How would you break down volunteer hours?

Has yours shifted over the years?  My sense that both hours & focus shift based on one's life situation (ie  parent with kids in junior school / hockey versus empty nester)

Are you happy with your allocation?  Do you ever do a summary of your hours, and review it, like you do your donations?

That is an interesting question. I will have to think about it a bit.

I do feel it ebbs and flows a bit. I am currently the chair of the board of our church. That currently means basically the board meetings and a bit extra. Not much. In the spring it meant tons of hours.....some of that also crept into my work time, my sleep time and whenever it could weasle its way into my life, in the form of worry, fretting, stewing whatever. I had to step back and when other opportunities to volunteer arose, I stepped back. I needed a break. So, I guess I did review it and regrouped.

If your organization applies for grants, often the group will/should put a value to the volunteer hours that are being utilized by the organization.  Therefore proper tracking is essential (and illuminating)...cms

Do you think that when you are involved - you are involved. But when you step back from something, every thing quits. What is your experience?

  My volunteer time has definately shifted over the years.  In some years the hours I spent volunteering for different things has equaled a full time job and in some years, like now I'm doing very little. What I'm involved in now are a couple of events that take place at particular points of the year instead of an on going weekly commitment.   In lieu of actual time I have upped my material donations to different organizations and events. 

As a general rule I follow a loose 10% calculation as a minimum whether it's time or money or some combination of both.   At many times it's way more the 10% but I try to at least not fall under that level.  It's just a personal bar I set and find that thinking about it in this way helps to keep me from becoming completely self absorbed.

Heh folks, I am away this weekend, and so, am unsure how much time I will have on line.

There are some excellent questions.

1.  cjms hadn't thought about tracking it for when we do analysis, especially for grants

2.  good comment re ..what happpens if it is a solo project...is that a good thing?

Pinga - what I find hard to distinguish is how much time is volunteer time and how much time I spend on an activity or group simply because I enjoy it. 

I bowl with a group of seniors.  Some are quite elderly or have health problems.  My helping to support the group with my presence, score keeping, paying my fees, reminding people when it is their turn to bowl, helping them to find their balls, etc. was simply part of being a member of the group - but for some of these people it was their only social outlet for the week.  Three years ago the president resigned and the group asked me to take over.  Now I spend several hours a week on administration, as well as regularly attending both the Monday and the Friday games, making the announcements, trouble shooting, etc.   While I'm still enjoying the comradeship and the exercise of bowling, much of my time is volunteer work.

Likewise - years ago when my granddaughter was little I started a play group - mainly for her benefit.  I found that other children and their parents or caretakers enjoyed it and benefited from it.  I no longer have a grandchild in that age group but I go down, unlock the door, set up the room, greet the participants, socialize, then help with clean-up and lock-up.  Recently I organized the adults and spent the morning washing all the toys.  That's volunteer work - but it started for my benefit and that of my granddaughter.

Right now I''m heavily involved in a Christmas drama at my church.  I'm enjoying it.  I love the role I will be playing.  But it also requires me to be at rehearsals several nights a week, soon to be increased to every night of the week before the weekend performances.  Also I have a long part to memorize.  That's volunteer work.

Attending meetings - volunteer work.

Visiting people on my list as a visiting elder - volunteer work.

Participating in the book club - mainly social, but occasionally I'm asked to lead the discussion.

I once was surprised when a minister listed attending a social evening at the church where we played table games and shared a lunch as work.  I thought that he was there because he enjoyed our company and playing cards.