The one week career

I didn't realize it until I spoke to a friend who has been in her new job for about 8 months, but the camp cycle is similar.

I interviewed and had a background check to make sure I was not a murderer, molester or such, and to make sure I was a good candidate. Do you feel that you could do all of this? Yes.

Before you start your job, you get intense training on how to be successful, work with your new team, and campers, and how to properly perform tasks. They call that orientation. Then there is the peer training, where your fellow volunteers scare the crap out of you the night before the campers arrive on what camp is actually going to be like.

So after the first week of the job, you are wondering if you will ever be good at, excel at your job, and if your peers will ever respect you for the job you are doing.

In one week you go from orientation to productivity to performance review. Not much time, but I can honestly say...."I love this job!"

This is MY MS
Doug Lyon

MS Camp Volunteer Day 1 May 5, 2007

Lots of rules today. Our initial orientation was about everything we will be seeing, doing, and what we need to be successful. Lots of experienced volunteers here too, who have all gone out of their way to make sure us new volunteers feel welcome and comfortable with what will be happening.

I was trained on “Transfers and Lifts” how, with the Hoyer lift, to help those who cannot walk. It allows them to be able to lift people properly and safely with those machines. Also the whole safety and liability stuff. What is appropriate or not and the etc.

Our cabin meeting this afternoon was a discussion of the 11 campers who will be with us, their level of disability, meds, allergies, and everything about their MS. I also appreciate as I am writing about my experience too, how everyone is confidential, and rightly so, about privacy of the people, their treatment and or specifics of care. There is quite a premium on making this a great positive experience for everyone.

This is Doug Lyon MY MS