Sample Online Orientation for New Volunteers

Sample Online Orientation for New Volunteers
Author: Jayne Cravens (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

This is the online orientation and volunteer manual was sent via email to people who wanted to volunteer with the Aid Workers Network up until January 2009 (it may have been changed since then). It was created and used by Jayne Cravens when she served as volunteer coordinator for AWN.

Once a volunteer expressed interest in one of the tasks for volunteers that was posted on the AWN web site or on a third party web site, and had provided the requested information in their expression of interest(some assignments required references, for instance), he or she was sent this orientation via email. He or she had to reply to the message as requested at the end of the email in order to be given full details about the assignment so he or she could get started.

The orientation proved a wonderful screening tool! People who really couldn't make the commitment to read and work online dropped out (probably without even finishing the email). Replies to the email also showed how well a candidate understood written directions. It's a lot to read, indeed -- but if someone doesn't want to read much online, would they really be a good online volunteer?

The orientation also served as the volunteer manual, and proved an excellent way to keep expectations clear about things like reporting, and prevent misunderstandings of things like ownership of materials produced by volunteers.

Although this was created for online volunteers, online orientations are something that can be used with *any* volunteers, regardless of where they will provide service (onsite or online).

Attachments

AWN Online Volunteer Orientation.rtf

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