Service Learning Local Volunteer Job Descriptions

Service Learning Local Volunteer Job Descriptions

Service Learning Local Volunteer Job Descriptions

A special local volunteer corps will directly support the Service Learning (SL) activities as the ELCA Youth Gathering participants go out into the community for their day of service with local Partner Organizations. The Service Learning interest areas (IAs) are:

  • Housing Matters
  • Care in Communities
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Food / Food Justice
  • Education
  • Cultural Immersion / Arts

Job Description: SL Interest Area Volunteer Coordinator(6 needed; one for each Interest Area). Contact Susan Batchik directly regarding this role.

  1. Communicate with the IA Coordinator to identify volunteer needs at each site. Potential volunteer needs will include a site captain, skilled labor (construction, environmental or safety assistance, etc.), and when needed, volunteers provided by the Partner Organization and/or the Local Volunteer Corps (LVC) to assist the Site Captain in facilitating the work.
  2. Input volunteer needs into the SL data base program.
  3. Assist with recruiting Site Captains and Skilled Laborand assist them in registering as local volunteers with the Gathering.
  4. Assign Site Captains and Skilled Labor to project sites for each day.
  5. Attend SL team meetings (April 25-26, 2015 and July 13-14, 2015) and SL Local Volunteer team meetings periodically starting early 2015.
  6. Visit SL sites during the Gathering to trouble shoot any problems; attend evening meetings during the Gathering to gather Lessons Learned and coordinate the next day’s activities.

*Meal vouchers, mileage reimbursement and housing provided for the week of the Gathering.

Job Description:SL Logistics / Supply and Safety/Security Team Coordinators(one needed for each of the above teams) Contact Susan Batchik directly regarding these roles.

In addition, there will be two special Volunteer Coordinators to coordinate with the Logistics / Supply Team, and the Safety and Security Team. Duties and time commitment similar to IA Volunteer Coordinators (see above).

*Meal vouchers, mileage reimbursement, and housing provided for the week of the Gathering.

For more info contact Dave Upmeyer (SL Volunteers Coordinator)dave

Service Learning local volunteers must register in both the ELCA Local Volunteers database and the Service Learning database.

Job Description: SL Site Captain(total of 270 needed; one for each daily site)

Among the six interest areas, there could be as many as 780 work sites over the three days of Service Learning. We anticipate having a Site Captain responsible for each site.

  1. Read Partner Project Worksheet to become knowledgeable of the goals and purpose of the work and interactions to be performed by the Gathering Participants.
  2. Email the Partner Organization contact person provided on Partner Project Worksheet the week before event to introduce yourself (script provided).
  3. Attend at least one orientation meeting prior to the Gathering and one planning / site visit on July 14 or 15, 2015.
  4. Day of SL project:
  5. Tour the site early in the morning to ensure that all materials and support facilities are present. Perform or ensure that a Security and Safety sweep has been performed (if applicable).
  6. Assist the Partner Organization, Servant Companion, and Gathering Participants throughout the day to accomplish the mission.
  7. Communicate with any skilled laborassigned to thesite.
  8. Supervise and direct daily volunteers. Provide orientation and direction so that all understand the mission of the day. Identify any additional volunteer needs or volunteers that could be reassigned.
  9. Ensure that work is brought to a stopping point (if multiple day project) and that the site is left in good condition. Ensure that tools, materials, and facilities are secured at the beginning and end of each day.
  10. Report status at the completion of the day to IA Coordinator and the IA Volunteer Coordinator.
  11. Convey any suggestions for improving work procedures to the IA Volunteer Coordinator.
  12. Report any concerns related to relational work to assigned Servant Companion/Servant Companion Captain.
  1. Minimum Time Commitment: One orientation meeting, one planning / site visit on July 14 or 15, 2015, plus 3 full days of Service Learning (July 16-18, 2015)

*Meal vouchers provided. SL Site Captains do not receive housing and will need to provide their own transportation.

For more info contact Dave Upmeyer (SL Volunteers Coordinator)

Service Learning local volunteers must register in both the ELCA Local Volunteers database and the Service Learning database.

Job Description: Skilled Labor(total of 50-60 volunteers needed)

Abilities required: Ability to operate a variety of small power and manual hand tools, Measure and cut lumber and plywood for various tasks. Operation of electrical generators is a plus. Skilled Labor Volunteers may need to use a ladder for some operations and tasks, but roof work will not be required. Other specialty needs, such as environmental or specialty trades, may also be needed.

Supplemental qualities beneficial but not required: The ELCA Gathering will solicit tools necessary for the completion of these projects. However we also greatly appreciate the use of any tools and equipment volunteers in this area are willing to share. Please let us know in advance any tools or equipment you are bringing with you so we can best distribute resources throughout the Gathering.

  1. Skilled labor will be assigned by the IA Volunteer Coordinator. Once assigned, contact the Site Captain to become knowledgeable of the goals and purpose of the work and interactions to be performed by the Gathering Participants. Develop a communication link with the Site Captain.
  2. Attend at least one orientation meeting prior to the Gathering and one planning / site visit on July 14 or 15, 2015.
  3. Attend one or two “ramp up” work days in the weeks leading up to the event (TBD)
  4. Day of SL project:
  5. Check that specialty tools, materials, and facilities are operable and in good condition.
  6. Measure and cut lumber for boarding up houses, fixing fences and other home type projects. Skilled Labor will operate any power tool necessary for completion of the approved project. Unskilled labor for these projects will be provided by Gathering participants.
  7. Work with Gathering participants to accomplish specialty tasks.
  8. Secure any specialty tools, materials and facilities at the end of the day.
  9. Convey any suggestions for improving the work procedures to the Site Captain.
  1. Minimum Time Commitment: One orientation meeting, one or two ramp up work days, one planning / site visit on July 14 or 15, 2015, plus 3 days of Service Learning (July 16-18, 2015)

*Meal vouchers provided. SL Skilled Laborers do not receive housing and will need to provide their own transportation.

For more info contact Dave Upmeyer (SL Volunteers Coordinator)

Service Learning local volunteers must register in both the ELCA Local Volunteers database and the Service Learning database.

Job description:Safety and Security Team (total of 4-5 needed)

Purpose: To provide a sustainable and workable environment for all Gathering participants, staff, or volunteers at each available and assigned project site.

1..Be a conduit of communication between the Service Learning Team leaders and the Safety and Security Specialist.

2..Determine the criteria for the three safety levels of risk to be assigned to each project.

  1. No risk: sorting, listening, day camp experience, etc.
  2. Low risk: gardening, clean-up, painting, building, prepping, demo, etc.
  3. High risk: working on busy street, climbing ladders, power tools, etc.

3..Determine the criteria for the four Project Ratings to be assigned to each project.

  1. Wonderful- Let’s do it!
  2. Good- Can we do anything to make it better?
  3. Fair- Needs improvements for consideration but keep on the list
  4. Sorry- No way!

4. Be in contact with IAProject Coordinators about their potential projects.

a.What are the expectations of participant workers?

b.What tools are to be used?

c.How will refuse, trash, brush and disposables be handled?

5. Make physical on site visits with the Safety and Security team to determine a project’s suitability.

a.Bathrooms- Must have a bathroom/portable bathroom onsite or within a reasonable and safely traveled distance from the site.

b.Water Source- Running water to re-fill water bottles must be onsite or within a reasonable and safely traveled distance from the site. This includes a hose, tap water, or Igloo type jugs of water.

c.Onsite Director- each site must have a member of the partner organization onsite. IA Project Coordinators will keep a record of Site Directors and their contact information.

  1. Document the site visit and report any potential problems or oversights.
  2. Communicate the Safety level and the Project Rating of each project to the responsible IA Project Coordinator, adding information and suggestions as necessary.

Minimum Time Commitment: Attend SL Safety and Security team meetings (3-4), evaluation and site visits as needed (March-May), one Orientation meeting day before event, 3 days of support for Service Learning projects (July 16-18)

*Safety and Security team members are eligible for expense report reimbursement for mileage and meals. Meal vouchers and housing provided week of Gathering.

For more info contact Safety and Security Specialist, Pastor Hank Flatt-