You are not obliged, but since you've done the last bunch, it'd probably be kind to give them a head's up that you can't do the next two.

(You should not feel obliged to give reasons - a vague "things I've got to do" should be all that's necessary, even if the thing you need to do is go home and zone out and recover.)

This.

Let me back this up by saying that I've been wrangling the volunteers every month for LinuxGazette.Net, and this is the way I feel about the volunteers we have, as well. Don't do it unless you can, and want to - it's a volunteer thing, I understand that other things take priority. Just please don't skive off without notification.

I'd say that the only obligation you have in this circumstance is to let the organizer know that your schedule doesn't permit volunteering for the next couple of months, so they can ask someone else to fill in if there were specific tasks you dealt with.

A simple "I'm sorry, but I'm not able to help with this" is plenty -- one need never explain anything -- and it is simple courtesy on the part of others not even to hint otherwise.

Take it from an inveterate guilty-feeling-never-say-no-entity who is trying to learn this important life lesson...

[grin]

"Volunteer" means just that. No draft . . .

But an advance warning might be polite.

First rule of Volunteer Organisations: They are Volunteering. Can't force anyone.

It's kind of a general principle. Still, coming from someone who's been involved in several different Volunteer Organisations over time, both professional and otherwise.

No, you are not obligated. Just tell the person in charge that, do to other commitments (mental health days count as "other commitments") that you won't be able to help for the next 2 months.

You need to take more time for yourself.

But I do understand your feeling obligated.

I'd argue that you might be more obligated if you'd been doing this for years, if it was a purely "Oh, Janet takes care of that!" throughout the history of the organization. (But I'd also argue that's why no one should let anything become an "oh (x) does that!" I mean, people get sick, or move away, or otherwise become unavailable.)

Volunteers are a resource. Every good manager of volunteers knows that you don't use 'em up.

Second this, really.

If volunteers actually -had- to come in against their own best interests, they would rather soon give up their roles.

Keep the balance right for yourself in deciding this, and you will help the organization keep the balance right for -itself-, too.

I predict a "worst case" would be that, if really only you could handle the stuff for June and July, then it will be waiting for you in August or whenever you return.

But much more likely is that it will get done by someone and you will be more effective in helping the organization after tending to your own needs this time.

A short "Have to miss the meeting(s)" will do. I'm in a group that operates on that basis, and it works fine. God bless!

Running yourself into exhaustion (or resentment) does no one any good. Good manners, as stated above, dictate that you do let the organizers know you cannot participate this time, but you do want them to ask next time as your circumstances (and attitude) may change for the positive.

No one is irreplaceable. And you just might give someone the incentive to 'step up to the plate' and find similar talents.

I see that you've already decided what to do. I'd have chimed in that they're expecting your assistance this month, but that you've plenty of time to provide them advance warning not to expect you in July.

Well, what prompted the poll was getting the "looking for volunteers for June" e-mail. And the mailing is in two weeks (June 29).

Okay, that's plenty of time to respond with, "I have a conflict for this month and next, but will be available again in August." You are NOT obligated to tell them what the conflict is, let alone to get permission to have one!

I'd rewrite as "_may_ be available in August".

Don't commit until you are sure you _can_ commit. Many things can happen in the next 6 weeks.

I found your poll too late to answer it... but let me direct your mind to the definition of the word "volunteer".