The goal of this program is to build a corps of volunteers who can help agencies coordinate short and long term events and assist with key aspects of volunteer management during a disaster, including operating a volunteer reception center, placing spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers, and inter-agency coordination. This program is being developed in response to repeated requests from agency partners who have few paid staff and do not have the resources to effectively coordinate volunteers internally. The new corps of Volunteer Coordinators would:
- Communicate with partner organizations about their services, volunteer needs, timelines and resources available
- Help recruit volunteers (with support from UlsterCorps & Agency Partners)
- Attend planning meetings and help identify tasks, volunteer descriptions, knowledge, and skills needed
- Speak with past event coordinators regarding lessons learned
- Respond to inquiries from volunteers and project partners & assign volunteers to specific appropriate tasks & shifts
- Communicate the details (ex. tasks and timetables) to the volunteers
- Orient volunteers and communicate timeline for the event
- Manage volunteers and tasks and make any needed adjustments volunteers and tasks and make any needed adjustments
- Oversee event setup & cleanup
Please note that as a member of this team, it is up to you which event you commit to coordinating based on your interests, availability and skillset – you can always say NO! There is also the possibility of working as a co-coordinator with another volunteer. If you are interested in joining this team or learning more, please contact volunteer@ulstercorps.org or call 845-481-0331.
