Well, I had my "intervuew" today for being a "Computer Buddy" at my local library. Just a general chat about experience then the ground rules. Last time I did this (2005) I just sat around in the city library in case someone needed help - did a lot of reading and people watching.
Much more structured now: appointments only (on the days/times I designate as being available), lots of work on computer security and online safety, (especially on social media), job searching and CV (resumé) writing, access to social benefit, Job Centre and other government sites, research (reliable sources, verification and coroboration), familiarisation with the hardware, including tablets and smartphones, getting on line, opening email/Google/Amazon accounts etc, etc, etc.
Looks like it could be interesting and will keep a few brain cells active! I will have some homework to do as well . . . I have limited myself to two afternoons a week, 1pm to 4pm, for starters. The library shares the same carpark as the supermarket so those will also become my shopping days.
That's really cool, Dave!
I think volunteering to help is great, makes us feel useful to the community. :smilenod:
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on September 25, 2017, 09:47:29 PM
That's really cool, Dave!
I think volunteering to help is great, makes us feel useful to the community. :smilenod:
And keeps me and my brain usefully occupied. (And my arse off the couch.)
Since I heard nothing from the university regarding being a simulated patient (training would have started by now) I decided they did not want me and were too ill mannered to say, "Thank you, but no thank you."
A simulated patient? :poke: That sounds like...fun. :notsure:
Dave, it's great that you are volunteering in this way. I am about to be brought up to date, at least technologically, in a couple months when we will buy a new computer. I'm actually nervous, because the only thing I know how to use is my phone and my super duper old (10 years?) laptop.
If there were someone like you at my local library, I would probably be considered a horrible pest... for at least the first month. And then I would be in a debt of gratitude forever. :sidesmile:
I'm sure people will really appreciate what you're doing.
Quote from: Dragonia on September 26, 2017, 03:29:02 PM
Dave, it's great that you are volunteering in this way. I am about to be brought up to date, at least technologically, in a couple months when we will buy a new computer. I'm actually nervous, because the only thing I know how to use is my phone and my super duper old (10 years?) laptop.
If there were someone like you at my local library, I would probably be considered a horrible pest... for at least the first month. And then I would be in a debt of gratitude forever. :sidesmile:
I'm sure people will really appreciate what you're doing.
I have done this before and was surprised to discover how much patience I possessed! Just as long as they take notes and do the homework. . . I did lose it with one lady who, mainly, wanted to download and email her photos. After 6 visits going over the same ground each time (despite her notes) I told her that I could offer no further help. Politely.
Like all teaching the real paymback is when the light goes on in the eyes of your "student". One true success is worth a number of failures.
Perhaps you can voice the idea to your local library, there are usually people willing to help in this way.
You know, the more I think about it, I'm convincing myself to talk to my neighbor, who conveniently works at the library! We will have a brand new, bigger building next year, and this may be a great program to start at the new library. I hate to ask for something so self-serving, but I'm sure others would appreciate this also!
The university have finally been in touch. They want volunteers to discuss their experiences in hospitals with the students, especially best and worst personal interactions with nurses.
Had my first session as a practice patient today. 15 minute briefing first, basically to give us purpose of the sessions and a reminder about confidentislity - no names or locations. Two sessions, first one my own with four white girls the second with another volunteer with three girls from Africa - all 20 to 25ish.. Distinct cultural differences between the two groups, also noticed that the three racial types, white, African and Asian stayed in their groups
There was one who dominated the questions in the first group, the eldest and the only mother there. None of them had had any nursing experience before. We covered it from all angles, nurse behaviour and patient type, getting stuck in too routine a box-ticking pattern and missing subtle clues, how we might be patient number 1000 to them but they are nurse number one to us etc. We got through it all with a few laughs and they seemed pleased with the session, I could see their confidence slowly building as the hour went on.
Less laughing with the African girls. One, the eldest I would guess, had been a qualified Healthcare Assistant, now going for a higher professional qualification, and she was the more outgoing. The cultural aspect came in their attitude towards older people, much more respect expected at home, always Sir or Madam for strangers and Aunt or Uncle for close family friends. They felt uncomfortable calling their elders by their first names. We could only say, "Ask them how they would like to be addressed."
I had a companion in that second session, a very disabled lady in a very expensive looking electric wheelchair. She kept drifting off into anecdotes and I had to keep, gently, breaking in to give the students a chance to ask their questions.
The tutor wandered about monitoring things, assessing us more than the students I think! She also asked permission to take pictures, mainly for propaganda with the uni trustees and authorities. This is an innovative idea and is being watched carefully.
Also innovative is that the students have Pilates and "Mindfulness" sessions each Monday - presumambly to "tune up" their bodies and minds after the drinking and debauchery of the weekend!
I think we all enjoyed the sessions. Well, there was one chap who wondered why they were asking some questions that seems quite pertinent to me. He seemed to think they were all common sense things that everyone knew - I could see that they related to experience, or the lack of it.
Saint Gallen is a wealthy Swiss city. They have a deal that they call "time banking". The scheme is called Zeitversoge which means "time provision". It invites every citizen over 60 years old to earn care time credits by helping elderly residents with every day tasks like cooking, shopping and such while also keeping them company. This makes it an ideal way to build up a "time pension" to cover their own future needs.
Quote from: Icarus on October 17, 2017, 07:37:53 AM
Saint Gallen is a wealthy Swiss city. They have a deal that they call "time banking". The scheme is called Zeitversoge which means "time provision". It invites every citizen over 60 years old to earn care time credits by helping elderly residents with every day tasks like cooking, shopping and such while also keeping them company. This makes it an ideal way to build up a "time pension" to cover their own future needs.
We have time bank systems here as well, been a member of my local one for 20 years with a few weeks worth of credit! They have changed their scheme a little in the past few years and have not called on my services so much. However if I do decide to move I have the promise of a van and crew to shift my stuff.
These are good community programmes giving older and disabled people often needed help with shopping, gardening, changing tap washers or light bulbs etc. It also often gives "educationaly challenged" people a chance to do things for the community. When we had a prison in the city even that was a member, inmates could "earn" time from our video team to send video letters home and read bedtime stories for their kids etc. They refurbished old and unclaimed bikes or sorted donated spectacles for export to local health teams in Africa and India, and other similar jobs, in exchange.
Quote from: Icarus on October 17, 2017, 07:37:53 AM
Saint Gallen is a wealthy Swiss city. They have a deal that they call "time banking". The scheme is called Zeitversoge which means "time provision". It invites every citizen over 60 years old to earn care time credits by helping elderly residents with every day tasks like cooking, shopping and such while also keeping them company. This makes it an ideal way to build up a "time pension" to cover their own future needs.
What a wonderful idea! I would have so much time already built up, if we had that here...and if I could start accruing before the age of 60.
I volunteer often at the abortion clinic.
I, the sisters and a few more dedicated students will say prayers and rosaries by candelight outside. We sometimes plead with the women coming in and tell them "there is a better way!"
It's not often..but we have had some women walk away from the clinic!
Quote from: SisterAgatha on October 17, 2017, 05:20:34 PM
I volunteer often at the abortion clinic.
I, the sisters and a few more dedicated students will say prayers and rosaries by candelight outside. We sometimes plead with the women coming in and tell them "there is a better way!"
It's not often..but we have had some women walk away from the clinic!
This ridiculous post of hers reminds me of something I meant to post earlier on the Forum, and forgot.
If you're pro-choice and looking for a tangible way to fight back, one of the things you can do is volunteer to be an abortion-clinic escort, and help women feel safer as they might walk past anti-choice protesters on their way into the building. Planned Parenthood wrote on
Tumblr (http://plannedparenthood.tumblr.com/post/24844762169/how-do-i-get-more-info-about-being-a-planned) that you can visit their
volunteer page (https://plannedparenthoodrccorpvolunteer.peoplefluent.com/index.html), where they list currently available volunteer opportunities, or call your
local health center directly (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center) to see what its specific needs are. You can also join the organization's broader
Clinic Defender (https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=18273) program, where they will ask you "to bring national attention to local fights, empowering local organizers and activists to make a real impact." Either way, you'll be helping women get the care they need.
CLINIC DEFENDER PLEDGE
I am a Clinic Defender because no woman should face harassment and intimidation just for seeking the care she deserves. There should be no signs and no slogans shoved in her face, no shouted threats and harassment, no sneering judgment from strangers.
I am a Clinic Defender because I will not give up on the right of every woman, man, and young person to see a doctor, to seek care, to protect their health.
I am a Clinic Defender because I know how important Planned Parenthood is to millions of patients, and I am proud to stand with them. I will speak out against efforts to shut down health centers and intimidate patients -- in my own community and nationwide.
I am a Clinic Defender, and we are thousands strong. We won't back down; we won't give up, no matter what.
I've done this several times over the years and it was well worth it. (First time my older sister volunteered me!)
Quote from: SisterAgatha on October 17, 2017, 05:20:34 PM
I volunteer often at the abortion clinic.
I, the sisters and a few more dedicated students will say prayers and rosaries by candelight outside. We sometimes plead with the women coming in and tell them "there is a better way!"
It's not often..but we have had some women walk away from the clinic!
Trolling again.
I have just issued SisterAgatha a 14 day suspension for repeated trolling and general anti-social behaviour. She will be back on Halloween. How appropriate :grin:
I hope that Sister A does come back. She/he/it has been used as a HAF Pinata and valiantly (or foolishly) continues to write the stuff that she/he/it is so insistent about.
What the hell. Maybe if Sister A comes back we may be able to persuade her that she is on a fools errand...not only here, but in the real world out there. OK not likely, but the Sister has actually brought us someone who has, so far, been pretty resilient.... or just stubbornly unaware.
Maybe if she will level with us she can tell us whether Nuns masturbate or have lesbian trysts. Not meaning to be a dirty old man here. Those are legitimate wonders because Nuns are, after all, humans and subject to biological and natural chemical influences..
... back on topic:
Kudos, Dave! A good way to keep active and benefit others as well.
The "Time Banking" concept is new to me - have to look into that more.
Well, my computer buddying serms to have a curse on it. Turned up last week to find out the enail had the wtong dste on it. Do turned up tidsy to find the client had cancelled but no-one had sent the email to tell us . . .
Rather pointed, but extremely polite, enail to library manager.
I volunteered for this voice project that explains cancer to kids undergoing treatment. I play the little man on the big parrot's shoulder:
Quote from: SisterAgatha on October 17, 2017, 05:20:34 PM
I volunteer often at the abortion clinic.
I, the sisters and a few more dedicated students will say prayers and rosaries by candelight outside. We sometimes plead with the women coming in and tell them "there is a better way!"
It's not often..but we have had some women walk away from the clinic!
You know, I consider that absolutely evil. For all you know you may have taken the worst day of a woman's life and made it even more painful. The fact that you're fine with taking that chance says nothing good about you or your companions.
If you were sincere in wanting to reduce the number of abortions, rather than in just standing around making a display of your assumed virtue, there are so many practical things you could do instead. You could advocate for comprehensive sex education in schools, for the free distribution of contraceptives to teenagers and the poor, you could find ways to make it easier for a woman with an unwanted pregnancy to continue the pregnancy and give the baby up for adoption, you could adopt and foster children yourself (perhaps not the best idea for you).
But
do not be one of these people:
Quote from: joeactor on November 15, 2017, 12:29:50 AM
I volunteered for this voice project that explains cancer to kids undergoing treatment. I play the little man on the big parrot's shoulder:
That was nice of you. :smilenod:
Quote from: Magdalena on November 15, 2017, 04:27:08 AM
That was nice of you. :smilenod:
Thanks - it turned out to be a fun project. The studio and animators all donated their time too.
Quote from: joeactor on November 15, 2017, 07:09:41 PM
Quote from: Magdalena on November 15, 2017, 04:27:08 AM
That was nice of you. :smilenod:
Thanks - it turned out to be a fun project. The studio and animators all donated their time too.
Good stuff, Joe. Kudos due!
Quote from: joeactor on November 15, 2017, 12:29:50 AM
I volunteered for this voice project that explains cancer to kids undergoing treatment. I play the little man on the big parrot's shoulder:
:clapping:
Thanks Dave and xSP!
Oh, dear . . .
I think that I mentioned, somewhere, that the library wanted to hold a "Gadget Day" to demo the BBC Microbit. So I have been frantically swotting up in it, wiring, coding etc. Built one of the games, found how to make it drive a speaker with a single transistor, got it working a model servo motor via an external battery (and another transistor) . . .
Then I get an email showing the poster, nothing about the Micro:bit, "Come and get you phone/tablet/laptop using problems fixed".
Reply states that we are simply experienced and relatively confident users, not experts with immediate answers (or I would be earning money on it!) It can take half an hour (out of the 1,.5 hours of the session) to get one person confident, that is, maybe, including us working it out ourselves. With several version of Android around and Windows not working exactly the same on all branded laptops there is usually a learning curve for use. If it proves popular (they intend to push it on social media, all libraries in the city and the local press) there are likely to be more people than we can cope with in the time!
Assemble the following into a grammatical English sentances: think, out, one, you, not, did, this. Maybe: plonker, pulling, my, surely, are, you. Or perhaps advantage, taking, your, are, to, you, promote, library, expense, our, at.
Later: got a reply that did not please me, rather patronising. Suggested that, as a volunteer, I had the right to be fully consulted on any change in the ecpectstions of what I do and the right to modify new tasks where appropriate and possible. I will see what the other "Buddy" thinks - it was said that the Micro:bit day has been postponed (without telling me) so the other guy can catch up on it.
I know that they have to justify their jobs in these days of cut-backs and a successful "Gadget Day" will help keep the branch open. But politics, a lack of communications and taking advantage of my services was the reason I dropped out back in 2005.
Quote from: Dave on February 23, 2018, 04:14:31 PM
Oh, dear . . .
I think that I mentioned, somewhere, that the library wanted to hold a "Gadget Day" to demo the BBC Microbit. So I have been frantically swotting up in it, wiring, coding etc. Built one of the games, found how to make it drive a speaker with a single transistor, got it working a model servo motor via an external battery (and another transistor) . . .
Then I get an email showing the poster, nothing about the Micro:bit, "Come and get you phone/tablet/laptop using problems fixed".
Reply states that we are simply experienced and relatively confident users, not experts with immediate answers (or I would be earning money on it!) It can take half an hour (out of the 1,.5 hours of the session) to get one person confident, that is, maybe, including us working it out ourselves. With several version of Android around and Windows not working exactly the same on all branded laptops there is usually a learning curve for use. If it proves popular (they intend to push it on social media, all libraries in the city and the local press) there are likely to be more people than we can cope with in the time!
Assemble the following into a grammatical English sentances: think, out, one, you, not, did, this. Maybe: plonker, pulling, my, surely, are, you. Or perhaps advantage, taking, your, are, to, you, promote, library, expense, our, at.
Later: got a reply that did not please me, rather patronising. Suggested that, as a volunteer, I had the right to be fully consulted on any change in the ecpectstions of what I do and the right to modify new tasks where appropriate and possible. I will see what the other "Buddy" thinks - it was said that the Micro:bit day has been postponed (without telling me) so the other guy can catch up on it.
I know that they have to justify their jobs in these days of cut-backs and a successful "Gadget Day" will help keep the branch open. But politics, a lack of communications and taking advantage of my services was the reason I dropped out back in 2005.
That's really disappointing and demotivating after all the effort you put in.
^ A lot of people take volunteers for granted, it seems. Then they think they have some sort of right to your time and energy.
I volunteered as a math tutor for several years. My students were mostly adults who sought to earn their GED certificated so that they could have a better chance of getting a job or enrolling in a vocational school of some sort.
That was both a rewarding and a debilitating experience. I had some students who tried very hard to learn what I was trying to teach.. More than half of them, on the other hand, imagined that merely attending tutoring sessions would magically invest them with math skills. Do their homework? No. Study the lessons? No.
Math ,the way that I and my other volunteers taught it, was pretty easy to digest and shown to be immensely useful even in places like the grocery store. Aaaah, some of them were so frustratingly dumb that they could not process the idea that someone was trying desperately to give them a priceless gift without expecting any kind of compensation.
One of the things that kept me afloat was that there were a few people who understood the value of what they were learning and they also knew that their tutor was not being paid in money to do what they were doing. They were getting paid in a different sort of way. The satisfaction of knowing that they had helped the student along the way toward a better prospective future.
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on February 25, 2018, 11:55:48 PM
^ A lot of people take volunteers for granted, it seems. Then they think they have some sort of right to your time and energy.
I agree, and that attitude can extend into paid occupation.
The company that I retured from were not good payers or appreciators of peoples' skills and motivations. They knew full well thst I loved my actual job, got great satsfaction from it and would have great trouble finding snything like it. They also knew that I took pride in doing thinvs right, even slightly "beyond the call of duty". So why bother to promote me or pay me more?