OT RANT

So....I just got an e-mail from the head of the OH support group leaders. I think these folks are out of their minds!

First, to become a OH support group leader, you have to attend 3, 1-1.5 hr telephone conference classes. Okay, fine. I did that while I was sitting at home with my bum foot three years ago. Mindless, but some of it was interesting. Lots of repetition, but that's okay, too. For my time and very sore ear, I was sent 20 OH magazines every two months.

Then, I went back to work and the class times they offered for their "continuing education" was during times that I work. I know most people are home on Saturdays, but I'm not. The evening classes were always scheduled either on days of my own support group meeting, or during a time when I had scheduled to work. A few times I took time off from work to do the phone call, only to have them cancel the class!!!  GRRRRRR

After a while, they discovered that people were attending long enough to get credit for the class, and then they decided to make us send in notes about the discussions during the meeting.

Now, they've gotten rid of the 1-800 number and we have to PAY to call a non-toll free number. AND if you call on a cell phone and you drop the call, you can't get back into the class and you don't get credit for it.

I've had it. Told them to take me off the Leader list and to keep their magazines.

Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now!!!

do you really feel better now????   i STILL get irked when i think of how they changed--you may not know but many of us oldtimers had to attend training in LA at a conference in 2004----then they started changing rules and made things difficult to abide by...the training was interesting tho in LA and it was a great conference weekend-ahhh...windy pat,susan maria, tea lady sally, jeannie granata, hugs from kirk thompson, caroline martin, (our) darlene, ruth debra and shari , colleen koch....memories.....

sorry-- i quit when they mad eit so difficult to be a leader back in like 2005......

Yeah, I do feel better, actually.  At least there are people here who understand the dynamics of this, where all poor Gary can do is nod his head....lol

Would have been nice to have met some of those folks who aren't around here anymore.

They need to think about what they are losing. This whole organization is mostly volunteer- correct?

Yup, mostly volunteer, but the ones that get paid do very well, I'm sure when you consider some of the advertisers they have.

Susan,

You have the right to rant.

I am disappointed to hear that you invested so much of your time - for free- and this is how they treat you?

People use us at their disposal.   They think, people will come and go, forgetting about the group who has been loyal and helpful. 

I find this happening more and more.  They don't value your contribution.

Well, thanks for all that you have done....  I say it, even though they don't

Peace

Thanks, Mary. Just had to get it off my flat chest....lol

Susan,

I totally agree with you!! It is not worth our time and $$$ to get a few magazines.

I have two support groups which means a meeting every  Monday night. Notes must be sent to all the group members (about 250 people) our surgeon, bariatric coordinator, dietitians as well as several hospital administrators. It felt like a breach of confidentiality to send them to OH also.

Nope, count me out too.

Kisses
Annette

You have a very good point there, Nettie. I've never sent those lists to OH. It's none of their business who attends a meeting at a hospital. In fact, I'd bet there's a million of HIPA regs that that violates.

Way to vent Susan!!! Time is special to all of us and "jumping through the hoops" for OH is just kinda crazy. You don't need that type of demand of your time and energy when you can just be who you are and you naturally help people. No titles needed. It's unnecessary.

Working in the volunteer business is demanding. When you have to make volunteers jump rope so you are Joint Commission compliant, we try to make it fun for our volunteers (talking about hospital volunteers). We depend on our volunteers to make patients and customers experience more special and that they matter and are listened to. I Love my Volunteers!

Time for OH to rethink their strategy on how to keep positive support group leaders. But lets really speak frankly here...because we can! In this forum we support each other and we are living our lives to serve one another. Personally we are older and wiser and a lot of us still struggle with food and Life! Yep, we get one another. 

Susan you are loved and appreciated!!!! Hugs Debbie