How Will You Handle Rising Fuel Costs?
Jun
10
10
by Penny Kern
This weekend it hit me how much volunteering is going to change because of fuel prices. Twice this past week, I had the opportunity to get involved in statewide volunteering that I would have LOVED to have participated in. Twice I’ve had to turn it down because these opportunities were in Orono–more than 150 miles from my house, one way. At $4.24 a gal for gas and no one to foot the bill but myself, I had to say no. How will your organization face this crisis? Are you, as an organization, ready to help volunteers actually be able to do what you need them to do or can you turn to the Internet and phone calls to make things still work?
Penny Kern is a retired volunteer manager from Aroostook County.
June 10th, 2008 at 7:45 am
This issue has been spoken of frequently in Senior Corps programs, and AmeriCorps members and VISTAs generally are reimbursed for mileage by their placement agency. But at the current prices, that line item in the budget is not going to go very far. All the more reason to become comfortable with virtual meetings. Stay home, use the computer, and the unlimited long distance phone line!
June 11th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I have this same problem in Southern California. I have done two things. One moved money around in my budget to buy gas cards to give to volunteers to help defray the costs of driving. Two I mapped out where all of my volunteers live and targeted who I ask to volunteer for events based on their proximity to the event. I have the luxury of fleet vehicles leased by my organization that I can have volunteers drive, after they have passed our driver’s training and been approved by our insurance company. I have also used car pooling with much sucess. I know SoCal isn’t Maine, but maybe some of these strategies can help.
Best Regards,
Mark
Mark Dust,
Manager, Community Partnerships
Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties
dustma@bbsbrc.org
June 11th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
This will become more and more of a critical issue for non profits across the state and state commissions. It is an example of a kind of “emergency” or “disaster” that all organizations will need to plan and budget for. What is our plan for continuous operation in times of emergency? Not necessarily the tornado or hurricane, but a fuel or energy emergency. Do we have alternative ways to get tasks done if volunteers cannot get to us? Are there groups of volunteers in certain locations that a staff person could travel to to get the task done? What kinds of meetings are actually critical to our mission and to meeting the needs of those we serve? Is there a group (or groups) we should be partnering with that it would be mutually beneficial for our organizations and the impact we want to make in the community? How is it done in other countries where energy costs are much higher than those in the US?
We have seen this crisis coming but really have not done much about it. It is a little late but we still can work on solutions. Perhaps our volunteers will have creative ideas. Perhaps virtual volunteering’s time has arrived.
Dorothy Grannell
June 17th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks for those suggestions, Mark. This is a nationwide issue and every little bit of advice helps. By the way, I’m thrilled to see folks all the way from California commenting on our blog…no gasoline expenses required!
Christy Monroe
Volunteer Maine Training VISTA