[umpduck11]

[QUOTE=Striker991]
The sad part of all of this is that people feel they need to get paid for helping out in their community, whether it is officiating, helping with community centers, working in parks, etc. It is a very sad commentary about what our society has become when people don't feel that something is worth doing unless they are compensated.
All of the youth organizations around here charge a
fee for the kids to participate. They are technically "not-for-profit groups, but
this doesn't keep them from making money. Let the kids play free, then maybe some minds would change.

Those that are commenting about doing what they do for a living or for extra money isn't worth doing for free should look at programs like Habitat for Humanity. These people that make much more as carpenters, plumbers, roofers, etc at their jobs than you would ever dream about making as an umpire are willing to use their talents for free to assist someone else, even though they get nothing for it and it is "work" and time spend away from their immediate families.

Habitat is a wonderful,noble, program, that helps people
get back on their feet. But you cannot compare it to youth baseball. People don't show up at a Habitat site, watch a while, and then start yelling at
workers that are giving their best. That is one major reason why I'd
volunteer for Habitat, but never for youth baseball.

Even though there are issues with many youth programs, the truth is that these programs teach the kids many valuable life lessons and keep them from spending their time in less favorable activities. It is easy for you guys that refuse to involve yourselves to criticize. What did you do to help improve the situation while you were (if you were) involved? Or, as most do, just gripe and complain and leave?
Some people believe that it is not their responsibility
to raise other people's children. I have done that with my own children, and
am not doing it for other's kids.

Maybe you cannot understand these points, but I tried.



QUOTE]