why is "with" used here rather than "of" or "from"

Question

0 I visited this website by chance and loved it soon because of its quick answer to the questions of those English learner like me. I also appreciate these moderators like "Grammer Seeker" and "Cliver" because of their quick respond and warm heart.02br02br00Now I have new questions:02br02br001. For now the dance routines continue and have attracted new fans like Ray Mahoney, an American volunteer 01font01i00with02i02font00 a local AIDS-prevention organization. Mahoney, 50, has been visiting Lai Lai with fellow volunteers to hand out free condoms and safe-sex literature.02br02br00why is "with" (labelled by red ) used here rather than "of" or "from"? what is the difference in the meaning if "of" or "from"is used?0-

Avangi · Accepted Answer

0Hi blackcheetah,02br
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00Both "with" and "from" work in your example. I prefer "with" because it has a greater sense of involvement. The volunteer is a real participant in the organization. "From" the organization seems to suggest he's been extracted, or borrowed from the organization, as in "Where are you from?"02br
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00I think "of" would only be used with the word "member." 01i00He's a member of a local organization.02i02br
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00You may also say, "He's very active 01b00in02b00 the organization."02br
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00Compare it to a sports team. He's a pitcher 01u00with02u00 the Boston Red Sox. He pitches 01u00with02u00 the Red Sox. He pitches 01u00for02u00 the Red Sox. He's 01u00with02u00 the Red Sox. He's 01u00from02u00 the Boston team. He's a member 01u00of02u00 the Boston Red Sox baseball team. 02br
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00Best wishes, - A.02br
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00P.S. I'm slow to respond, and I have a cold heart, but we're all glad to have you aboard.0-

Blackcheetah · Answer

1b00how do you do, Avangi02b02br
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01b00Thanks for your explanation with so much details. I am very happy to get this when I woke up. however ,you are so humourous and not cold at all. I am also glad that I could communicate with a native speaker by learning English.02b0-

Pter · Answer

0Hi Avangi,02br
00I am thinking if there is one more reason for the choice of "with". A volunteer does not actually belong to the organization. A volunteer can work with more than one organizations for different volunteer works. For example, Mary is "with" the local AIDS-prevention organization and also the Red Cross. I interpret "from" as saying she belongs to the organization full time.02br
00What do you think? 0-

Avangi · Answer

0Hi Pter, Your point is well taken. A person may say, "I'm with the Blue Dragons," knowing he's not a full-fleged member. And on the receiving end, the listener may or may not assume he's not a member. I don't think there's enough tradition with that usage among native speakers to say for sure, one way or the other. Without corroborating context, I believe the majority would assume he's an official member.02br
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00And I agree with you that "from," on the other hand, is more likely to be used to indicate full-fledged membership. But of course people tend to use both terms loosely at times. Whether or not a person is considered "full time," or " an employee" or "a paid employee" depends on the organization.02br
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00I once belonged to a "volunteer fire department" in a very small town. I didn't sign any papers or receive any compensation or get to go to very many fires. We used to meet every Tuesday night at the firehouse and shoot pool and play poker. I don't know what arrangements the "Fire Chief" had with the town, or even if he was paid.02br
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00Most "non-profit" organizations spend a lot of time raising money, and therefore face strict regulation from the tax authorities. Paid employees have to report their income, and volunteers have to report any money they receive in the way of expenses. I understand that important people often serve on the boards of directors of several non-profits, and I believe "volunteers" may "officially represent" more than one organization. So I'd be inclined to say that any registered member, paid or volunteer, is "from" the organization.02br
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00Best wishes, - A.0-

Pter · Answer

0Thank you very much, Avangi, for your detailed explanation! 05000[Y]02br
00"Volunteer fire department"? That sounds so nostalgic to me. It was before I was born that we had volunteer fire fighters in my city.010id1

why is "with" used here rather than "of" or "from"

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