stevenpiziks (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stevenpiziks) wrote2010-10-17 03:00 pm
stevenpiziks) wrote2010-10-17 03:00 pm
Entry tags:
Cub Scout Snark
At Mackie's cub scout meeting I was ambushed by one of the fundraiser organizers, who informed me that I hadn't signed up to have Mackie sell popcorn at any of the stations set up around the neighborhood. They do this in two-hour shifts. She showed me the sign-up sheet with some blanks left on it.
"If you don't sign up," she said, "it's a $35 fee."
I signed up without thinking, then got pissed about it. That's FOUR HOURS of work, half a workday. I've paid the dues, so Mackie's in the scouts. What would they do to me (or Mackie) if I refused to volunteer OR pay? I didn't sign a contract stating I agreed to these terms. Four hours out of my weekend writing time is simply not workable. (What do they do with kids whose parents work out of the house on weekends?) Besides, when I write for a flat fee, I charge $150 an hour. When I play the harp, I charge $100 an hour. If they're figuring on charging me, they can first pay me for MY time.
I called my mother-in-law, and she nicely agreed to take Mackie on one of these little forays yesterday, and today I took him for the second.
I've noticed that this branch of scouts seems to assume that all the boys and the parents will wholeheartedly fling themselves into scouting, that everyone will attend every activity and throw enormous amounts of money at them. I can't do that, and I'm going to have to draw the line hard and fast with these people. If you get a reputation for following orders, it never lets up.
Next time, I'm flatly refusing all such forays, and I'm refusing to pay. I'm a single dad with three kids and two jobs. I don't have time for that bullshit.
"If you don't sign up," she said, "it's a $35 fee."
I signed up without thinking, then got pissed about it. That's FOUR HOURS of work, half a workday. I've paid the dues, so Mackie's in the scouts. What would they do to me (or Mackie) if I refused to volunteer OR pay? I didn't sign a contract stating I agreed to these terms. Four hours out of my weekend writing time is simply not workable. (What do they do with kids whose parents work out of the house on weekends?) Besides, when I write for a flat fee, I charge $150 an hour. When I play the harp, I charge $100 an hour. If they're figuring on charging me, they can first pay me for MY time.
I called my mother-in-law, and she nicely agreed to take Mackie on one of these little forays yesterday, and today I took him for the second.
I've noticed that this branch of scouts seems to assume that all the boys and the parents will wholeheartedly fling themselves into scouting, that everyone will attend every activity and throw enormous amounts of money at them. I can't do that, and I'm going to have to draw the line hard and fast with these people. If you get a reputation for following orders, it never lets up.
Next time, I'm flatly refusing all such forays, and I'm refusing to pay. I'm a single dad with three kids and two jobs. I don't have time for that bullshit.