People who volunteer

People who volunteer for events and charities inspire me. I always think Fair play, because a lot of the time it's hard, demanding work that people should be paid for, but it's from the goodness of their hearts that all they want is to feel involved and use their talents to create a difference. They take time out of their schedule to make things a bit better for people.

Damien Mulley, 31 today - (Happy Birthday, sir!) did so with many others at the recent Blog Awards. The volunteers at Barretstown who come every year to work, live and play with the children give so much of themselves too. Those who volunteer with St Patrick's Festival help make the events that much more special for everyone who enjoys the many events.

And those wonderful people who are out there today in the cold wind and the rain for Daffodil Day also deserve a(nother) mention!

I was running for the bus to work this morning across O' Connell Bridge when I spotted a vision in yellow from the corner of my eye. Of course I went back to investigate...


I bought some daffodils from him


and then on my way up for the Luas I met Ann and Annie who have been in the same pitch spot (corner of Westmoreland and Aston Quay) for the past 12 years


And then there were Jackie and Laura at the corner of Westmoreland and College Green (just outside the Bank of Ireland)


And even up around the Molly Malone Statue, I found it very apt that there should be flower sellers doing a brisk trade.


Given the fact my Dad has undergone treatment for prostate cancer at St Luke's in Dublin and that cancer has robbed our family of many members, as it has done to too many others, I think it's only fitting I look into becoming a volunteer with the Irish Cancer Society. I'm also a supporter of the Friends of St Luke's and I'll support the Marie Keating Foundation whenever I get a chance.

Everytime I volunteer, be it for Darklight, for St Patrick's or with MovieExtras.ie I'm always left with a feeling of more - I want to do more, help more, contribute more, give more back. But I know it can be a slog too - the relief on Maman Poulet's face after all the goodie bags were packed at the Blog Awards was a reminder of that.

I've been in touch with Ken about the Creative Camp tomorrow - hopefully I can give a hand there too but I doubt there'll be any shortage of helpers.

So volunteers, well done from me at least. What you do is inspiring.

Everyone else, please give it a go! You'll have fun, I guarantee it!


PS: Kathy is the Festival Volunteer Coordinator at St Patrick's Festival. She's lovely and would love to hear from anyone who'd like to be involved. Find out more here or email volunteers@stpatricksfestival.ie.

There's also a Volunteers Meeting Tomorrow (Saturday 7th) at 4pm in the Royal Dublin Hotel, O’Connell Street (near the Ambassador) where you can sign up if you're available.

Hpapy St Pctriak's Day - sometimes you win...

Could having the courage to say something instead of nothing result in a better online experience for people?

It's tough sometimes being an editor, cos your job is pretty much criticising the work that other people do. (Cue sad violin music there)

Yes you're doing it to improve the ultimate project - Seth Godin refers to us as tweakers - but still someone's put a lot of hard work into a project (at times!) and here you are criticising it.

It's all about how you phrase something and communicate your idea, no matter how absurd or petty it seems I guess. You'd be surprised by how many times I've been given this book.

Is editing a valid job? I mean after all, we've all read (and been forwarded) the Cambridge research that it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Lovely. So much for paying attention in English class!

Still and all I like to think I'm passionate about what I do, and so as annoyed as I get about things (and you'll see lots of examples of this), when something like the below happens I just have to smile...

I've worked with the crew at St Patrick's Festival for three or four years, doing general volunteer work - skyfest marshalling, walking with the Parade, the Denny's Treasure Hunt ... really good fun.

I have a lot of respect for what they do. They put a huge amount of effort in and it's a great time for Ireland. I was in London last year but volunteered for 2007.

So when I got the email below from them recently, I was in two minds whether to do or say anything...

No it's not the capitals I'm complaining about (but good guess!) - it's the fact my email address was visible in the To field, along with a couple of hundred others...

I mean on the one hand I'm not employed by them, and the email may have been sent by a junior volunteer with a hundred million things to do... but on the other hand it did have my email address there as plain as day for anyone to read/copy/spam. Jonathan Jensen over at Sevendotzero recently posted about the same thing.

So I politely dropped a line suggesting they look at it for the next mailing. Very politely. Got a nice reply thanking me for the email. And lo and behold, yesterday evening... From info @ to info @...

Now it may not have been my advice or anything, but still, it could have been, and it looks more professional. The end project is a little better. I smiled anyhows.

If anyone can help the festival out, please do so. You'll have fun, guaranteed!