Versatility and Flexibility

One of my all time pet peeves are volunteers who say, "I only do communications".  While this has been the practice for decades, I am here to remind you we're in 2013.  Our served agencies may ask us to help move tables or help make placards for incident command vests.  There is nothing preventing ARES volunteers from fulfilling these requests.  I have a picture of John N8NRA pouring water into an orange igloo cooler at Pan Ohio Hope Ride.  Did it require training?  No.  Did it take him away from his communications responsibilities?  No.  In today's day in age we cannot go in with communications blinders on.  It's ok to lend a hand.  Now if it's something the volunteer does not feel comfortable with like traffic control or dispensing medication, it's totally understandable for the volunteer to respectfully decline the request in a professional manner.