Organizing Workdays
Whether your community requires or expects regular work contributions from residents or you have occasional projects or tasks that need the help of residents, well organized workdays can work wonderfully. Many residents will show up for workdays who will not otherwise volunteer because it requires less initiative and no planning on their part. Participation can be more spontaneous and require no ongoing responsibility. Workdays are also stress free and provide an opportunity to catch up with neighbors with whom one may not have a social relationship.
In communities with work expectations, workdays are scheduled monthly or bi-monthly for 4-6 hours. Lunch is usually served providing more opportunities for socializing and as a reward for participating. Lunches vary from simple sandwiches to more elaborate "home cooked" meals.
1. A team or resident prepares a list of tasks. If workdays are scheduled regularly, this will be an ongoing list with other teams and residents referring tasks.
Good workday tasks include small tasks like fixing a hinge or changing a light bulb; projects that require several people and are hard to schedule otherwise; and more specialized or large jobs that need supervision or instruction and several workers.
It may help if tasks can be arranged in categories -- indoors, outdoors, priority, etc. Some residents will prefer to work indoors or outdoors. Some to focus on high priority items. Some on a project with both a supervisor and other workers. Jobs are chosen according to preference.
2. Arrange for coffee or lunch, if served. Lunch can be simple or more elaborate. If the workday is a morning, coffee and pastries may be served before or lunch afterwards. If the workday is more than 6 hours, serving lunch keeps everyone onsite. Otherwise they wander off.
3. If there are children in the community, parents will be more likely to participate if childcare is available. And providing childcare is more inclusive. Older children can participate, usually for part of the day. Smaller children can participate as well but often require so much supervision that more than half an hour is probably sufficient for them to get a feeling of accomplishment. For older children, a resident may want to arrange a field trip to a movie or the zoo after 2 hours or so.
4. A job broker in a central location keeps the list for workers to choose jobs. The broker will need to be able to explain some of the jobs and where to find tools and supplies, if necessary. Residents may also add jobs to the list that they know need doing and may have been forgotten or not noticed.
5. Team leaders or other knowledgeable people need to be available to answer questions and provide advice. Unless the job broker is familiar with most of the jobs being done, it is helpful to have an expert around to provide information and make decisions when necessary. Frustrated workers will be less likely to return for the next workday.
6. As soon as possible after workday, the list of jobs completed should be posted on the bulletin board and to the community email list. This produces praise and satisfaction for the workers, and encourages others to participate on the next workday.
Above all, encourage everyone to relax and work only as hard as they comfortably can. They are volunteers using their day off to serve the community. A job well done is rewarding but a bit more will be appreciated.
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