On being busy
So, I'm dividing my time at work between the Learner Engagement project and the implementation of the new Helpdesk system. Real projects! That require actual support! It's all good.
At church, I seem to be taking on the role of minister-in-disguise. I'm a member of all the groups that meet to organise stuff and I'm currently attending about one meeting per week. Tomorrow, I have two and then there's one on Sunday and one on Monday - not sure if that's three for this week or two for next... Anyway, we have:
- Core Community - I'm officially the Secretary but people are coming to me for advice, which makes me feel like the Chair. I am NOT the Chair! On Sunday, someone thrust some leaflets at me and asked that the thing they were about be discussed at the next meeting. I am going to set up a mechanism for this to be managed that does not involve me being accosted on a Sunday morning. Meeting monthly during the Vacancy.
- Building Project - I'm only a member of this but as the 'oldest resident' I feel a responsibility for the place.
- Pastoral Care Group - I WANTED the Chair for this! Why?! To be fair, I do think it will look good on my CV and it usually meets every few months. However, we've had to call an extraordinary meeting next month ahead of the scheduled meeting in September.
- Worship Planning - I'm part of the 'core' (with two others) for this, which effectively makes me a joint Chair, but the meeting itself is much too informal for such formal titles. Again, only meets every few months but the next one falls next week.
- Parish Profile - I'm one of St B's reps for this, which feels important. There is an opportunity for a member of Core Community to join St L's PCC in order to join the Patronage Board. It's NOT going to be me!
- Marketing - I'm a member of this but there are only 4 of us. Meetings have been very sporadic but there's now a push to get stuff sorted ahead of the advert for G's replacement going out.
- Ad Hoc - I've been to two meetings about services that I would normally try to avoid but it did seem important that I was at these.
- Preparation and Outcomes - there is stuff to do both before and after each meeting, which makes it feel as though it's taking over my life!
The problems come when I think of all the meetings I have coming up between now and the end of August. If I just think about the next one, it's not so bad. Also, CC is only meeting monthly during the Vacancy - once we've appointed, they'll be less regular. AND the new person will probably take over as Chair of PCG. So, this busy-ness is temporary and there's really nothing I feel I can drop. I am definitely NOT taking on PCC, though.
D has promised to lend an ear if I feel the need to vent, which is good of him.
And none of this is helped by the fact that it's so bloody hot!
At church, I seem to be taking on the role of minister-in-disguise. I'm a member of all the groups that meet to organise stuff and I'm currently attending about one meeting per week. Tomorrow, I have two and then there's one on Sunday and one on Monday - not sure if that's three for this week or two for next... Anyway, we have:
- Core Community - I'm officially the Secretary but people are coming to me for advice, which makes me feel like the Chair. I am NOT the Chair! On Sunday, someone thrust some leaflets at me and asked that the thing they were about be discussed at the next meeting. I am going to set up a mechanism for this to be managed that does not involve me being accosted on a Sunday morning. Meeting monthly during the Vacancy.
- Building Project - I'm only a member of this but as the 'oldest resident' I feel a responsibility for the place.
- Pastoral Care Group - I WANTED the Chair for this! Why?! To be fair, I do think it will look good on my CV and it usually meets every few months. However, we've had to call an extraordinary meeting next month ahead of the scheduled meeting in September.
- Worship Planning - I'm part of the 'core' (with two others) for this, which effectively makes me a joint Chair, but the meeting itself is much too informal for such formal titles. Again, only meets every few months but the next one falls next week.
- Parish Profile - I'm one of St B's reps for this, which feels important. There is an opportunity for a member of Core Community to join St L's PCC in order to join the Patronage Board. It's NOT going to be me!
- Marketing - I'm a member of this but there are only 4 of us. Meetings have been very sporadic but there's now a push to get stuff sorted ahead of the advert for G's replacement going out.
- Ad Hoc - I've been to two meetings about services that I would normally try to avoid but it did seem important that I was at these.
- Preparation and Outcomes - there is stuff to do both before and after each meeting, which makes it feel as though it's taking over my life!
The problems come when I think of all the meetings I have coming up between now and the end of August. If I just think about the next one, it's not so bad. Also, CC is only meeting monthly during the Vacancy - once we've appointed, they'll be less regular. AND the new person will probably take over as Chair of PCG. So, this busy-ness is temporary and there's really nothing I feel I can drop. I am definitely NOT taking on PCC, though.
D has promised to lend an ear if I feel the need to vent, which is good of him.
And none of this is helped by the fact that it's so bloody hot!