"Where Can I Help?"    

If you could list the top sounds to be described by the Chief Mate, as "music to my ears," I'll bet my marlinspike that among the top five would be a Volunteer voicing that phrase.  Aboard a traditionally-rigged Sailing Vessel, particularly a wooden one, there never seems to be sufficient hands to get ahead of all the projects that need action.   So when that welcome question sounds in the Mate's ears, he/she wastes no time in putting those new hands to a purpose.  
But the process isn't that simple.  Volunteers, realistically work and live a schedule often at odds with the crew's schedule, and the face-to-face coordination of projects among crew, and volunteers is hardly clean.  The Chief Mate has a simple solution.

                The " Punch List" has the Answer.

It's a "To-Do" list; a standing line-item description of projects, large and small, in no particular order of importance,.  Any Volunteer may pull it off the shelf  over the Salon table, review the list, in the absence of the Mate or a paid crew member, select a task, and start contributing.  

Kevel Cleat ; gauged and worn, but doing its job

A "Punch List" Sampler
➤ Scrape/Sand to Wood and Linseed Oil the Starboard Kevels
➤Restore Hand tools in the Tool Locker
➤ Scrape/Sand and re-varnish the Topmast
➤ Waterproof-treat the Jib, Main and Foresail canvas covers
➤Inventory the Foul weather jackets
➤ Troubleshoot the Trash pump
➤Replace/ eye-splice the  port side-aft life ring's polypropelene beacon tether.

The Chief Mate, or Volunteer Coordinator periodically reviews and updates the Punch list to keep it current.  A second column for comments, enables hands to communicate status, or issues,to other crew/volunteers who will take the hand-off and continue the work.  The Punch List should be secured inside the binder cover of the Volunteer Log.  Be sure to pull it out and give it the once-over while you are entering your own Volunteer hours in the Log.