def contributionStatus(self):
        """gets the contribution status of a user"""
        import time
        url = "%s/contributors/%s/activeContribution" % (self.root, quote(self.contributorUID))
        params = {
            "agolUserToken" : self._agolSH.token,
            "f" : "json"
        }
        res = self._get(url=url,
                         param_dict=params,
                         proxy_url=self._proxy_url,
                         proxy_port=self._proxy_port)
        if'Status' in res and \
          res['Status'] == 'start':
            return True
        return False
gets the contribution status of a user