energy, then suddenly a flurry of activity demands your attention. You shoot wildly in all directions, often missing most of the targets. Sound familiar? In the land use world, the flurry never ends—calls, meetings, emails, tasks from every direction. It’s easy to try and do it all.

But when you say yes to everything, you eventually end up overwhelmed, spread thin, and ineffective. Just like in Parkinson’s Law—work expands to fill the time available—volunteer duties will expand to fill every moment you give them… and then some.

Soon, your lawn's overgrown, your rig is dirty, your relationships are strained, and the trails you care about remain unridden.

Burnout creeps in silently. There are no flashing warning signs when you're nearing your threshold. That’s why it’s essential to take proactive steps now.

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Five Steps to Avoid Volunteer Burnout

1. Choose and Allow

Stay committed to the cause, but narrow your focus. Choose the specific roles or efforts that align with your time, energy, and passion. It’s not about stepping out—it’s about stepping smarter. Say, “I’ll still do my part, just maybe a different part.” That’s perfectly okay.

2. Identify Your Best Jobs

What are you really good at? Writing letters? Organizing people? Offering behind-the-scenes support? Pinpoint your strengths. That’s your niche—the space where your talents can shine without draining your spirit.

3. Let Go

Admit what doesn’t fit and let it go. Don’t waste energy fighting a task that drains you. Someone else may excel where you struggle. Free yourself—and them—by handing it off.

4. Facilitate the Handoff

Don’t ghost your duties. Help others step in. If you’ve been carrying a task but need to step away, help someone else transition into it. Be honest, be supportive, and make the shift a smooth one.

5. Grab Your Niche and Own It

Now that you've let go of the rest, pour your energy into your sweet spot. Take a course, build your skills, and make every hour count. You'll stay motivated, be more effective, and most importantly—stay in the fight without burning out.

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Final Thought: Stay in the Fight—Sustainably

We need passionate people in the volunteer world—especially in the fight for public lands and trail access. But we need sustainable passion. That starts with knowing your threshold, supporting your fellow volunteers, and staying focused on where you can make the biggest impact.

Avoid burnout. Fight smarter. And help others do the same.

Want to Learn More?

• Del's Books – Land Use, Wildfire, Death Valley, Cowboy Poetry & More
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• Del’s Articles – Leadership, Volunteerism, and Public Lands

Volunteer and Land Use Tools:

• Run a Better Meeting
• How to Write an Effective Letter
• Public Speaking for Trail Advocates
• How to Facilitate Meetings
• Find and Join the Right Groups
• Lead Volunteers and Save Trails

DON'T STAGNATE; GET OFF THE FENCE; TAKE ACTION!

DON'T STAGNATE; GET OFF THE FENCE AND TAKE ACTION TO SAVE TRAILS     

 The Time for Fence-Sitting is Over   

   Just do it!

By Del Albright

Feel like you're stuck in a rut these days?  Get the impression that the world is half on hold? And do you find yourself "sitting on the fence" about many things going on around you?  Well, it's time to get off that fence and make something happen.

While there is nothing normal about our world right now, there are still things we can be doing to be proactive to have a better future.  For motorized recreation friends, we can still support our associations/clubs with donations and staying engaged as a member.  Online meetings and workshop are another choice.  

Zoom meetings can help you ease back into being involved.  Club gatherings are always a good motivator. Just do something to get you off the fence, thinking it will all be fine...

Help others get off the fence.  Lead the way. Don't procrastinate.  Just do it.  Get up and do it. If we sit on the fence too long, the world will pass us by. Pick up that To-Do list and start doing it. 

Whatever it is, just find something that will get you off that fence.  

Del

Get all the help you could ask for right here - landuse shortcuts, tips, and tricks. 

https://www.amazon.com/Shortcuts-Landuse-Volunteerism-Volunteer-Leadership/dp/B0CVXL345P/

 MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

WHAT WILL SAVE THE FUTURE OF MOTORSPORTS?

 

Saving the Future of Motorized Recreation

What Your Membership to Organizations Accomplishes

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

 Author Del Albright is joined by Don Amador, career Recreation Advocate

 Saving trails and the whole sport of motorized recreation depends on many factors, but without those factors, our trails and our sports will be in jeopardy. Primary in the list is local club involvement in issues and organizational growth. Without local membership support and involvement, a larger umbrella group (state, regional, or national) will push water uphill and waste precious resources.

 From what we’ve seen, working with boards at all levels, before an organization or group can invest time, money, and staff in an issue, it must assess the value of the level of service to its members.

 Noted land use advocate Don Amador crafted this diagram of how many organizations develop a strategy for level of service:

  

The outcome (middle of the diagram) estimates the level of service a group can invest in an issue. This outcome includes member support, priority/timing of the issue, and the potential value to the group. A larger organization cannot take these factors lightly to survive long term.

 A great example is the Rubicon Trail.  Twenty+ years ago, local clubs and users banded together to save the trail from closure. Immediately, state, regional, and national groups recognized this local involvement and jumped in to help fight for the trail. The value returned to the larger groups included membership growth and broader recognition. Everyone won! It worked. The level of service from larger organizations matched the local interest!

 We have heard members complain that their state/regional/national representatives do not do enough for them or their trail. At the same time, that member and the local club have done nothing to help the overall cause/issue. It’s like the blame game – pointing fingers instead of putting boots on the ground. The level of service from bigger groups hinges on locals being involved and invested. It works both ways to create a sustainable future for motorized recreation.

 In our estimation, the future of motorized recreation depends on a few simple things and some proven formulas.

 1.   More unity in organized recreation leadership, including better communications and fewer turf battles.

 2.   Finding the money to get more full-time people doing land use and leading volunteers.

 3.    More training for volunteers who don’t know how to cope with government regulations, safety and EPA requirements, and paperwork.

 4.   A centralized source of information and coordination nationwide that people can trust to bring us all together so the messages are not disjointed but orchestrated for future wins.

 5.   Legal strength – with attorneys who know land use and are available to all.

 6.   Finding the key to getting people to join organized groups and not just be virtual.

 7.   Getting past egos and personalities in OHV recreation.

  Focusing positive energy on the factors mentioned here will save the future of motorized recreation while finding reciprocity between local interests and larger group investment. Simply said, we must always work together, in cooperation, and with a positive focus towards a sustainable future.

(Graphic in support of two important groups, the California 4Wheel Drive Association, and the American Sand Association, that I am highly involved with and a member of).

More on land use here in my book from Amazon.

 MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

7 SECRETS TO CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

Managing and Surviving Conflict in Recreation Clubs and Groups

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

We can fight it, try to ignore it, or learn to deal with it effectively, but conflict is inevitable in outdoor recreation. Club members disagree; users butt heads on trails; large organized groups don’t like what another group is doing, or turf battles have been going on for years. It is just human nature that we will not always agree with each other, and sometimes, this results in conflicting actions and ideas. I’d like to offer some ideas for dealing with conflict in recreation and making your life easier while saving our favorite forms of recreation.

Conflict is unavoidable

At some point in your busy life, you will run into conflict with another person.  It’s life.  Whenever we share opinions or ideas, conflict is bound to surface. People just plain disagree on many things, especially when it comes to something we are passionate about. If your opinion is different than mine, then we might just be in conflict.

Conflict is a part of recreation.

Just like it is life and relationships, sometimes we just cannot avoid conflict. I am going to suggest ways to embrace it and make it useful.  It might surface its ugly head at a trail intersection.  Or maybe during a meeting about the color of a T-shirt.  Or who knows?  It is like a snake in the grass; you never know when it might strike.

Conflict is not always bad.

It just is. How you react to it gives it a flavor of good or bad.

As you read these tips, remember that much of what I suggest here involves you having the power to choose how you react to things and not allowing someone to dictate your happiness or peace of mind.

“Choose” and “allow” are two of the most powerful words in the dictionary. For example, you might hear me say, “I choose not to get caught up in your garbage. And I am not going to allow you to ruin my day.” Unfortunately, the policeman I tried this on didn’t think it was funny! (just kidding). But you have the choice as to how you react to something in your life.  Do not let someone else tell you how you feel or how you should react.  You choose.  You allow right there, and that starts reducing the opportunities for conflict.

Conflict can be viewed as powerful.

It means people are sharing ideas and opinions that don’t agree. It means new doors are being opened, and new opportunities are being presented. It also might mean a few sleepless nights for you if you don’t take some steps to harness the power of conflict.

Now, I’m not suggesting that all conflict is “good.” Conflict can twist up our guts, cut into our sleep, and make our faces turn pretty darn red from frustration. But that is not what any of us want. Let me share with you some tips for dealing with conflict and turning it into something useful.

Make things happen in your club.

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The 7 Master Secrets

→One, accept the fact that when people share opinions, there’s bound to be differences (conflict). Heck, there’s no way we could all think alike, or we’d still be carrying clubs and living in caves. Recognize that conflict is natural and use it as a learning experience.  I compare conflict to fear — we will always have some of both to deal with; it’s all in how we allow ourselves to react.

→Two, try to stay objective and clearly express your expectations (or ideas). Clear communication is essential to avoiding unnecessary conflict. There’s no use getting your knickers in an uproar over something you really didn’t mean. So make sure what your listener is hearing is what you meant to say.

→ Third, never lose sight of your objective and try to maintain the “high ground,” as they say in the military (and politics). During political conflict (meetings, hearings, conventions, etc.), take notes like an attorney. Get your key points jotted down for your “come back,” and stick with them. Make your points over and over again, if needed, until the listener clearly hears your ideas (or rebuttals).

Further, don’t get caught up in emotions. When you feel like you’re about to explode, back off, take a breath, and tackle the conflict head-on, but with as much objectivity as you can muster. Break out your notes (like the attorney busily jotting things down during a court proceeding), and review your key points.

→Fourth, look for the root of the problem (conflict). If it’s purely a political agenda with no real foundation other than making a show, well, then you may have to accept the fact that all the logic in the world won’t sway that. In this case, the conflict is phony and attention-gathering. Call it for what it is.

→Five, assuming the conflict is real, try to agree to some ground rules during the conflict resolution process. For example, suppose two people who know each other are arguing. In that case, it might be good to agree that both will avoid each other’s well-known “hot buttons” that merely escalate the emotional intensity of the argument. Agree to that upfront. Agree to a fair fight, if you will.

Dealing with conflict is no picnic, but it must be done and can be easier than you think if you follow these secrets.

→Six, trust your instincts and the instincts of people you respect. If your instincts tell you to hang in the fight (conflict), then hang! If that little voice in your head says, “If I give up now, then I will lose much more in the long run,” then don’t give up.

→Seven, in recreation, there is that reality, just like in politics, when nothing makes sense, and there is no real answer because there is no real question. That’s when we need to stay very focused and tuned into your message (bullet points, 5×7 cards, notes, etc.). Don’t spend time wondering why someone would dress up like a coyote and wander down the dusty streets of some Texas cow town in front of the Longhorn Saloon on Saturday night, trying to make some sort of political statement! If your conflict involves this type of showmanship, then realize your logic will probably not change anything.  Just move on.

In the leadership training I offer, I emphasize the importance of taking notes and writing down your message on 5×7 cards or whatever works for you. Public speaking and dealing with conflict benefit from having our key points right in front of us. If you find yourself at a loss for words, you can simply refer back to your key points (notes, expectations, and ideas). It works!

Summary

Conflict is not always bad, and sometimes it is unavoidable. Learn to trust your instincts and do not run from them.  Conflict can help us grow or improve a club. Be clear as to your objectives, and keep your key points handy. When engaged in showmanship conflict, you may get to the point of succumbing to tactics you don’t ordinarily like, then realize that you have changed the game and the ground rules. You may also have given up some of your high ground. I’m reminded of what my Mom used to tell me, “Just because Johnny does it doesn’t mean you get to do it.” Oh, by the way, in those days, Johnny was sticking his head in a bag of airplane glue, and I’m sure glad I listened to my mother. 🙂

Solve conflict!

Conflict can keep us on the fence; if we do not solve it, we will be suspended from the action. If you can recognize conflict for what it’s worth and learn to harness its power, you will find many new doors open to you. Opportunities will surface that you may not have seen before. And hopefully, by employing the tips presented here, you’ll not lose any more sleep.

 

HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

ARE YOU WATCHING THE BIRD FEEDER?

 

Wasting Away Watching the Bird Feeder?

Instead, Keep Moving, Doing, and Learning

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

(Based on an inspiration from Ted Cabral, RestoreTrails.Org)

Gathered around the campfire, the wise old man shared wisdom with a crowd of young folks. He complimented them for being on the trail, out in the backcountry, getting their tires dirty, and sharing a campfire together. He enlightened them with the tale of another old man. 

He went on to say, “My old friend was sitting on the porch, seemingly lost in thought. So, I asked him what gives. He said he was watching his bird feeder and the variety of colorful birds enjoying a free meal. He said that his time in life had come where the best he could do was sit on the porch and watch the bird feeder.”

I was shocked. He was not much older than me, but his body (maybe because of the way he treated it in life) was done. There were no more trails in his future. There were no more outings, hikes, rides, or even walks to the mailbox. It really struck home for me that I need to do everything I can while I still can before I end up watching the bird feeder.

The point here is not to depress you but to reinforce the importance of not letting life pass you by because it’s running full throttle, trying to gain on you. Sure, there are many moments when a hot cup of coffee on the porch feels mighty fine. But that moment is not the end all be all. It’s just a nice part of your day.

There are action items we can take in life to prevent watching the bird feeder before it’s time. Allow me to offer some suggestions. It boils down to MDL – Keep Moving, Doing, and Learning.

Moving: As long as your body and health allow, just keep moving. Stretch, walk, get up off your computer seat and relax your body, lift light weights while watching the tube, and do anything other than be sedentary.

Doing: Always have projects or tasks to work on. Doing something is better than doing nothing. It is like leadership or supervision; the worst thing you can do is do nothing. Learn to be content with a project list that seems never-ending; at least it keeps you doing something.

Learning: Constantly keep your mind engaged with something new. Learn a musical instrument. Read a technical book. Learn a new hobby or language. Get on the internet and learn how to do that “thing” you’ve been wanting to do to your rig. Our brains grow through learning and staying engaged. Our brains slowly shut down if left in neutral for too long.

Indeed, there is more to this than this simple outline. But if you take control and choose how to live your life, and don’t allow the couch potato syndrome to set in before its time, you will get more out of life and not end up watching the bird feeder all day.  Just keep moving, doing, and learning.

##

 

LINKS:

BOOK BY DEL ON TIME MANAGEMENT, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• NEPA: 
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• CLUBS:
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• CONVOYS:
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• TRAINING:
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• JOBS:  
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

6 TIPS TO UP-PURPOSE YOUR VOLUNTEERISM

 

PURPOSEFUL VOLUNTEERISM

6 Tips for Pushing Beyond Holding Our Ground

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

We win the battle for access only by escalating to more offensive strategies.

Our four-wheeling world is always on the edge – of something fun or someone trying to put a gate on our trail. I am not trying to be Chicken Little, but I suggest we re-engage enthusiastically and do more than we have been doing as a community. Here's how I see it.

Do not just volunteer, but rather up-purpose your volunteerism! In today's world, we must stop wasting our precious volunteer time when we are all torn in many directions by multiple jobs, kids' school games, community involvement, paying bills, family commitments, and more. Too many of us have become trapped in the status quo of losing ground in the long run. Herein, I will explain purposeful volunteerism and how we need to push beyond just holding our ground regarding access to responsible motorized recreation.

TIP 1: Embrace the concept of "think globally; act locally." If you want to up-purpose your volunteer time, consider the big picture before investing your time. Ask yourself, "In the big scheme of things, will this project I'm about to undertake make a difference worth my time invested?" If it will, then do it. If it won't, then don't do it – find something better to do with your volunteer time. But it must start with a serious and purposeful consideration of the global picture – the overall future of sustainable motorized recreation in America.

TIP 2: Volunteer to help Association Events:  I believe that working (volunteering) at state associations or club events does make a difference in the long run to the big picture. When the event is geared towards raising funds to help the association/club accomplish its mission, you are helping the global cause by being involved.   The extent of your involvement is not as significant as the purpose of your commitment. If all you can do is run the sign-in table at a convention, which frees up other people to do more complicated jobs, then smile proudly and do your job! You are helping the global cause.

TIP 3: Improve our image and help cure Toenail Fungus:  No, I don't think investing my discretionary off-road time and money into curing "fungus among us" is the right way to be a purposeful volunteer for motorized recreation. Even if you cure the toenail fungus, you'll be lucky to get a 1/16-page blurb in the local newspaper and a fleeting thank you in some newsletter/website that people might remember for a week.

With this supposed image-enhancing effort, you will not cure our loss of lands and access. The trick here is to invest your time in events and causes that MOSTLY support off-road recreation and, to a smaller extent, support a feel-good cause.

TIP 4: Become a club or organization leader:  Taking on a leadership role in a club or association is crucial to being purposeful in your volunteer efforts. The entire motorized world does not have enough people with the time to invest in being a leader. So if that is you, jump all over it and do it with gusto – but also keep the global (big) picture always in your mind.

Ask yourself, for example, if being part of an ego squabble is the right way to protect our access future. Play your own "devil's advocate" and challenge the actions you are taking or about to take. Will your next step really help the big picture – are you being purposeful in your volunteerism? As a leader, this is crucial to inspiring others to do the same. When you can influence several other volunteers' actions, beliefs, and productivity, you have become an unstoppable force in the future of sustainable motorized access.

TIP 5: Take it to court: We will win the battles for access only by escalating to more offensive strategies. This means we need a war chest that will allow us to take it to court when required –to go legal and go strong! Those who oppose our way of life have the funds and legal teams to file lawsuits at the drop of a hat. They tie up land management agencies in fearful legal engagements and threats that tie up our access in the meantime and many times in the long run.

We must get ahead of this curve and be preemptive where needed. Donating to the legal efforts of your favorite motorsports group is the primary thing we can all do to take it to the next level – or at least be willing, prepared, and able to go on the offensive. But do NOT waste your money on dead-end legal battles. Pick the right legal battle to support.

TIP 6: Join and Donate: Nothing is more fundamental to up-purposing your involvement than joining, renewing, and donating to everything you can afford that helps protect recreational motorized access. If you do nothing else, an ongoing donation program or an annual contribution on top of your renewing memberships is globally significant! We must unite our voices and build our access forces and war chests to win these battles.

Summary: Ask yourself if your volunteer efforts are progressing towards the global picture of saving trails or just staying trapped in the status quo of losing ground. Remember to be purposeful in your volunteer efforts by investing your time where the payback is worth it to the big picture of keeping our access to responsible, sustainable motorized recreation. And let's go beyond just holding our ground!

Learn more about volunteering, leading volunteers, land use, 
and more in this easy-to-follow book here.

(Note: originally published on ModernJeeper.com, 12/9/22)

MORE HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

 More land use and volunteerism help here:

• MEETINGS:
• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LETTERS: 
• WRITE A LETTER
• SPEECHES:  
•  GIVE A SPEECH
• FACILITATE: 
• FACILITATE MEETINGS
• JOIN:
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• LEAD:   
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS

#landuse #stewardship #conservation #motorizedrecreation #jeep #jeeplife #volunteerism #volunteers #leadvolunteers #delalbright #BuiltOnBFG #cloakedrepublic #savetrails #leadership

5 STEPS TO FIND YOUR THRESHOLD OF VOLUNTEERISM -- AVOID BURNOUT

Avoid Burnout by Finding Your Threshold of Volunteerism

By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate

It is hard to say no to helping a cause you believe in, but eventually, we say yes too much, our plates become full, frustration hovers, stress builds, and burnout looms in the forefront. As we continue volunteering, we are lucky if we do not blow a gasket, toss a stroke, get mad, or just quit!   Once you burn out, you no longer help the cause – you might even hurt it. So, my advice is to learn where your threshold lies and not cross it.

Threshold is an ancient word, dating to c.1000 and probably earlier. The term “thresh” was initially meant to stamp on or trample and survive today in the verb to thresh (wheat) and thrash. The “hold” portion is of unknown origin. The threshold is literally the first place in a building you step into and has evolved to mean any gateway.

Threshold also means the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a particular reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to be manifested – like burnout.

In our world of clubs, events, rides, landuse politics, and organizational boards of directors and leadership, we can’t afford to lose any volunteers to burnout, so I’ve come up with a cure to help keep folks productive in the game.

Like Hunting for Quail

One simple key to avoiding burnout and staying effective is to narrow your focus and concentrate your efforts. I like to think of our land use battles (and club politics) as a quail hunt. A typical hunt consists of hours of walking, wearing yourself out, then suddenly blazing away at a flurry of birds, usually missing most of them. But, of course, the only one who enjoys this is the dog – who can’t stop dog-laughing at your newfound state of frustration.

The fight for trail access has reached such a flurry that many of us don’t know where to start. So, we take the shotgun approach. We try to get in all the games. Of course, we want to help out all our partners in other states, regions, and clubs. So, we assist with letters, phone calls, emails, etc. Soon, we will have an extensive filing system that may cover many subjects, letters, and meetings. Then suddenly, we realize we’re up to and over our ears!

 

A similar thing happens when we volunteer with Boards, Committees, sub-groups, social network groups, clubs, etc. Work (jobs) expands to fill the space available, which I borrowed from Parkinson’s Law – the old adage that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.

And hey, what about that lawn that needs mowing? And that car (4wheeler?) that needs detailing; the significant other that is tired of you being at the computer half the night; and the trails that need riding? Next thing you know, burnout sets in. There are just too many battles to fight (and too many meetings to attend), that your effectiveness drops off soon.

There are no LED lights on your threshold of volunteerism. There is no yellow highlight. As a result, you may not even know it is looming in front of you. So, just what can you do right now to avoid crossing that threshold?

Five Steps to Avoid that Threshold

STOP! Suppose you’re a land use activist or organizational (club, school, church, board) volunteer who’s been doing MORE than your share. In that case, it’s time to identify your threshold, concentrate your efforts, increase your effectiveness, and avoid crossing that threshold and burning out. Stop wiping out your energy. Stop the onset of burnout. Here are some ways to do that.

First Step: Choose and allow. Re-affirm your commitment to the causes/efforts you believe in. We all need to keep fighting the good fight. You can’t let burnout take you out of the battle. Every letter we write, meeting we attend, run we run, and new member we recruit, we make a difference. People we keep in the fight, no matter their role, make a difference in the outcome. So, STAY IN THE FIGHT.

Choose the jobs you want to tackle. Then, allow only those things that fit your “schedule” to be part of your life.

Tell yourself you’re going to do your part, just maybe a different part from here on. That’s ok.

Second Step: Identify your best jobs. Decide what you’re really good at doing. Are you a letter writer, a meeting person, an advisor to others, a volunteer leader who organizes others, a writer in general, or just someone who wants to give money and stay in the background? Find your niche—what you are really good at. This may take some soul-searching, but has a lot to do with identifying your threshold.

Third Step: Let go. Drop those things you’re not good at doing. Bite the bullet, admit it, and let others who might be affected know you need to drop something. If you’re not good at it, you’ll fight it more than fix it. So please don’t feed the monster and keep it ugly; get rid of it.

Fourth Step: Facilitate. Help others pick up what you need to drop. The sensible thing to do is help someone else take over those jobs for you. Find another activist to jump in where you left off (or never really got started). Don’t just leave your partners hanging. If folks depend on you, find a way to transition out of something you’re not good at by helping someone else pick up where you left off. It may take some “cards on the table” talks, but that’s better than letting something fall off the table.

Fifth Step: Grab your niche! Focus your efforts on your niche. Now that you know what jobs you want to keep and have gotten rid of the rest, you begin to focus. Concentrate on getting really good at those things you’re now doing. Make every effort count. Take classes if appropriate to improve your chosen niche. Get the paybacks. Stay clear of your threshold. Make a difference.

We all need to be doing our part in those volunteer efforts we believe in, like fighting the land use/public land access battles or helping Associations and groups grow, but we all don’t need to fight all the battles. And we certainly can not keep volunteering until we have no time left for the rest of life.

We must identify our threshold and avoid burnout in ourselves and our fellow volunteers. If you follow the steps: 1) choose and allow; 2) identify your best jobs; 3) let go; 4) facilitate, and 5) grab your niche, you can stay in the fight, fight for what you believe in, and make all our efforts more effective while avoiding burnout.

 

HELPFUL LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (BURNOUT, LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY,  AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (BURNOUT, LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

ONLINE TRAINING COURSE WHILE STUCK AT HOME

HUGE BLOWOUT SALE WHILE WE'RE STUCK AT HOME.

Leadership, Landuse, Volunteerism and more...all done online.

by Del Albright


Sign up and do the course now.  Pay later if you need to.  1/3 price offer -- only $50 for 10 Modules and over 200 pages of material based on 50 years of motorized recreation, 35+ years of landuse, and 30 years of managing volunteers.

Email me or DM me on FB to get started.  Just do it while the time is right.

http://www.delalbright.com/RLTC/rltc.htm

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Del

EGONOMICS

EGOS AND SOME PERSONALITIES CAN RUIN A CLUB OR GROUP.

Egonomics Studies the Cost of Allowing Egos to Rule Your Recreation.

By Del Albright

I have coined the term "Egonomics" to shed light on the cost of letting egos and personalities rule your recreation and possibly ruin it.

Is your club ticked off at a neighboring club? Are you drifting away from your club or association because of the behavior of a few folks? Do you find yourself attending fewer club/group meetings these days? Do you feel like your opinion does not count? Are you tired of the politics and clicks in your club? In other words, do personalities and egos rule your recreation?

Now, do not get me wrong.  Most all off-pavement motorized recreation have egos.  Usually, that means we get things done, we can lead projects or efforts, and we step up to help clubs and groups grow.  But then, on the other hand, all too often, egos and personalities become the deciding factor in too many things.

 In my travels around the country helping folks get organized and keep trails open, I have seen too many of the above problems. Don't get me wrong, there are tons of great clubs that are doing just fine.  But I've seen my share of personalities driving folks away from organized recreation.  There are ways to fix that.

In my opinion, our future lies in folks joining and staying active in organized recreation.  The more we band together and stay tuned into what's happening with our trails, the better our chances of having a sport in the future.  The more we separate or alienate from each other, the less chance we have of surviving as a recreational pursuit.  We must be together at every opportunity. 

This means that our local clubs/groups must be viable and effective.   I am constantly reminded of the anti-access (radical environmental groups) slogan "think globally; act locally." They have got it figured out.  They preach keeping the big picture in mind while taking baby steps locally towards achieving the big picture.  It works!

 Making Swiss Cheese

In large business corporations and management, there's a concept called the "Swiss Cheese" approach.  Swiss cheese has a lot of holes in it to make the cheese what it is.  When a manager faces a tremendously complex task, the Swiss cheese approach is to make one hole at a time until you have your block of cheese done.   In other words, like a long hike in the backcountry, it's just one step at a time until you reach your destination. 

This is where the local level involvement is so significant.  If we're all taking baby steps, punching holes in the big block of Swiss cheese, eventually, we'll achieve the big picture – responsible and sustainable motorized access for all!

It starts with your local club or group.  It begins with a few folks deciding to get past personalities and get something done for the greater good.  It starts with not letting someone else control your feelings about your sport or club.

 Expectations

If you have personality issues in your club or group, I suggest that before you give up, you confront them head-on.  Let folks know how you feel and what you expect.  Only then can a group or club decide if they want to make changes to accommodate your wishes.  But to me, it is such a shame to see someone drop out of a group without letting folks know the reason why.  It's similar to telling a boss at work what's wrong from your perspective so the problem can be fixed.  Many times, bosses don't know what the employees know.  So, by letting someone know there's a problem, at least you give them a chance to fix it.

There's an old saying I use a lot: "A complaint is never legitimate until it's voiced to someone who can fix it."  If personalities rule your recreation, I suggest you speak up and clear the air.  Get to the "peace table" and talk it out.   Go face to face, and don't try to solve it on the forums. Find solutions or compromises that all the parties can live with.  But whatever you do, give it a shot before you give up.

When I help folks get past personality issues, I always remind them that we are not out to change who someone is, only how they behave in our group. If a particular behavior alienates other club members, we must find a way to change that behavior.  It can be done, but only through communications that are pretty open and honest. 

In the leadership training I give folks, I drive home the point that we must let folks know our expectations -- those things that make us smile and enjoy our sport (or our job or anything else).  The same holds true for a club or a volunteer committee.  If you have expectations that are not being fulfilled, then let someone know.  Doing so increases your chances of staying in the game and helping punch holes in that big block of cheese.

3-Step Formula:

STEP 1: Find Out.  The first thing to do is find out why clubs have problems -- to recognize and accept the fact that we are people and we have shortfalls, as well as personalities.  Learn to accept the basic fact that we are not all poured from the same mold.  In stead, find ways to understand and make better use of our differences. But that comes from first finding out (identifying) just what causes our club problems.

STEP 2:  Focus.  Next, focus on the issue or problem, not the personalities. Learn to separate a problem from the person who seems to be causing it. Lay the problem on the table, dissect it and figure out how to put it back together in better shape than when you started.   Enlist the help of the person you think is responsible for the issue, if possible.  Get them to become part of the solution. But whatever you do, learn to address the issue, not the person or personality.  It’s not Joe that is causing the club to drift apart; it’s something Joe is doing – his behavior.  That is what we must focus on – the behavior that needs changing.

STEP 3: Facilitate.  Facilitation is a skill every leader or club activist should develop to some level.  To facilitate means to make things easier – to lessen the resistance; to smooth the path. In clubs and groups it means finding ways to help people help them selves.

Once you find out what is really the issue, and you focus on that issue, you then begin to facilitate a resolution. In volunteer organizations there is seldom a rank structure (like the military), so we must learn to ease the resistance and smooth the path with facilitation skills and techniques. 

Before you walk away, please make sure you have done and tried all you can to fix the problem.  We need clubs, groups and associations fighting for us and our rights/freedoms.

This easy-to-follow book teaches you more about leadership, egos, clubs, personalities, land use, and volunteerism in general right here!

Here is my take on the question: Do Personalities Rule Your Recreation?

Personalities must be addressed when you are talking about leadership.  More on Leadership and a Horse Harnessed Before All Others, here.

And more on Resolving Problems in Clubs with Partners, Possibles, and Poops.  With the three main tips for getting to the bottom of this: Find Out; Focus; and Facilitate, summarized here.

Finally, if you would like to read about Softening the Iron Grip of Club Elders, here.

LINKS:

DEL'S BOOKS (LAND USE, WILDFIRE, DEATH VALLEY, COWBOY POETRY, AND MORE)

WEBSITE (HOME PAGE)

PINTEREST (BOOKS, ARTICLES, AND MORE)

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

DEL'S ARTICLES (LAND USE, LIFE, WILDFIRE, VOLUNTEERISM, AND MORE)

More land use help here:

• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• WRITE A LETTER
• GIVE A SPEECH
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

GO BACK TO HOME MENU FOR THIS MOBILE PLATFORM

#leadership #egos #personalities #clubs

NOT A GOOD FOLLOWER?

LACK OF UNITY IN MOTORIZED ENTHUSIASTS

Why Are We Not Good Followers?

By Del Albright

Why would you expect a person like me (four wheeler, dune buggier, old dirt biker, wanna-be snowmobiler) who is living the American Dream of Freedom of Expression to be a good follower?  Why should I not be completely skeptical?  Why is it we have such a hard time following another volunteer?

Here is what I have found that hinders us from being good followers.

Well first off, we are pretty territorial.  Turf battles are not uncommon in the OHV world.  Membership struggles are a constant reminder that we want to hang onto our own; no matter what and no matter how ineffective we or our group might be.

Secondly, we’re self-serving sometimes. We want our own kingdoms (and trails and freedoms).  We certainly, again, do not want to lose our memberships to other groups or organizations.  I experienced this first hand when I helped start NAMRC.  All NAMRC does is coordinate, facilitate, and find common solutions to common problems.  But it took several YEARS to even have the first meeting.  I, personally, had to take one public bashing at an annual convention that I will never forget over starting NAMRC.  People get pretty possessive about the sport and organization they love.

Third, we have learned in today’s society to distrust.  We do not trust government.  We do not trust the anti-access folks.  And many times we do not trust each other.  And if a big national group is not doing something immediately recognizable for a local group, the distrust surfaces instantly.  And distrust certainly does not generate unity or donations.

Fourth, we do not have enough money.  The anti-access folks have tons of folks working full time for their cause.  Do we?  No.  Do we even find room in our budgets to send folks to important meetings?  Sometimes; but it is always a struggle.  We are not there enough when we need to be.  We do not have enough full time folks working for our cause. Yet, we still have wins, especially large national groups like the BlueRibbon Coalition and their legal team: https://sharetrails.org/legal-current/

Fifth, I have to address personalities.  Yes, I am suggesting that we are susceptible to personality management – managing by personalities.  You joined your local club probably because you liked the people in it.  It is only natural.  We like to associate with folks we like. We operate in clicks.  So if a national figure or group does not wrap your winch, you most likely will not consider him/her a leader for you.  (Read more on Do Personalities Rule Your Recreation?).

It would be nice if we could get away from personalities, turf, self-serving, and all the other things that hold us back.  We need to hitch our horses to one lead horse/group, while still maintaining our individual places on the team. Old timers who refuse get it, or young whipper-snappers who will not follow the rules, need to park their junk and stay off our trails until they DO get it.

The bottom line is money.  At one time, I ran a large volunteer fire department as part of my other life.  Volunteers were hard to come by. Volunteerism throughout the nation is on the decline.  The solution inevitably seems to be paying volunteers to volunteer.  

People have too many priorities these days and are just too busy to do everything.  So we provide an incentive -–money.  It is the way the anti-access "greenies" operate.  It is time for us to do it too.

Yes, I would rather put more bucks in my rig.  Yes, I would love to have a new RV.  But just maybe, it is time for me to kick some more money into groups saving our trails rather than get that new goodie this year.  Heck, if I do not, maybe I will not have a place to use my junk before it is all over?

It is time to talk as one; to fight as a team; to be good followers; and to have a united front against those who want us to park our rigs in the garage and leave them there. Freedom is at stake.

JOIN --  DONATE -- VOLUNTEER

• RUN A BETTER MEETING
• LEARN MORE ABOUT NEPA
• WRITE A LETTER
• GIVE A SPEECH
• LEARN TO FACILITATE MEETINGS
• WHY JOIN A CLUB
• ORGANIZE A CONVOY
• JOIN THE RIGHT GROUPS
• GET VOLUNTEER TRAINING
• LEAD VOLUNTEERS
• CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU

GO BACK TO HOME MENU FOR THIS MOBILE PLATFORM

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Del