To the Editor:

I would like to comment on the letter to the editor from Ms. Barnes in Friday’s paper (“Column about first ladies told half the story,” Oct. 29).

While I agree with her position on the issue of the first lady’s staffing requirements, what really piqued my interest was the notion of volunteering. To me, “volunteering” is giving time without getting paid or compensated.

The people staffing the polling stations get $100 for the day, more than I receive for a day’s work. I would not mind getting paid to hand out stickers and shuffle people through the polling station, but I would not say I was volunteering if I got paid to do so.

It is kind of like saying I am volunteering to go to my job every day.

Caroline Steward
Newsoms