The Dharma Center is supported by the talent and generosity of dozens of volunteers. Volunteering is a beautiful way to support the dharma in Durango and deepen your own practice through service. We welcome those who have attended sits, classes, and/or retreats at the center to join our vibrant community of volunteers.
Volunteers serve through countless tasks, including cleaning, greeting, organizing books in the library, taking care of the facility, writing thank-you notes, carpentry, maintaining the website, arranging flowers, managing retreats and programs, bookkeeping, organizing events, photography, social media, publicity, graphic design, distributing flyers, and many other activities. Offerings of specific skills are very much welcome. Many volunteer hours are flexible and often only involve a once-a-month or sporadic commitment.
Please see below for some of the perennial volunteer roles at the Dharma Center. We welcome anyone to contribute skills that aren’t listed. If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to our program manager at .
We invite you to click on the headings below to view a selection of volunteer roles with additional information about tasks and time commitment.
Programs and Events
Monday Night Dharma Talk Greeter
Role: Welcome attendees, answer questions and help orient those who are new to the Center, collect dana, turn off lights and lock door after the event.
Time commitment: You may volunteer as many or as few times per year as you prefer; ~2 hours per shift.
Program Service Leader
Role: Oversee operations at DDC events: communicate with volunteer team prior to event, open/close and set up the Center on the day of the program, record attendance, register walk-ins, manage microphone (if needed), collect dana.
Time commitment: Volunteer for as many events per year as you prefer.
Email with volunteer team and teacher prior to event.
Arrival 45–60 min prior to event; duration of event and ~30 min to close.
Program Greeter
Role: Welcome participants, answer questions and help orient those who are new to the Center, assist Service Leader(s) as needed.
Time commitment: Volunteer for as many events per year as you prefer.
Respond to emails from Service Leader prior to event.
Arrive 30–45 min prior to event; duration of event and ~30 min to close.
Zoom Host (open to a remote volunteer)
Role: Prep teacher and settings for Zoom meeting. During the meeting: start meeting, assign co-hosts, monitor and respond to chat, spotlight (as needed), manage mute and breakout rooms (if needed), end meeting.
Time commitment: Volunteer for as many events per year as you prefer.
Respond to email communication from Service Leader prior to event.
Communicate with Teacher via email prior to event.
Arrival 15–30 min prior to event; duration of event.
Registrar (open to a remote volunteer)
Role: Assist with daylong retreats, classes and other events by remotely answering participant questions, monitoring the online registration system, and preparing rosters for teachers. The registrar serves as the main communication channel for all event registrants.
Time commitment: Volunteer for as many events per year as you prefer.
Answer participant questions via email and monitor online system during registration period.
Prepare participant roster and share with teacher.
Facilities, Clean Team
Clean Team
Role: Ensure a clean environment at the Center with weekly and monthly tasks (clean floors and bathrooms, sanitize kitchen, launder zabutons & zafus).
Time commitment: Generally once a month, at a time when the Meditation Hall is free; duties typically 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Facilities
Role: Light facilities maintenance (change filters, check systems, minor repairs) and coordinate with a sangha member or tradesperson as needed.
Time commitment: Sporadic; biweekly check-ins plus occasional in-Center time to complete tasks.
Thermostat Steward
Role: Make seasonal thermostat adjustments: set seasonal temperatures, turn AC on in spring/off in fall, update schedules for new offerings, adjust times as needed, replace batteries when needed.
Time commitment: 20–30 minutes twice a month to check/adjust programs, plus two quick monthly checks.
ADU Cleaner
Role: Keep the donated Accessory Dwelling Unit tidy for visiting teachers (light cleaning, trash/recycling, run dishwasher, launder sheets/towels, make the bed; in-unit washer/dryer available).
Time commitment: Volunteer as often as you prefer; ~2 hours per shift.
Flowers
Role: Purchase flowers within budget and create arrangements for the meditation hall and around the Center.
Time commitment: No special skills required; each volunteer typically covers about one week per month.
Gratitude Committee
Gratitude Committee
Role: Send thank-you greetings to sangha members who donate to the Center via email or postal mail.
Time commitment: 1–2 hours per month, except 1–2 hours per week during end-of-year giving season (~Nov–Dec).
Flyer Distribution
Flyer Distribution
Role: Hang flyers at community locations across the region served by DDC.
Time commitment: Volunteer as often as you prefer; timing at your discretion.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
-Rabindranath Tagore
