I left in 1988 and returned in 1998 when the voluntary donation arrangement had come into effect. I ALWAYS kept the donation. I had to drive all over the place, first to get to the KH for FS meeting, then, to get to the territory which was a distance from the KH.
I figured that was my gas money. However, I contributed to the KH fund. NEVER to the WWW. Our Hall kept a surplus on hand to send to the Society anyway.
Looking back, I never even suggested a donation. The householders felt sorry for me, I guess, because they used to give me a generous contribution.
Snowbird