Dollar Value of a Volunteer Hour

For those of you trying to put a dollar amount to your organization's volunteer labor, you may find this site useful:

http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/volunteer_time.html

Independent Sector seems to be the primary source for these type of data. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is referenced in a note in one of the tables. I gave the BLS a call because I couldn't locate the source information on their website. I'm most comfortable using government statistics when writing a grant. However, the BLS doesn't publish these data and referred me to Independent Sector. So, it all sounds legitimate.

Not surprisingly, the hourly rate for volunteers here in South Dakota is low compared to the nationwide average. Wages are comparatively low here. But the 2007 value of $14.27/hour is still significant if you ask me.

Obama gives $$ to Americorps

VISTAS:

Here are some links that I would post on the blog about Obama siging a bill and giving $$ towards Americorps. How cool is that?

Daniel fowarded some other links to me and I will post them here so all of you can check them out.

Have a fantastic Day!


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090421/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_national_service

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/21/A-Call-to-Service/?loc=interstitialskip

http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1283

http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1301

It's been a great week in Mission... and it's not even Friday yet!

Being a Year-One VISTA, I've had to take heart in the small accomplishments since arriving in Mission in November. I realize I'm still in a stage of laying groundwork for my remaining time here, as well as for those who may follow after I leave. This week, however, has brought a host of tangible results.

We recently hosted a group of first-year Stanford University School of Medicine students for a week. I drafted a press release detailing their time volunteering here on the Habitat job site and down at the IHS hospital in Rosebud. Not only did the Todd County Tribune publish it, but it was on the front page of yesterday's edition!

Today, the March issue of the Sicangu Eyapaha, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe's monthly newspaper, arrived with an article I wrote about our upcoming fundraising run/walk in June. An article dispelling some myths about Habitat should appear in the April issue.

But the biggest news of all is today's word a grant proposal I wrote several months ago will be funded! I'm absolutely thrilled. I had never written a grant proposal before starting at Habitat, so to have it accepted for almost the full amount requested is just awesome. I've since attended grant writing training; between that and the confidence gained from this successful proposal, I'm hoping this is only the first of many grants to come our way.

I've been told by both of my co-workers how happy they are to have me here. They've always praised my work. But it has been a challenge not having something concrete to show for my efforts. So, the articles and especially the grant have provided me with items I can point to and say, "Here's what I did." And it certainly makes it easier to describe my job to folks who may not know much about VISTA!

You are Wonderful!

Hello all South Dakota VISTAs! You are all wonderful and this is very exciting to have this set up. Keep up the great work!

Morgan

Welcome!

Greetings fellow VISTAs... and to the world!

I thought creating and maintaining a blog detailing our time as VISTAs here in South Dakota would be a great way to not only share our experiences with each other, but with future VISTAs as well. Plus, it will give us an opportunity to tell our stories to others in the state and elsewhere who may not be aware of what we're all about.

My inspiration was the blog published by the VISTAs in Indiana. I'm not exactly sure what direction ours will take; however, considering the wide range of our positions and our locations, this site should turn out to be quite eclectic.

VISTAs, please take a look at what I've setup thus far. Shoot me an e-mail with your thoughts and suggestions. After all, this is our blog.