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Following up the narrative from the Bullpen last week, regarding volunteers, some may ask if you could ever have too many volunteers working on a project, or fundraiser, sponsored by a special interest group, organization, church, or community. I'd have to say no, as if someone is gracious enough to volunteer to help, that offer should be graciously accepted and appreciated.
"Too many cooks spoil the broth." "Too many irons in the fire." These are adages we speak and hear often in daily routines, and sometimes the letter of the literal meaning is spot on. Sometimes "too many" messes up the flow, or the process, of what people or groups are trying to accomplish. There are times, though, when it's not.
Input is always welcome in discussions of projects, or fundraisers, or agendas, and many other things we undertake in our lives, but input should be just that, input. In discussions and strategic planning of something, ideas and suggestions are always necessary, to get as many perspectives as can be had, and pick out those which, hopefully, will complement each other and make the project, fundraiser, or agenda as successful as possible.
Where problems occur is when the ideas have been selected for use, the process has been discussed, the methodology has been decided upon, and then those involved, either don't come through with their share of the work which they agreed upon when they volunteered, or they take it upon themselves to change details or aspects of the decided upon plan. That's when there are literally "too many cooks" and the broth (the project) might not end up with the "flavor" we hoped for when we began the process.
There are times though, when it really "takes a village" to make something happen successfully. Example: when fundraising, if everyone involved did a little bit of the whole, then a few wouldn't have to do as much as they do, to make sure everything gets done. When being part of clubs or organizations, and your club or organization has a mission statement, or major goal, everyone doing a little bit of the whole, would make for an easier time in achieving the goals established by that group.
When asked for input in a group, offer it. Don't pass up opportunities to speak up when asked, then end up complaining about something that was decided later. Remember, too, in situations like that, not all input, or suggestions can be implemented. It can be part of the discussion or maybe an item up for a vote, but the vote might not go your way. That's a part of living in a democracy, I guess. (I'm not talking about being a republic, where we have elected representatives, like those who get to represent the people of this country. I'm talking about when the votes of every person who votes are tallied and the majority wins.) And when there is a vote for a particular idea or suggestion, and each member is asked to vote, please do so. Too often, people do not vote, then sit and complain afterward about the job the person who did get elected is doing in office. The same goes for ideas voted upon in a club, or organization. I've always felt, if you don't vote in an election, you've given up your right to complain about it afterward.
If your group or organization plans on doing something for an extended period of time, (i.e. a month, several months, a year, whatever), perhaps that long period of time could be broken down into weekly, or bi-monthly, or even monthly segments, and perhaps a number of chairpersons could see to one of those weekly, or bi-monthly, or monthly segments each, so as one or two aren't carrying the majority of the load themselves.
People get involved in causes, fundraisers, groups, organizations, etc., because they believe in the mission of each group. Many work hard within that group. Oftentimes, though, they're overworked. Oftentimes, they need a hand. If each member of the cause does just a little, the whole then becomes much easier to accomplish. A story we once read when I taught Fourth Grade, was called Stone Soup. When researching this story, I found the following description in a Google snip it:
"Stone Soup is a European folk story in which hungry strangers convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys, and exists as a moral regarding the value of sharing."
So, when pondering whether there are "too many," maybe just redirecting the many might not "spoil the broth," it might even make it taste a little better.