Comments on: How Will You Handle Rising Fuel Costs? http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs Maine Conversations about Volunteer Management Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:27:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Christy http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1428 Christy Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:48:43 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1428 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 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

]]> By: Dorothy Grannell http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1402 Dorothy Grannell Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:52:28 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1402 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 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

]]> By: Mark Dust http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1399 Mark Dust Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:38:58 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1399 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 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

]]> By: Anne Schink http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1395 Anne Schink Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:45:16 +0000 http://www.volunteermaine.org/blog/how-will-you-handle-rising-fuel-costs#comment-1395 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! 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!

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