Venting.... you've been warned read on at your own peril

[traeemery]

So, for the last year I have been catering MonUCS camps. The feedback willingly offered at the time of the events had been overwhelmingly positive and I must say I was a little chuffed. Not only had I set myself challenging menus considering the budget, but the meals, by and large, were cooked by a crew with no formal kitchen training under my

Comments

[anthraxia]

Sigh - you've just highlighted perfectly why I think there needs to be a 2 year time limit on people moving on from Uni clubs after they finish studying. Too many clubs get locked in with people who have been doing things "forever" and the newbs don't step up to the plate (or even the olds who don't do anything) - they just bitch and complain without ever considering that they need to get involved.

Shitty thing to have happen. Having just had to pick up the cooking for a feast when the cook decided she couldn't do it the day before the feast, I don't think you've made the right decision, but I'm very biased at the moment. Hope it works out well.

[traeemery]

Well, I did take a good long break from MonUCS and I now get my singing fix elsewhere where people don't spend rehearsal making googly eyes and playing footsy with each other and are actually there to sing.
But catering is something I enjoy and MonUCS was affording me the opportunity to do that. However, as a choir I don't think anyone expects that one of the newbs is going to step up to cater. They have always sourced from the choir once removed for that skillset.

As to me not making the right decision, you are not in full possession of the facts. I did not unilaterally pull out. I bent over backwards to come to an accommodation including the final offer of "hey would you rather find someone else to cater" which was the option the camp officer selected. So thanks for playing, but you once again have the wrong end of the stick (as I so often find in your responses).

[reverancepavane]

...making googly eyes and playing footsy with each other...
But ... but ... isn't that the purpose of choir?

[anthraxia]

I didn't think you had unilaterally pulled out - that's not your style in my experience. I'd assumed that you'd come up with every option you could possibly live up to, and if it wasn't enough, you would have politely but firmly said "I'm sorry, I can't provide what you are asking for; what do you want to do?" With the assumption that the mutual decision was you not cook. And I think that's a shitty thing to have happen to you. I also think it's the wrong decision, because it makes a shit load more work for everyone involved - and as I said, I freely admit I'm also rather biased about that at the moment

[reverancepavane]

I do have to admit that, going by your description of the meals that you have created, that I am intensely sad that I cannot sing. Although looking at the bright side of all this, it does mean I'll be getting less drool in my keyboard...
All that on a $10 budget per person? I take my hat off to you madame (well I would if I was outside and I was wearing one). Incredibly well done I say. Most people would need three times as much for a single meal. At least four if doing it professionally.
I think you are right in that the seeming ease in which you have accomplished previous catering has definitely lulled them into thinking that it is actually easy. I expect that this weekend is going to be a massive wake-up call - although more than likely they will blame you for not providing the catering that you normally do rather than admit wrong-doing themselves.
. People. So few recipes for them.

[traeemery]

Tehee. People recipes. So true.

I have heard rumors of the madness continuing post my departure as caterer. Apparently they haven't learnt from their mistakes and are continuing to make unreasonable demands.

I hope that they get fed soggy rice, boiled meat and stewed vegetables.

[seagoon]

I hope that they get fed soggy rice, boiled meat and stewed vegetables.

We shall try to aim a little higher than this, I promise.

I have heard rumors of the madness continuing post my departure as caterer.Rumours of impending doom haven't made it as far as the catering staff so far. Perhaps people are deliberately spreading misinformation, or there is some confusion about the current state of affairs? In either case, things were well in hand as of last night

[traeemery]

Well, unreasonable and unappreciative would be like saying the Titanic was a minor nautical mishap. So this post is really the minimum effective response from me at this point. And the point people on MonUCS side passed civil a while back. I didn't offer to step out as caterer 9 days from camp on a whim. It took some serious rudeness, unreasonableness and lack of comprimise to get me there

[rwrylsin]

Sorry to hear this, this type of thing seems to happen far too often in volunteer groups. From what you've described in past, it sounded like you were doing an amazing job.

Allowing them to have a reality check may not be the only option, but it's what I'd do. Hold on to your triumphs, and if you're still keen to do more you can always let them know that your door is still open to polite requests made with reasonable notice.

Which reminds me, I need to go sort out some public recognition for my volunteers soon...