Herban Sprawl

I’m involved in two organizations. Of one I am a longtime member and can even claim past-president as proof of longevity. (Not that I was very good, mind you -) In the second organization I am a relative newcomer, however thanks to the president who brought me in (”You need to join; give me a check.”), I got active right away.

I’m not a joiner. I even got thrown out of the college sorority I reluctantly pledged because of my reticence to “collect rose petals” and generally engage in what I viewed as infantile activities. So to belong to two organizations that mean something to me is pretty huge - for me. To find myself with conflicting events and having to choose which one to participate in is just not the kind of thing that blows up my skirt!

I had agreed to be on KP duty for the Herb Society’s annual tea party. I’ve been the Kitchen Bitch for two years now, having gotten our clean-up down to a fine art. It goes quickly and smoothly because of the way I organized it. I’m happy with that accomplishment, but unhappy because I have opera tickets from our very expensive season subscription for that afternoon.

As one of four Roanoke Valley Branch of AAUW delegates to our national convention in St. Louis, I will be voting on changes to the national structure and by-laws that will affect all of us. Our members need to know about this stuff and they need to direct how we will vote. The date selected to have the first open forum is also the date of the Herb Society’s other big fund-raiser, Scarborough Fair. I hadn’t done the calendar at the time this was decided, agreed to be at the forum, and unfortunately, they are happening simultaneously.

This can’t be happening to me, I thought…. But it is. I have had to step away from a job in Herb Society because of time conflicts, but now this? Oh, dear.

This is the sort of thing that tests people’s loyalties and their level of commitment. I’ve seen it over and over, but it’s the first time it’s ever happened to me because I have steadfastly been a one organization person - well except for those few years of insanity when I was very active in the education association - Even then, though, I put Herb Society first because it was my mental health anchor.

A few years ago, The Uncles were lobbying me to move back to the hometown. I told them there were three things I absolutely needed in order to live there, because they were the three anchors in my life. One would be an herb group, the other AAUW, and finally, a Unitarian Universalist church. The first two, interestingly enough were easy. The third, they pointed out, could be achieved by driving to Peoria or Joliet. I didn’t like that idea. “But,” Clarence Darrow pointed out, “there has been a local group that has met informally for a long time.” (Clarence Darrow is the nickname The Uncles have for their coffee clatch friend who is a lawyer.) I cringed. I’ve been in the start-up church business. It is time-consuming, especially when the group is committed to doing things according to our denomination’s accepted best practices, which we were (in spite of whatever rot has been conveyed to our district executive who has never bothered to get to know us!).

Nevertheless, it is here that we remain and I now find myself with a series of time collisions that are making me very, very uncomfortable. I have to choose between two organizations that mean a lot to me and between two organizations that need my strange talents. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Being involved in things where one feels needed and appreciated? Isn’t that what feeds us as humans? When it’s time to give back, it’s time to give back. Period.

I have no answers, and as I stare at the calendar pages, I am cursing myself for not staying on top of it. I think I’m going to go to the Wally, sit in Bang & Lilly’s rolling chair, and meditate while I get my toes done. Maybe a flash of brilliance will come to me while the current location of my brains is being soaked!