In article >,
"Virginia Tadrzynski" > wrote:
> I just attended a "Ladies' Night Out' at church with a speaker and an
> optional craft (blessing wreath). I was speaking to the organizer about
> upcoming events and we got around to discussing the last 'cooking' night.
> They had a 24 speaker who had a cook book collection of (drum roll
> please)....20 cookbooks. I snorted and called her a rank amateur (I think
> I have around 3k but don't quote me). I suggested a night where we trade
> crafts. I crochet and can do cross stitch and have done other artsy fartsy
> things, but the one thing I cannot do is knit. I told her I would like to
> learn how. She looked whistful and said the one thing she would like to do
> is learn to jar thingies. I asked her 'you mean canning and preserving' and
> she said yes. I told her I would get back with her, as we could work out how
> it could be taught to the group.
>
> So here is a hypothetical question for you, my illustrious group of canning
> giants. What would you trade teaching canning skills for? What would you
> like to learn that you don't know how to do? I think I would can all day
> for someone if they would just clean my damned house for me. What about
> you?
<Barb dons her flameproof panties [the black lacy ones]>
I prefer cash. I like it because I like clear communication. I like it
because I put a value on what I do and speaking the local language is
always nice. The local language is dollars and cents; good or bad, it
is the language on which our society operates.
Having said that, last night I had a two-hour session with 9 women
wherein I taught them (demonstrated and let them get their hands on) how
to make two kinds of pepper jelly. I provided four ways (with samples
for all to taste) of what to do with the damned stuff. I spent about
8-16 hours prepping (shopping, making, preparing a 6-page handout with
recipes) for it. I prepared (and shopped for supplies for) 14 people.
It was cold last night and 5 opted out (without calling, thank you).
I'll receive $30 for it. That *might* cover my supplies. Those
present paid $2 each for the privilege. They took home two jars of
jelly each. This was a labor of love and naught but a fun time for ME ‹
very self-serving.
I told a couple of women that if I were selling that jelly (I'm thinking
that I calculated costs to less than a buck a jar) I would charge at
least $5 for a jar. One gasped. I just smiled and said that I don't
believe in undervaluing my skill and knowledge and my time. Women too
often do that. The lady understood what I was saying.
That was a volunteer thing, booked by the church's social director
(sweet woman) and I was happy to do it -- like I said, it was very
self-serving fun for me ‹ I want to meet younger people at the place
besides all the geezers I've met. When I've taught for Community Ed
(EXACT same thing), I've been paid about $25-40 per hour. I doubt last
night's group know that they were getting a real deal. <grin>
I like cash because I can then value my "product" as I wish and the
'buyer' has the absolute right to say, "Yippee skippy, that's SUCH a
bargain," or "Oh, gosh, that's more than I can do right now." NO HARD
FEELINGS. I also like cash because I can then state my dissatisfaction,
if there should be any, more forthrightly and with less fear of
upsetting a friendship. It's a more professional way of doing things, I
think. And I like cash because if it's something I don't especially
want to do, but am willing to do "if the the price is right," then
that's a choice that I willingly made. There's no keeping score trying
to make sure I didn't give more than I thought I was getting ‹ give me a
dollar figure and I'll decide if I can, want to, or am willing to pay
that amount.
There are lots of things that I don't know how to do that I have
absolutely no interesting in learning how to do. Sewing my own
clothing. I was happy to pay The Widow Geraldine to sew clothing for
me. That she charged a pittance wasn't my decision to make. I'd have
paid her twice was she charged.
Then again, the bottom line is not always about dollars and cents. It
just isn't.
This is not an absolute answer to your question, Ginny. I was in the
midst of writing it when I got a mail message from the coordinator of
last night's event, wanting my evaluation of the evening. I told her
that I'd send this to her because a lot of what's here was discussed in
her note.
-Barb
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
Notes about our meals in Tuscany have been posted to
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com; 10-16-2007