Volunteer burnout - what is it?

Burnout is when the fuel is used up. What has that got to do with volunteers who leave a task they offered to do? Leaving because the job didn't turn out to be what they perceived when they came? Leaving for a position that is closer to home? No problem, but that is not burnout. Leaving because they can't do what they want to do when it does not fit with the prescribed program is not burnout.
I have been a coordinator of volunteers for 7 years and have only had a few folks whose energy was really burned up. When they turned 80 they probably had used up all their fuel. They went home and rested. Others gave up for want of energy but went on to other ventures with all the enthusiasm they had when they came to me. And that is not burnout. I admit that I am not always patient with people who put their snack food and drink on the counter over the brochures visitors are supposed to be given. I am less patient with those who sit and gab when visitors have been attracked to our information and can catch no one's eye to get it.
What is neat and very cool is the volunteer who looks at the task, works at it a few times and comes up with some ideas of her/his own to enhance the core of the job at hand. What a breath of fresh air. Not only is that volunteer happy to have contributed to the job but goes on with the enthusiasm that is obvious to everyone working beside her/him. And everyone in the program is happier, too.
Naomi Sherer