In the 13 years that Roy and I have been SOWERS, we have always appreciated the concept of the Group Leader (GL). We've seen how this process eliminates chaos, problems and inefficiency. We recently had an experience that drove home the wisdom of our SOWER GL set-up.

We volunteered at a health care facility (not a SOWER project) for a month. There were to be four teams of two persons, each wandering in at kind of the same time.

As we arrived we were given an orientation that was not standard, and as we later found out, many issues were not addressed. The teams consisted of a single man, a couple who work there a lot (therefore "owning" the project), and finally a couple comprised of a sweet wife and a husband who was a bully, rude, vulgar and an agitator. 

Each entity in the facility had their own way of telling us what to do and many times those were at definite cross purposes with other departments. The volunteer coordinator told us one thing, the facilities manager another, the kitchen staff another, and the director another. That doesn't even account for the input from the (grouchy) secretary, the residents, the volunteer "bully" who wanted to reorganize the whole show and finally from the "owning" couple who, after a week's absence, were not happy that things were not done the way they wanted. There was so much dissention in that facility!

Sadly, we were "baited" because we were Christians, so had to deal with that. We loved the residents and that made everything bearable and worthwhile.Nightly card games with them, taking them to the doctor, and Bingo were the highlights. I especially felt a calling to work at the Round Table, the place where people came from the surrounding community for Adult Day Care. They loved singing with the guitar and formed their own little singing group. So there were lots of pluses on that front but most of all we missed the spiritual uplifting we always get with the SOWERS.

We said many times how much we missed a GL - ONE person to receive the instructions, to sort out the schedule and to be an advocate for the volunteers. As it was, rumors ran rampant (isn't that a great alliteration!)and added to the mayhem. Sowers are blessed to have an intelligent "chain of command" to make our work go smoothly. Honor your Group Leaders, please, and treat them exactly as you would wish to be treated when you too take your turn at the helm. 

Roy and Jo Butler ( #2185)

My first project, we got a great mentor ( The Sower's President) Mr. Jerry McGhee. His leadership and advice still serve me well. He wanted me to be a GL. I did not. but guess who got his way, hahaha NOT ME. After three times as the GL, I learned  he was right, it was not so bad.. Thank you Sir for so much!

Lonnie E. Davis Sr (#3073)
In God's Service