Volunteer Army

Episode 37:  Deal Me Out

Frank:   It’s against regulations to gamble with an enlisted man.

Hawkeye: You never enlisted, did you, Klinger?

Klinger: When they came for me, I ran like a thief right into 

         Grand Central Station. They trapped me in a pay toilet. 

         Cost ‘em four dollars in nickels to get me out.

Hawkeye: I love a volunteer.

While the officers meet for their weekly poker game, AKA the “conference”, they are interrupted by a number of medical emergencies.  Frank is one of those interruptions, giving Klinger a hard time for playing cards with the officers.

Australian culture prides itself on the strength of its volunteer base that forms the foundation of community, charity and service organizations.  Whether it is our life guards, country fire fighters, meals on wheels, sporting clubs, welfare agencies, churches or event organisers, our volunteers are an essential compliment to the paid workforce.  Without volunteers many of these groups would grind to a halt.  Business management expert Peter Drucker understood the importance of effectively attracting and retaining competent volunteers - “If non-profit organizations want to attract and hold them, they have to put their competence and knowledge to work.”  Volunteers commit to a purpose not a pay packet, they embrace a cause not a career, and they are motivated by a vision that is driven by internal rather than external rewards.