srysn, that laptop idea sounds awesome! any idea what kind of software it uses? We probably have a spare computer at school that could be used for just such a purpose....
Tracking volunteer ours via computer: Last year our school moved to a computerized volunteer tracking system. It's great!
There is a lap top in the front office of the school. When we come in, you type in your name (after you have done this once it retains a list of names), then you click on the category of volunteer work, such as library, lunch room, classroom help, etc. It prints a badge with your name and notes the time you log in. When you leave, you stop by and log out. It tracks all of the hours.
This has been the best invention and time saver. The bonus benefit is we all tend to underestimate the time we spend, or even forget to record it. This system has shows we volunteer more than ever thought. The only down side is we do not have access to the system for volunteers working beyond 5pm or event nights. We still have to request people to keep track of the hours at home, but I would still highly recommend this type of system if you have daytime volunteers.
BTW- visitors also use the same computer. It prints badge for them and tracks there time at the school as well. The school system put this in, not the PTO.
Our starting teahcers earn less than the $17 per hour that 'volunteers work' seems to be worth by that account. No PTOAers volunteer work is worth more than a teachers time, no matter what the $$ amount is that the work brings in to the school.
Anyway, this is a discussion for a PTO after hours event. I wont give it further thought here.
I DO hope the IRS doesnt come and start charging us volunteers income tax on our virtual income at the rate of $17/hr (ie for those schools that track volunteer hours -- watch out)!! LOL
a ok it isn't what the volunteer is worth it is the value on the work they are doing, example if someone is doing fundraising work the value would be put on the sorting, counting and tabulating the orders, accounting(Banking and financial planning)
A block party could be planning, publicity, organizing, catering and cleaning up. hopes this puts the perspective on it better. Like a caterer how much do they make a hour...that is where the value comes in.
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
Three quarters of our parents work for money at minimum wage, which is much less than waht someone thinks a volunteers time is worth. Soemthing aint right in fair America.
