Volunteers Mission Statement

Mission statements are generally unwelcome, because they tend to most appear when you have a group of people with no clear direction. They're most likely to appear when things are troubled, or in disorder.

I don't think anyone's suggesting that they are a panacea.

They're a sign of people seeking consensus on what it is they should be doing or trying to achieve.

The idea is not to make people feel good, or visionary or worthwhile. It's to set a goal that can be achieved.

Goals are good, right? Achievable goals are - in my experience - even better

Stan, Selador:
There are many national volunteer groups out there. The ARC, BSA, GSA, BB,BS, etc. They have mission statements so that everyone is on the same page as to what they are doing. It's not a statement saying to do's and don'ts. It's not saying you can't mentor in your own way. It's not a contract that you need to sign. I just thought that it would be nice to have something united.

I can understand if you don't feel the same and I respect that. Your comments and feelings are valid and you have the right to express them. I apologize if this has offeneded you.

Whether you wish to be under a mission statement or not, is entirely up to you. I know that there are others who, want, need and desire a more structured volunteer group. You nor anyone else is bound by this, however, in the sense of fairness, why not let those of us who wish to have a more structured group, be allowed a mission statement if we so desire one. A group that will live the value of what they are suppose to be teaching. (note, I said value - not values)
Thanks for your feedback, it's appreciated.
Sky

Offended me? No, I just don't agree with it. The fact that I don't agree with something doesn't mean I am offended by it!

Furthermore, I fail to see how my opinion on the validity of a mission statement is in any way depriving you of having one. If you want to have a mission statement, go for it.

You're the ones who'll be using it.

Yes, but ...

Surely you all know what you should be doing or trying to achieve? Do you honestly think that any member of the mentor's group (of which I am not one) will look at the mission statement and think, 'Oh, I didn't realise I was supposed to be doing that. I thought we were supposed to be going round orbiting newbies.'

Yes, achievable goals are great, but I would have thought that by joining the group you would already have set yourself those goals.

Anyway, my apologies for getting into such a serious discussion, which I hadn't intended. My original comment was just supposed to be a slightly sardonic, but cheerful, observation.

Selador, I do not think I was attacking you. It never was my intention to attack anyone. We need each other, if we are to be the best group of volunteers possible.

I stated that yours and Stan’s criticisms of the mission statement were not constructive but were like that of children bickering. I stand by that opinion. However, in no way was I saying that you or Stan are children.

As Sky stated, you are under no obligation to follow it. I just feel like unhelpful, non-constructive criticisms of things are childish and do not add to making anything better. That is NOT to say I don’t act the same way myself. I too can act like a child, at times.

Jen

That's MY Mission Statement

That's pretty much how I feel about mission statements.

This is not a sentence.

You mention the Community Standards and Terms of Service. What about the Forum Guidelines?

Second Life Volunteers Mission Statement
Why is the word "residents" capitalized?

Why just make a division into common and uncommon? Why not pad it even more" common and uncommon, short and long, elegantly phrased and badly worded, correctly and incorrectly spelled, insightful and boneheaded?

Or better yet take out "common and uncommon".

If by upholding one means abiding by, well, every user has committed themselves to abiding by all the terms of of the TOS, CS, and FG, plus any additional rules created by Linden Research, Inc., as well as the decisions made by the company's employees.

If by upholding you mean enforcing, well, we don't have any enforcement power at all, we can do just what every other non-employee does.

It's not "Linden Labs", plural, it's "Linden Lab", singular. "Linden Lab" is not the name of the company; the company's name is Linden Research, Inc. "Linden Lab" is a registered trademark of Linden Research, Inc.

Hopefully this professionalism and confidence will enable one to find their way to to Waterhead without having to ask for a teleport on a chat channel that goes to every member of the group chat it is asked in.
Why is "citizen" capitalized?

There are thousands of people inworld at one time, and more when you look at it asynchronously; there is no way anyone is going to be able to display "caring" about each of thousands of people.

This is slightly off topic, however, so it's understood where I'm coming from and why I started this mess......

When I first joined SL. I made friends with several Mentors and Non-Mentors. Renee Riva was my greeter and was very helpful my first day in-world. As I ventured out beyond, I found others that were VERY willing to help that were not mentors. Lethe, Songstra, Raymond, Maxflame - to name a few. Then I met some Mentors - who at that time I thought were a rare breed. (there weren't many around the Welcome Area when I started SL.) Mentors like Ginny and Tateru. I began helping at that time and loved doing it. I was new, and the New Citizens liked that there was someone around them with the same freshness as them. As I grew in SL, I found more and more challenges (even to this day) and more and more Mentors. Then HI came along and my Waterhead home died... as did my ability to help new residents. (Yes, I could have gone to Ahern and did a couple of times, but it was just as messy then as it is now)

I decided after, that I wanted to be a part of this group. To be able to help in an official capacity, rather than just a neighbor. It literally took 2 1/2 months for my approval and I was "stoked" when I recieved my email.

I quickly found out that the group - although large, larger than I thought - was very small all the same. I discovered that there are those who participate and give and those who bicker and take. I found a call for assistance was treated with snide remarks, comments about "spamming" them- as if they were the only ones getting the IM - and jokes. I found that the help that had always been there for me prior, wasn't something that was given by all in the group in return.

These people, (yes, people - because behind every avatar is a flesh and blood person with feelings) these Mentors that I looked up to, I discovered, did not have the same goals that a volunteer group - any volunteer group - should have. Granted, we are all individuals and have different ideas of how to mentor (the mission statement doesn't tell any one individual 'how' to mentor) - there is a greatness in diversity and I recognize that, yet, as a group it seems that it's not about anyone else, but about the individual self.

This is evident in the Mentor forums and the Mentor IM's. There are threads and threads on IM issues and within each issue, there are heated and rather rude comments being slung back and forth. Is that how we wish to portray ourselves to our Second Life Residents - new and old?

Whether it's called a mission statement, land grant, goals, code of conduct or even shit on a shingle shouldn't matter. This is about trying to get the volunteer group together. To give everyone an idea of what being a volunteer really is.

I didn't become a Mentor to wear the tag. ( I do admit however, having the tag gives you more credence about what you are offering a new or old resident than if you were wearing a "Sex Addict" tag. )
I became a mentor so that I could try and make a difference in someones SL. My reward is that IM from someone a month later, thanking me for helping them their first few days in-world. It's knowing that I did my volunteer job well and that I made a difference.

I know that there are some that don't feel this way and that's fine. It's the beauty of being a part of this virtual community, however, there are others that do feel the same and although everyone is not in agreement on the subject, that doesn't make it less valuable or less important. It should be about respect. There are those that want to make changes and want to make a difference and lift the volunteer groups up to the level where they should all be and we should be allowed.

As my tag below says, "Being part of the problem is easy. Being a part of the solution is the tricky part."

My apologies for my rantings, but I just had to say it.

Sky

If you actually care to read what was posted, I did not actually criticise THE mission statement, or the person attempting to write it.

What I did was criticise MISSION STATEMENTS (i.e. the whole concept of them), and I then went on to poke fun at BP (a large oil company that wastes lots of time on them).

The mere fact that such a comment should spark such a ridiculously overblown response doesn't bode well for the future of any further so-called "discussion" about the volunteer groups in SL. If the whole process is going to get that po faced it is in grave danger of disappearing up its own backside.

And, just as an aside, holding a contrary opinion isn't "like children bickering", it simply means that someone might just not happen to agree with you. Calling someone who dares not to hold the same opinion as you childish is, I'm afraid, the language of the playground in itself.

We should be allowed? You ARE allowed! Nobody's stopping you.

Or by the phrase "We should be allowed" do you actually mean "Nobody should be able to criticise it"?

I hope not....

Stan - I will accept your criticism of my “overblown response” in comparing you and Selador to children arguing. Being a 1st grade teacher, I am familiar with children behaving in such fashion. I may have used an unfair analogy. So, I will apologize, if I offended you.

My reacting wasn’t so much to what you and Selador said but the way you said it. Why couldn’t you and he just said something to the effect, “My experience has shown mission statements to be a waste of time and money.”? I read your comment as a follow up to what Selador said and considered them childish, immature an not in the spirit of the discussion. Granted, if this had been a spoken discussion, such comments would have probably evoked laughter from all of us. Written, they stand naked and stark, out of context with the general context of the discussion. To his credit, Selador and now you, if I read your comments correctly, have admitted to an attempt at humor.

I also must disagree with your vision of SL volunteer groups’ future. I came here last August. Long enough to have seen SL grow four times what it was back then but; not so long ago as to feel as if MY SL was changing from the old comfortable one, I knew, to some new radical uncontrollable and undesirable SL.

I have faith in its future. I like the energy and excitement of people like Sky who want to make it a better place for all. I believe the mentor/greeter program does a lot of good and I am proud to be part of it. So I will defend it and the people who try to make it better, when at all possible.

Actually, I feel discussions, such as we are having, are positive. None of us has resorted to the name calling personal attacks seen in the Sandbox and General Topics areas. We have had disagreements and have argued and counter argued our points. I don’t see that as “head up the ...” but heads held high and looking forward.

Others will read our views and make their own judgements. I hope they will see a group of people who, for the most part, are committed to making Second Life better for everybody.

Jen

I also came here last August, and yes SL has grown considerably in size during that time. I don't think SL is becoming some new radical and uncontrollable environment, if anything I would have more concerns that it is becoming less radical and more controlled! But that's a side issue.

As far as the SL volunteer groups are concerned, I think the mentor/greeter program probably did do a lot of good.

Certainly whenever I have been mentoring I have enjoyed it a lot. It is always a good feeling to solve a problem or two. However, I also believe that "if it ain't broke, dont fix it". It strikes me that the scheme was probably working a little TOO well before, which is why the Linden oar has now been stuck into it, in order to gain some credit for its success.

Personally, I see absolutely no reason to change the way the group operates. Mentoring is actually a very simple procedure - answer a query/show someone how to do something, or if you don't know the answer, "page" someone who does. That's it really.
It doesn't require further complexity, or turning into a pseudo-corporate structure. That may give its members plenty to occupy themselves with for a while, but will it ultimately be of any benefit to new SL residents? I doubt it.

You can assist new SL residents without being authorised, rubber stamped and following the party line. I don't have much free time for mentoring these days anyway, but if I do any, I'll continue to play it by ear. I'm sure if any new residents have complaints about my approach, they will tell me.

Don't read more into it than what you read. It means nothing more than that. There were no quotes around the sentence emphasizing those that wish to have it no bold text. It was a plain statement is all. Just as much as me saying that everyones individual feelings on the subject are valid and that I respect that. It is nothing more than an aknowledgment of feelings and not to meant to negate them.
Also, don't forget that throughout this thread, I have thanked everyone for their input, suggestions and criticism. (General Statement coming) I am not 12 yrs old that I can't accept criticism constructively - and even destructively at times is necessary, as a wake up call.
Everything you have said Stan is valid. It may not be a shared opinion, however it has merit and I value your comments.

Sky

From: someone

This is not a sentence.

You mention the Community Standards and Terms of Service. What about the Forum Guidelines?

Not everyone in the volunteer group has control over the forums - I welcome a different way of stating this if you have one.

From: someone

Or better yet take out "common and uncommon".

Done

From: someone

If by upholding you mean enforcing, well, we don't have any enforcement power at all, we can do just what every other non-employee does.

Granted, we don't have the power to enforce, but we do have the ability to provide information to those who may be less informed. Upholding and enforcing I realize are two different things.

From: someone

It's not "Linden Labs", plural, it's "Linden Lab", singular. "Linden Lab" is not the name of the company; the company's name is Linden Research, Inc. "Linden Lab" is a registered trademark of Linden Research, Inc.

This has been corrected.

From: someone

Why is "citizen" capitalized?

corrected.

From: someone

There are thousands of people inworld at one time, and more when you look at it asynchronously; there is no way anyone is going to be able to display "caring" about each of thousands of people.

How about:

We will conduct ourselves with professionalism and confidence. As volunteers; demonstrate respect and understanding for each and every Citizen of Second Life in an unbiased manner.

Thank you so much SuezanneC. Does this read better?

Second Life Volunteers Mission Statement

The mission of all Second Life Volunteers is to provide a positive experience for all residents. Being available to provide solutions to questions upon their arrival in-world and beyond.

As volunteers, we are committed to upholding the Terms of Service and Community Standards of Second Life and Linden Research.

We will conduct ourselves with professionalism and confidence. As volunteers; demonstrate respect and understanding for each and every citizen of Second Life in an unbiased manner.

Just to be picky citizen doesn't normally get a capital letter in English, unless it's a specific person's title. Citizen Smith for the old brits out there...

Whilst I have an ambivalent attitude towards mission statements - they're usually so overblown in silly rhetoric they miss the point - I don't have a problem with this one particularly. It's clear, and it spells out pretty much what I thought it was about when I signed up which always helps. It's more overblown than I'd choose to write, but that's the nature of the beast, and it's WAY better than it was.

I totally missed that one too. I appreciate it Eloise!


This is why I asked for feedback. I admit, I'm not the greatest with words, nor the most intelligent person, but I do have passion and I REALLY appreciate the feedback.

Sky

ResMod Lock this thread before it totally junked and useless

Before it's locked, (if it will be) I'd like to place this on top again so it's immediately visible. Then if anyone wishes to ride the thread, they can.