Oh, and BTW, I don't put up with the "I'm the teacher and I said so"
attitude, either. Just because you sent home a letter demanding I WILL
volunteer for a party for a holiday, doesn't mean I will. If you want
my help, you may politely ask, you may not state that I AM helping you.

Assumed volunteering can be one of the most hurtful things possible.
When we arrived here and picked a church to try, we did notice that
there was something about taking turns in the nursery, which is hardly a
key point when you're thinking about trying something out, so after
being there two or three Sundays, the first phone call we got from
anyone at the church was to tell us when we were helping in the nursery
- someone there really needs to learn how to welcome people, by that
stage you couldn't have even called us regular attenders, let alone
members, they either new nothing about us - in which case, is it fair to
assume that volunteering in the nursery was a good thing to ask, or if
they did know anything about us, then they knew we were new to the area,
having moved internationally, hardly a time when you're available to be
involuntarily made to help when you've only been there a month.

Needless to say, I didn't return that phone call and although we did
join that church, we joined a new service that had been set up
differently, no pressure was put on us at all and within about 3 months
we were both on the rota for helping with kids groups - when we were
ready for it!

Cheers
Anne