Ourman – tch. What a shambles. Nobody’s perfect I suppose, but it does say alot about VSO’s internal commmunication, and the feeble attempts to use a database.

I don’t know about sending the letter. I’m tempted.

I was equally annoyed to be sent a letter which starts:

Dear Steve,

We’re rightly excited about the incredible finale to our 50th Anniversary. We’re excited because of the artists we’ve got playing. We’re excited about the amazing venue. But most of all, we’re excited about you, one of our loyal supporters, joining us – hence this personal invite.

I guess I am a loyal supporter – I recently did a presentation for them in Newcastle at a recruitment event. Next Monday I am doing another one in London – this time speaking at length. They are paying my train fair all the way from Newcastle but suggested that if I actually wanted to stay overnight they could only pay £40 towards a hotel room. Okay, okay – I’m paying the extra.

So yes. Loyal supporter. I should be writ large on their records. What should be written in bright red pen is that from September 4th I will be in Cameroon doing another VSO stint. Unless they are suggesting I fly in especially it is all a bit crap.

As wonderful as VSO can be – they are frequently a bit crap. They forgot to book me tickets flying out to Cameroon or sort my paperwork until I gave them a nudge. When they finally got it sorted they sent me an itinerary to say that myself and my (now ex) girlfriend would be flying out of the 4th. We had applied to do a short project together, some time ago, and some how they had mixed up the records and got it into their heads we would both be going out together. They info they sent me were confirmed flight books – I hope they got their money back.

They also forgot to send me the checklist of details I was supposed to finalise so, now with only two weeks to go, I am running around like a blue arsed fly.

They asked me to chase my criminal records check and I found that it had been submitted to them late by VSO who must have held onto it for quite some time. It now appears touch and go whether I’ll be signed off in time.

All in all, it’s a shambles and makes you feel very like we are very un-special individuals. Haven’t given two years of my life to them and being that I am about to give two years more I would expect a great deal better.

While we’re grumbling, when I was fresh from my first VSO I received nothing that they are supposed to send. I was not invited to a RV weekend. After chasing it myself I did sign up for the RV email that is supposed to be crammed.

I received it maybe two or three times before the writer obviously got bored and stopped putting it out. Every time 99.9% of the jobs were in London.

Not one single event (save that recruitment event where I was the star turn) has been held in the North East of England. 90% of events are very tiresomely held in London.

Moaning over. I look forward to moaning instead about the programme office in Cameroon instead.

(hmm looking at that first paragraph in the letter again I actually think they think I am a supporter rather than a volunteer)

You really going to send the letter?