New name for Volunteer Now!

I'm considering a new name for Volunteer Now... because it seems that people instantly (and logically) compare the idea/application to what they know of existing volunteerism. It becomes a mental process of fitting the application into the volunteer ecosystem, which seems to limit, more than help. Because while "doing good in your spare time" seems initially like a form of volunteering, perhaps it's something new - or at least, different. Perhaps shifting the model around the individual, rather than to the entity being helped, makes it something unique. Maybe it's more like a neighborly good deed. Looking at it in this way also opens it up to helping an individual, in addition to an organization. Whereas calling it a 'volunteer' activity instantly leads people to think that organizations are helped, exclusively.

My best name this far is: SpareTimeMachine

What do you think?

Comments

[Bryan]

hi Ben, heard you mention this at the NetSquared meetup on the 8th.

I'm drawing blanks right now for a creative name, but I did want to say that I think you're on the right track with the emphasis on the individual:

"...shifting the model around the individual, rather than to the entity being helped"

If I understood correctly your description of Volunteer Now, it is designed to maximize each individual's skills/experience by matching appropriate change work specifically for them. To me this seems to engender a certain amount of personal pride in the endeavor, such that the work being done is not some generic organizational role that is being filled by me, but a role designed specifically for me in that instant. iow, this is *my* spare time, My Change Time.

[Jacob]

Heard about this from of a question on a SXSW podcast.

As a millennial, I think the word "service" strikes a better tone than "volunteer".

In my ten minutes of brainstorming I came up with "Impulse Serving" as the name of the concept and from that there are a bunch of possible application names.

[ilana]

I like your new name - SpareTimeMachine

We all have only time, money or energy to give. Most people have a lot of spare time and ill admit i spend a good amount on silly stuff (how many times today have i checked my email??) seriously! so yeah us your time wisely - SpareTimeMachine - or it will disapear : )