TOTJO Volunteer Corp

The charity commission has sparked a number of discussions about what we DO as a group that is of public benefit and Ive seen more that one person express an interest in doing volunteer work as Jedi.

In chat we talked about the idea of a volunteer corp, people willing to do volunteer hours or community service as a recognized member of the Temple.

Thoughts?

I believe if we'd like to be recognized as being charitable (which basically is at the core of our belief system - in which way is up for debate, of course), we should do so publicly. I really support that idea.

I think its a great idea. On one hand you are benefitting the community and on the other raising the profile of Totjo as a charity.
Volunteering helps yourself as well as helping others and showing that this is not just a website and we are actively doing what we believe.
You may not even have to explain to anyone what Totjo is just state that your giving back, as totjo has given to you.
In time, energy

I agree. Most organizations, charitable or religious, have people willing to volunteer, to do things in their communities. I think that it will go a long way to showing that not only are the people here serious about what they practice, the organization itself is attempting to do some good with what resources it has. Which is literally pretty much, just people right now.

I think it's a fantastic idea. It will also be interesting to see how lone Jedi (meaning, they are the only one in their part of the world) tend to contribute. Would love to see a running thread with all the contributions to community by Jedi from around the world.

Great idea !

Jedi Druid wrote: I think it's a fantastic idea. It will also be interesting to see how lone Jedi (meaning, they are the only one in their part of the world) tend to contribute. Would love to see a running thread with all the contributions to community by Jedi from around the world.

Which raises a good point - it's much easier to appear in public if you're in a group. Takes a lot of guts to do so on your own. I think it'd be essential to have some coordinated approach to this if we want to be seen as TotJO and not "just" as individuals doing charitable work (nothing at all against the latter, of course)

Well, that's not too hard to work out. And could give us a good reason to encourage more contact between local groups.

For example, earlier this year one of our Texan Jedi posted that he was doing a charity fun run and was looking for participants. It was very last minute when he shared it so I wasn't able to be there, but if I had known a couple days in advance I would have taken my whole family and done it with him.

Simple things like identifying something that's going on in your area and letting the Jedi nearest you know could be a great way to start.


But even individuals make an impact. If you're volunteering somewhere, wear your TOTJO patch (I know a great Jedi who makes them!) Get a couple pictures, share it with the temple.

Start as you are.

When I volunteer with the bank I work for they have me wear a shirt that says that I'm a volunteer and that I'm with the bank. Obviously being a bank it's better funded, but if the point is to draw attention to the fact that it's TOTJO Jedi volunteering that would be a route to take. There needs to be something that identifies the volunteers as coming from TOTJO, otherwise it's no different than how things are now.

Goken wrote: When I volunteer with the bank I work for they have me wear a shirt that says that I'm a volunteer and that I'm with the bank. Obviously being a bank it's better funded, but if the point is to draw attention to the fact that it's TOTJO Jedi volunteering that would be a route to take. There needs to be something that identifies the volunteers as coming from TOTJO, otherwise it's no different than how things are now.

The easiest way of identifying us in person is T-Shirts.