Start it Right in 2015

Resolving to stay on track in 2015!

I’ve done it! Made my New Year’s Resolution! I will admit it was made and as soon as I told someone what my resolution was their eyes seemed to roll in disbelief. Okay, confession time from me. I am the world’s worst [a lot of you would not argue with me at all on that point] on recording my hours in the Master Naturalist Volunteer Management System. I don’t know why. It is just another system to sign in to, try to remember and enter a password and then spend time trying to find what project I want to record. Simple and quick, eh? Not for me. It is much easier just putting what I am doing in my phone and how long I spent on it and go to the next thing. No sign in, no incorrect password and no looking for a project. All works fine until I get to the end of the year and I realize I now have to spend all this panic time entering all the information into the system anyway, going from phone calendar to the VMS. Ah, we have met the enemy and it is me! So, my resolution is to record my hours in the Volunteer Management System as soon as I have done them.

I expect the projection of our Naturalists who enter their time is going to follow the time honored, and proven, Bell Curve. There will be those who enter their time immediately, those that do it on a regular basis [but not immediately after their project] will be in the largest majority and then there are those of you, like me, who do it in this panic mode. No more crunch time for me. It is now under control, at least according to my resolution. Only time will show if I follow this practice of immediately recording time or I slip back to my former routine.

If you are one of those who immediately or one that records on a regular basis, you are to be commended. If you are like me, I hope you will join me in making a resolution that you will try to record your time on a timely basis. It is going to help you save grief and time for yourself and I can truly tell you it will make life easier for the people trying to do the Chapter’s Annual Report. Start it right in 2015 and you will be really glad you did.

If you don’t already have plans, you can start your volunteer hours this month with work on the Focus Project for 2015. Sandy Greene has information about the meeting on January 29.

I hope that each of you have a Happy and Healthy New Year of 2015. And, thank you for all you do to improve and preserve our natural world.