Reports … Check!

Most members of GFWC probably don’t talk openly about the dread of reporting season, but you can bet they all feel a slight sense of anxiety every January.

That’s because clubs near and far are asked to compile an entire year’s worth of volunteer hours, amounts spent by the club or donated by their members, mileage incurred, and countless details about projects completed sometime ago in foggy, volunteer-weary memories.

I don’t care how well-intentioned your year starts out, trying to remember to jot down how long it took you to drive to the nursing home and deliver those socks… You can bet by October, all that has meticulousness gone out the window. And around January 10th, you’ll be scrolling through old text messages to find that one where you told your husband you were on your way home after burning who-knows-how-many hours listening to an old man’s stories from ‘the good old days.’

… around January 10th, you’ll be scrolling through old text messages to find that one where you told your husband you were on your way home after burning who-knows-how-many hours listening to an old man’s stories from ‘the good old days.’

JoBeth Wampler

When the dust settles, you’ll look back on all those hours and dollar figures and want to cry – thankful not only to have been blessed with the ability to do so much in your communities, but also to have the blasted job done!

Reporting realities

The truth is, though, that reporting is more beneficial than you realize. When campaigning for domestic violence programs, for instance, our GFWC representatives can reference our statistics – demonstrating the strength of the organization’s resolve. A governing official is sure to sit up and take notice of the gal speaking for a collective force of hundreds of thousands of volunteers.

While reporting might be a bit of a pain, I would argue it’s one of the most important things we do as clubwomen, aside from our work in the trenches. And boy, oh boy, do we work those trenches!

Club statistics show 1,000+ volunteer hours for Grundy club in 2018

I’m unbelievably appreciative for our chairmen and volunteers. Even new chairmen – those who’ve never reported before – took on the task of completing narrative and statistic forms. And nearly a whole week before the postmark deadline, we’re finished!

In 2018, you completed 72 community service projects, logging more than 1,000 volunteer hours and donating more than $4,500. With 45 members in 2018, those are some pretty amazing numbers.

Challenge for 2019

As we look forward to 2019, I’d like to challenge our members and our community. Are there any projects you’d like to see in Buchanan County, Virginia or our surrounding region of Southwest Virginia? Do you see a need we aren’t currently working to fulfill? Reach out to us today to find out if your vision for our region is something we can help become reality.