Rescue Journal

so here is a new thought for me

Carol · Oct. 17, 2009

it is well understood that as the primary caregiver and person ultimately responsible at saints..there are certain expectations and obligations that i face. the animals are to be cared for...they are to have a clean home, a safe environment, dry bedding, fresh water, good food. they are to have good medical care, positive mental and emotional connections/stimulation and appropriate exercise plus some extra fun too.

the society/organization itself can expect from me that the above expectations are met, that we stay within our mandate (at least most of the time), that i will meet my obligations without seeking benefit to myself, that i will ensure staff, volunteers and visitors are not at undue safety risk, that we pay our bills in a reasonable manner, that our donated or fundraised money is spent responsibly, that i maintain good working relationships with the community, our vets, pounds and shelters. that i meet all legally required components of being a registered charity. and above all else, they can expect total honesty and high ethical and moral standards from me.

i get all that and totally agree.

but if i have these obligations...do others have obligations as well?

what can we expect from our board members, our volunteers, our staff members, our trades people, our suppliers, our vet clinics, our community, even the people who leave their animals here as well?
is the obligation only from saints side out to everyone else?

i am thinking tonight that it is not...i am thinking we all have our chosen roles to play and with those chosen roles come certain obligations and responsibilities naturally too.

is this a bad thing to think?

Comments

Mauro Salles

This is not a bad thing to think, because there are CHOSEN roles, not IMPOSED roles. It´s a basic and simple fact. You´re right !!! GIVE love isn´t SELLING love, and the "animals" know that. Who are the "animals" ?

lynne

off the topic, i met shadow yesterday and she is a very sweet girl, but i can see why you have her in the medical room. she was coughing nonstop hope she feels better soon. was a good day at saints, not that there are any bad days, for me anyway. probably because it is always more fun when there are more volunteers. get to spend more time with the animals that way. sorry you had such a rough time with the animals last night. that is pretty freaking scary. make sure you carry your cell phone with you in case you need it.

Deb

Carol said:

"what can we expect from our board members, our volunteers, our staff members, our trades people, our suppliers, our vet clinics, our community, even the people who leave their animals here as well?
is the obligation only from saints side out to everyone else?

i am thinking tonight that it is not…i am thinking we all have our chosen roles to play and with those chosen roles come certain obligations and responsibilities naturally too."

I can't, nor would I be so bold as to speak for any other person who gives her/his time, or is paid for doing a service at SAINTS, but I believe certain responsibilities and obligations come with the positions, paid or volunteer.

My expectation is that my responsibilities are made clear, that my obligations are not fluid, not changeable without consultation, and stay within the parameters of the SAINTS mission statement.

Humans need structure to work at capacity. Structure means that rules don't change without reason, that one day something is okay and the next day it isn't. Managing human beings is a difficult task, and if it is done incorrectly, it will slowly destroy that which is meant to be protected.

nicole

meghann and i might not make it out there until 130 so please take your time starting the meeting. we will try to be quick.

Hillevi

Thank You!!!!! Everyone on this earth has obligations and responsibilities - it's just not always easy to find those that accept that fact and do their best to meet and/or exceed them. It would seem that many people are generally looking for ways to "skirt" around their obligations and ignore their responsibilities. Thank goodness you do not.