Hug-A-Tree Campaign

Yeah, so I'm a tree-hugger.  Not fanatical, but I care, and I try to DO.  I serve on the local Environmental Commission, am trying to buy a hybrid vehicle, and tonight I spent a few hours volunteering for the local Sierra Club.  I signed up in a moment of environmental passion a few weeks ago, but by tonight the passion had waned a bit, and I wasn't enthusiastic about going.  I decided to keep the committment, though, and am glad I did.  Nice people.  They ran the gamut from college kids to seniors, with me and a few others in the middle of the pack. 

The SC was mainly looking for volunteers to call registered voters.  Not to proselytize or suggest environmentally-friendly candidates - that's not legal for some reason I didn't catch.  We were just looking to weed out those that aren't interested in environmental issues.  They get crossed off the list so that we don't bother them again, and so that we concentrate resources on folks who have an interest.  For those that remain on the list, we tell them of the upcoming election, talk about the Fast Track law (big environmental topic here in Jersey), and ask them if they would also like to volunteer.  Easy.  No selling, no arm twisting.  But I shouldn't be saying "we."

When I was initially contacted about my interest in volunteering, I made it clear that I would do anything BUT call people.  I'm phone-phobic.  Not when I'm talking to someone I know, but cold-calling anyone - even just to tell them there are important environmental issues at stake in the next election - that ain't up my alley.  Cold sweats, people.  Cold sweats. 

So I did some mindless data entry for them for a couple of hours.  It helped them, it wasn't painful to me, and I feel like I just got a hug from a couple of trees. 

And I'll be doing it again next week.

{me + tree}

Comments

[Sharon GR]

Good for you! Thank you.

[scorpy]

It feels good to do something for a cause you care about, doesn't it? Glad it was painless for you!

I tried to give blood today, and all that ended up happening was that the procedure was a "wash," they can't use my product, and I'm a quart or so low on blood right now. Yeah, a walking white sheet, let me tell you. But I feel good about it, because giving blood (the regular way, not the way I tried today) is beneficial, and hopefully, if I'm ever in need of some, it will be there for me. {me + blood?}

[Bekah]

I used to be afraid of cold-calling people, too, until it became my job and I was told, "If you DON'T do it, you WON'T work here." I quickly got over that. I wouldn't volunteer to do it, though.

Good for you for helping out in your own way! And -- no cold sweats! Go hug those trees.