When I look at the closed ticket, I can't see the comment I made (with the answer). Why are the comments not viewable in the closed twicket? What's the best way to see the response you gave?

Michael: That's a good thing to know. At least the situation can be corrected if the location needs to remain confidential. Thanks for the link.

For what its worth: I love the ideas about rewarding volunteers for 'checking in' as volunteers a certain number of times, but wish it could be disassociated from the idea of reporting the location itself (with its address and geography).

On the other hand, rewards associated with 'checking in' run the risk of all other kinds of 'unverified volunteerism" -- People claim they have volunteered (to fulfill school requirements for example), but really haven't done the service. So we don't want to over-reward people (like offering free Disneyland tickets -- unless an outside party verifies the service).

But a 'volunteer achievement badge" or something like that -- carries pride, and isn't something someone would try to earn unfairly. So I can see where it could work!

A lot of people who volunteer through HandsOn Action Centers, are spontaneous, one-time volunteers. They may get training onsite when they arrive for the first time - but might check-in when they first arrive, before they've had any real training.

I'm not sure that this is necessarily a good idea. Here's why. A number of non-profits that work with volunteer centers ask that their locations be kept unpublished for safety reasons. Example: A battered women's shelter. A 'safe house' for runaway teens.

Addresses are given privately to volunteers via one-on-one emails or phone, and never published on a volunteer center's website.

An unwitting volunteer however, who 'checks in' for volunteering at the shelter -- has now made a public record of the location of the nonprofit organization. It's unlikely that nonprofits are going to know that volunteers with mobile phones are publishing their address -- and yet they are.

Another issue is that nonprofits do not want volunteer just 'showing up' without arranging to be there. It's not like telling friends you're at a bar or public place -- so if you're the neighborhood drop in and see me. Not all volunteerism is open to anyone who might want to 'drop in' because you're there!

I know people like to 'share' that they are doing good -- but do they REALLY need to also share what might be confidential information? Giving geographic information about where you are doing service, might cause as much harm as good.

HHandsOn Nashville is doing this right! They have not only leveraged their existing HandsOn Technology to effectively handle the disaster situation -- but made the appropriate partnerships to give a consistent message to volunteers on HOW and WHERE to get engaged. They have prepared themselves with a process, partnerships, and used the tools they have to produce amazing response and engagement.

My hat is off to all the hard-working folks at HandsOn Nashville -- (and my heart is with them too as they recover from this devastating flood).

Since the interactivity doesn't happen until AFTER you've put in money, its obviously NOT the interactivity that is spurring people to donate.

I think its more likely that people who've heard that the poster is interactive are putting in some change to 'see it perform'. Not unlike putting a nickel in the slot to make the rooster play the piano in one of those little 'entertainments' at the state fair.

No doubt about it... foursquare is the HOT new social app. Personally, the dangers inherent with people being able to geo-spot you concern me -- but I see the attraction that is inherent in earning 'badges' and 'premiums'. The question is: who in the service movement is able to offer these premiums? Maybe that's the next "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day." -type promotion.

I think rewarding consistent participation is a powerful idea. (Much more so than unlock once to achieve).

Of course, volunteer service isn't necessarily always at the same location (even the same 0pportunity might take place at different locales). And so you need to think of how you track service itself, as opposed to simply - being in a specific place.

The Mayor of "salvation army" might be an employee there -- not a volunteer.

SO..So how does one begin the mayor of a virtual place like the HandsOn Blog? I'm game!