The word ‘obligation’ has a puzzling ring to it when discussed in volunteer circles. For one, it generates a sense of having to do something or think in some way; that is, a volunteer feels obliged to do something, which that person may not want to do. This is obligation in its negative sense. In contrast to this meaning is the sense that obligation is part of doing something one likes to do, as in showing up to play a game of basketball with one’s team, acting a part in a play, and filling a volunteer role. Here, obligation is positive, and it is an agreeable responsibility. It is this positive sense that will prevail in this chapter since volunteering is understood here as a leisure activity. Thus, it will first explore the rise of the idea of volunteering as leisure. This is followed by an examination of the nature of obligation as it is usually met when volunteering. Finally, the implications of obligatory volunteering in the personal lives of participants are considered.
