About four or five years ago, our sponsoring organization, the Elks, asked our youth group if we would mind volunteering to serve as waiters for their family Burger Nights, which they hold once a month through the winter.

Since we each get a free cheeseburger out of the deal, the answer has always been 'yes.' The boys have a lot of fun, they learn a little customer service, and some responsibility. The food is simple but good, and our group gets to keep the tips ($35.77 tonight). Which we usually use on a pizza party, or the trip to the hot pool in January.

Only had five boys tonight, and a big crowd, but all went well.

The boys especially enjoy ordering their drinks at the bar. Each worker gets a free drink (non-alcoholic, of course! Where do you think we are, the wild west?) to go with their meal, and they order it at a real bar, from real barmaids, and it comes in a real bar glass. And then we take our breaks at the empty bar counter in the banquet room downstairs.

Couple of the newer members were surprised to learn that our group used to have their meetings at that lower bar. Everyone seated on a barstool, with whoever was running the meeting being the only one allowed behind the bar.

Was a good time. Gave the meetings a special "Round Table" feel, and they never felt like the "classroom' atmosphere we have now in the old armory.

But also no place for games. Played capture the flag for a lot of years in the banquet room (always set up for the weekly banquets), and never broke a glass. Got close, though.

But tonight I was reflecting on how the Burger Nights have changed. How human nature shifts workloads.

When these started, we were merely there to take the money and orders, and deliver the food. But being the helpful people we are, we always stuck around to help clean the tables, empty the trash, and put away the extra tables and chairs (no simple feat, since they either have to down one flight of stairs, or up one).

It was also logical for us to keep track of the condiment supply, and replace as necessary, since the volunteers taking their monthly turn at hosting the family night were always busy in the kitchen.

But now, after only a few years, these have all become our responsibilities, rather than chores we volunteer to help with.

No one else sets up the extra tables or chairs. They wait and expect us to do it. So we have to arrive earlier, now. They prepare the condiments, but we have to set them out, and restock as necessary. We are the only ones cleaning the tables, and even most of the "customers", who are also members, no longer carry their own trash to the cans. Which are left for us to empty at the end.

And we still get to put away all the extra tables and chairs.

As a result, some of us are now arriving before the kitchen crew, whom we are supposed to be "assisting." And four or five of us were still there cleaning up when the kitchen crew "hosts" all went home for the night.

As Ann Landers (or was it Dear Abby) has said, no one can take advantage of you without your permission. But since having the blessing of these folks is necessary for our group to exist, we can't really tell them the work load is no longer fair.

And none of the lads are complaining. They still think it is a great time. Nothing will change, and I'm not sure if I would want it to if it could, but I wish some of them would remember we are here as volunteers, not as part of the crew.