Volunteers give their time, treasure and talent despite an abundance of folks who watch from the sidelines and offer their unsolicited critiques. I have to marvel at the tenacity and resilience of those in the arena who never miss a step despite those who believe their role is to be a speed bump for the rest of us.
My grandchildren are involved in youth sports to the point that I sometimes wonder how they find time for school or sleep. From their involvement, I have 
discovered a new phenomenon from when my own children were growing up. To my delight, I have watched vocal parents being evicted from the spectator’s stands for uttering a discouraging word to a player, coach or even an official with deficient eyesight. Some parents can tell a strike from a ball at forty feet that the official can’t see from four feet and they feel empowered to share their superior ability. I always make it a point to say thank you to the umpire at the conclusion of the game, even when they call the strike my grandson threw as a ball.
Maybe we should consider implementing a similar intolerance when it comes to our own volunteers, members and internal customers. When someone takes an assignment in Rotary to serve as a registrar, sergeant-at-arms or program chair they also accept the risk that those on the sidelines delivering severe criticism and abuse for decisions they make or policies they carry out. On occasions those decisions or policies benefit some and inconvenience others, but they usually provide for better overall results. Even when the decisions and policies are imperfect, they are almost always the result of good intentions.
It is important to remember that our leaders are customers too. Take a moment to say thank you to those who enter the arena by accepting responsibility for making decisions and implementing policies that they might not have created or agree with. Overlook their occasional nearsightedness; better yet, get off the sidelines and enter the arena yourself.