The Broward Chapter takes two months off, July and August. I have mixed feeling about the practice. Many chapters have some summer months off. Sometimes heat (at least in South Florida) is proposed as the reason although our meeting place is air conditioned. Field trips are hotter and may have more mosquitos. But I feel confident that the real reason is that the Board and volunteers appreciate the summer vacation from Chapter work. I really appreciate the break from the responsibilities of creating program, creating e-news, publicizing, attending all events, and the like. I'm sure most other Board and regular volunteers feel the same. I sometimes feel that it is a disservice to the public, and I miss those hot, mosquito-infested field trips deep into the Everglades to see rare wildflowers and wildlife. We often find other summer trips or events, but I go free and irresponsibly as a participate.
If we could do better about having more volunteers to distribute the work, THEN I would consider serving the public during the summer. Until then, I wouldn't dare deny our Board and regular volunteers (or myself) summer's freedom.
