I am vice president elect of next year’s PTSA. In some insane moment of volunteeritis, I decided that I could make a difference. It happens to us control freaks a lot. We think if we have control, we can make things better.

I managed many people during my career in corporate America. I always got great reviews from people who worked for me. I was motivating. I didn’t micromanage. I had good ideas. I was supportive. I never got voted off the island. But there was a major difference: employees are motivated by staying employed and getting a pay check. Volunteers are in it for more altruistic type motives. Volunteers aren’t getting paid. Thus, I have now learned, volunteers are harder to motivate.

What do you do when a mom won’t answer your emails? When a mom wont answer her phone. When she won’t come to meetings and she doesn’t follow through. I’ll tell you what I want to say: You’re fired! I can even do the cute Trump hand gesture.

Managing volunteers is sort of like herding kittens.

Did I mention before I’m a dog person?

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