[matilda] in defense of the hours stint

[Becky]

Jez >It's all very well signing up on a rota and doing an hours stint and then disappearing, but some of us realise that there is far more that needs to be done and that Jez >just doesn't cut it.

There is much talk at Matilda of inclusivity and trying to get new people involved and this kind of attitude - which I've also heard expressed by others (so this isn't a rant specifically at Jez) - is such a huge barrier to participation by anyone who simply doesn't have that kind of time.  
Anyone with health problems, caring responsibilities or whatever, or just those who want to dip their toe in, gets the message: 'don't bother'.  
Creating a culture where only the full time activist, or person able to give X amount of time to a project, is considered good enough is so alienating to those who can't or don't want to.  And such an all or nothing approach ends up making projects like Matilda the preserve of an exclusive clique (who then bemoan the fact that no-one new gets involved).  Whereas if everyone who passed though Matilda actually did an hours stint - that would be alot of hours!
Lets try and keep a more open inclusive attitude.  We should be able to allow people to give as they can and want and over time most will give more when they can (including doing the level of organisation/co-ordination/work that Jez refers to and that others also realise is needed, but possibly aren't able to do right now).

Becky

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