Hi folks.
I haven't posted much this year and this post is not really about roses, but here goes.

I've been tending a rose garden that I created 23 years ago in a NYC public park.
I planned and started it in the summer before 9/11 rocked NYC.

I have worked alone and sometimes with a brigade of about 4 other volunteers.
Right now we have four volunteers (myself included).

The Parks Department of NYC is about as bureaucratic as can be, but they tend to stay out of my life since I either buy stuff on my own or get it by writing grants. (an early grant was to have water brought over to my area...three taps and municipal water is turned on as soon as it's safe and turned off in the late fall.)

Just recently the supervisor of the park, with whom I have little contact, came to me and asked how many hours each of the volunteers work in a summer week. I gave him a number in the low 40s that seemed right to me. Nothing happened for several weeks and then he sent me a link to a spreadsheet that he had crafted to track volunteer time in the park. He told me to fill it out monthly.
I said I would try to give him numbers, but was reluctant to fill out his spreadsheet.

Things were left like that, but I'm thinking that I don't want to be responsible for counting hours of
busy New Yorkers who love to work in gardens in their spare time. I also resent being asked for hours that I am giving because I love roses.

I'm thinking of just ignoring the issue totally, but I know that he will ask me again.
Any ideas?

It's possible it would be to your benefit if the number of hours are "impressive." Where city funds are concerned, it could be that more resources are directed to parks where volunteers spend more time, because it shows the community is involved and actively cares. Where future grant resources are concerned, having this kind of data on hand might help you strengthen your proposals and demonstrate to potential funders that philanthropic funds directed to your garden are matched in-kind by impressive volunteer resources.

I take your point, Mike.
We haven't relied on any grant funding in years.
But, you never know.

I volunteer at a Veterans Administration facility. I'm sure it is a bureaucracy even vaster than the vast NYC Parks Dept.
They ask that I report my volunteer hours monthly.
I report my volunteer hours monthly.
As does every other VA volunteer throughout the whole system.
It's really not that big of a deal, a very small annoyance compared to the enjoyment I get from being there.
Pick your battles.

David, is that you (BigAppleRoseGuy)? We haven't heard from you for about a year. You've been missed.

MsDoe said: I volunteer at a Veterans Administration facility. I'm sure it is a bureaucracy even vaster than the vast NYC Parks Dept.
They ask that I report my volunteer hours monthly.
I report my volunteer hours monthly.
As does every other VA volunteer throughout the whole system.
It's really not that big of a deal, a very small annoyance compared to the enjoyment I get from being there.
Pick your battles.

Can you have your volunteers write down their own hours and give them to you so you don't have to keep track of theirs? I think what you're doing is wonderful.

It's me, Zuzu. Life has a way of intervening, but I'm here. It's been a season of fantastic growth in the garden, followed by pelting rain.

Ms. Doe. That puts it in a different perspective. Thanks.

David, I thought that might be you, with a changed user name. Not that many folks here tend a rose garden in the heart of New York City, but we all know that you do! Please share the location of your garden so I can visit it some time. My office is in the financial district, however I often work from home. But next time I'm in the city, maybe I can manage to visit your garden if it's in Manhattan.

Welcome back, David! I thought the mention of growing roses in New York sounded familiar. I'm glad you're still here.

Hi Mike and Porkpal.
I didn't realize my username had changed. I like Big Apple Rose Guy better than Tillyer.

My garden is at the corner of 54th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan. It's the northeast corner of Dewitt Clinton Park. I started it the summer before 9/11. It's not just me; I've got a rolling cast of 3 or 4 volunteers. We have a great time.

Your user name didn't change, you just signed up with a new account. If you forgot your password for @BigAppleRoseGuy you can use the contact link at the bottom to have a clickable link sent to you.

I like the name Big Apple Rose Guy, it's unforgettable!