In October of 2002 I logged in over 70 hours, most of it was at school. That is the most I'd ever logged. Our top volunteers log in around 60 per month.
At our school ALL visitors must sign in, the new log in sheets list "reason." That made it much easier to count the volunteer hours that are turned in at the end of the year.
As with all major volunteers I spend way too much time at the school. I figure I'm there every day almost. And you know how it is - even if you're going in there with the plan to run in and out...never happens.
Our school district and our Superintendent did an awesome thing this year for visitors and volunteers. We have a computer system being put in place at our receptionist desk(at the front doors of the school) and each person entering the school has to swipe their Drivers License - this not only will check their record(sex offense, criminal record, custody rights, etc) it will also log in volunteer hours(have to swipe to leave also). The computer will then print out a sticker of the license(each of our visitors and volunteers) have to have on a badge to enter into the building. Our volunteers also will be able to log into the computer system from home to log in their hours of work they complete at home or on the road.
We really want to make sure that those who volunteer all the time get recognized.
Part of signing on for PTA/PTO in any capacity involves mega hours spent at school. I only wish so much more of that time could be spent with the kids...and not always the parents!!! Kidding!
Last year(we've only been open 3 years now) we had log-in sheets with each volunteer - to keep track of hours. And then our volunteer coordinator would log all the hours in for council to keep track of.
At the school we were at last year, there was a book in the media center/library to sign in for hours. I was never on campus doing sutff, but did stuff from home, so I would guestimate and sign in once a month at the PTO meeting. I am not sure about the school were are at this year.
We are supposed to keep track of all volunteer activity, whether it is at school or at home and no matter how meaningless. Then at the end of each month, our Vol. Coord. sends it in to the Ad. building. I think we get some kind of benefits for it, you might ask your principal.
As for how many hours, I used to do over 100 a month, but now I'm down to about 40.
I am supposed to sign in every time I go to the school to help, but I usually get sidetracked before I get to it. I figure, already this month, I have been on site about 30 hours. That's not counting the time I spent making deposits and running other errands or balancing the checkbook or putting together fliers. Just curious, how much time do you spend at your school?
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
