The Big Brother waiting game

Over half a year has passed since I had the personal interview with the Big Brothers association (BBBST). I wrote about that in my post, Prologue to my Big Brother Adventure.

I went through a major disruption in my lifestyle in the winter months when I moved, so I was not in a place to provide a sense of stability to a Little. However, I'm settling in nicely following my move, so I want to pick up that part of my life again, of becoming a Big Brother. I've left a couple of follow-up messages with the volunteer coordinator I met last year but have had no response yet.

In addition to becoming a Big Brother, I see another opportunity for leadership. The company I work for wishes to encourage volunteerism and is offering a grant to employees who volunteer 40 hours within the next fiscal year. So I see this as a personal challenge and a leadership opportunity for me to qualify for that grant on behalf of BBBST.

Forty hours in a year averages to about 4 hours a month. I know the BBBST is having a Big Night Out event in June and they have asked the men's division I am in for volunteers to help with the event. So this looks like a great place for me to start working on that goal.

I've sent a couple of messages (email and voice mail) to the designated BBBST representative to get more information about volunteering for the Big Night Out event, but have not heard back from him either.

So while I play this waiting game, I have some choices. I could be frustrated about this lack of response. I could decide that I've done all I can here and put my energy into something else instead. I could think about a concept I learned last year at 21CL, called stretching my line of ownership.

What does stretching my line of ownership mean and what does it look like in this case? For now, it means I continue to hold the vision of a successful event put on by the BBBST with all the volunteer help they need - including me and other men in the men's division that want to help. It means I hold the vision of a mutually satisfying relationship developing between BBBST and the men's division. It means holding the vision of BBBST benefiting from the grant that my employer wants to give away. It means holding the vision of myself forming a mutually satisfying relationship with a Little, and moving forward in creating or attracting my own family.

When I hold this vision in mind, I am moved to make different choices and take different actions, be more persistent, proactive and powerful, than when I remain frustrated or discouraged.