Retired & Senior Volunteer Program. Volunteer Handbook

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1 Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Volunteer Handbook RSVP is a program of the National Senior Service Corps, a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Locally sponsored by the American Red Cross Carolina Lowcountry Chapter

2 Dear Volunteer, On behalf of the RSVP staff and our local sponsor, the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter of the American Red Cross, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Carolina Lowcountry Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). We at RSVP stand ready to provide you with any assistance you might need as you begin your adventure in Volunteerism. This Handbook is a guide in helping you to understand what RSVP does and how you can help. There exists today, perhaps more than ever before, a tremendous need for volunteers in many of the non-profit community agencies throughout the nation, and especially in our own community. Volunteers are needed to share their experience, time, and expertise with others. Together we can work to build a better life for many in our community. Through your contribution of time and talent, you are sharing the most valuable gift of all YOURSELF! We hope you will take the time to read this Handbook and feel free to openly share any hesitations or concerns with us so that we can respond to you in a helpful manner. WHAT IS RSVP? Welcome! RSVP is an invitation to serve. It is a national program designed to provide opportunities for persons 55 and older who want to continue to remain actively involved in the life of their community. The aim is to develop specific volunteer opportunities that utilize the particular skills and interests of each individual volunteer with an eye to what needs to get done in our community. Depending upon the area in which you live and where you choose to serve, a volunteer coordinator is available to help you get started and to ensure complete satisfaction with your assignment. If any changes are needed to help you become more comfortable or to enable you to upgrade your volunteer work allowing for greater personal growth, your coordinator can assist you with this also. 2

3 WHO CAN JOIN RSVP? Anyone with a desire to get involved in service to their community is eligible to be an RSVP volunteer, as long as they are at least 55 years of age or older. There are no educational, income or experience requirements. Volunteers can be any race, creed, nationality, or political affiliation. There are NO dues or membership fees, and no meetings to attend. WHAT RSVP OFFERS YOU. Help setting up a personal interview with the volunteer station of your choice. On going follow-up and support by your coordinator. Three types of supplemental insurance while you volunteer: personal injury, personal liability, excess automobile. (Note: These are an added bonus as it is free to you as an RSVP volunteer.) $2,500 life insurance policy if something should happen to you on your way to, during, or returning from your volunteer assignment. Invitation to an Annual recognition event. Social interaction and a chance to meet new people. An opportunity to learn new skills. Bi-monthly newsletter. Referral information. A myriad of volunteer opportunities, many on a one-time only basis. Flexibility to change your volunteer assignment whenever you want. IMPORTANT NOTICE RELATIVE TO INSURANCE COVERAGE. In order to minimize risks associated with volunteering, all nonprofit agencies that utilize RSVP volunteers have signed an agreement to be an RSVP station. These agreements are kept on file in our office and updated every three years. 3

4 While volunteering at these designated stations, your RSVP insurance is in effect. At times, you may want to take on additional work aside from your RSVP work. Under these circumstances you will not be covered by RSVP insurance. WHAT IS A VOLUNTEER STATION? Volunteer Station is a term that is used to refer to a nonprofit/government/proprietary health care facility that has a written agreement with RSVP to provide volunteer assignments for you. The Carolina Lowcountry RSVP works with over 100 organizations in our service area. For a comprehensive list of stations, stop by our office or give us a call. Each volunteer station has a station supervisor who will provide you with orientation and training for your particular work assignment and will be your regular contact person at the station. He/she will provide you with information about how you can be most helpful and in return, will attempt to accommodate your needs as a volunteer. The relationship that develops between a volunteer and his/her station supervisor is an ongoing process of understanding and caring that enables you to grow and work together for the good of the community. STATION RESPONSIBILITIES. To provide safe working conditions for RSVP volunteers. Make final decision on placement of volunteers. To provide orientation and training. Provide supervision of volunteers on assignments. To collect and submit volunteers hours. Not to displace a paid worker with a volunteer. To recognize the achievement of RSVP volunteers and identify them as RSVP volunteers. Not to request or receive compensation from the beneficiaries of Senior Corps volunteers. Not to engage Senior Corps volunteers in anti-labor activity. 4

5 YOUR RESPONSIBILITES AS AN RSVP VOLUNTEER. To cooperate with your volunteer station supervisor, especially regarding confidential information. To conduct yourself in a professional manner. To avoid unsafe tasks, such as heavy lifting, and advise your station supervisor of unsafe conditions. To report all incidents regarding personal injury to your station supervisor and RSVP promptly. To notify the volunteer station if you will not be available during your assigned shift. To sign in and out when you volunteer so that your time is recorded. To notify the RSVP office of changes in your mailing address, telephone number, address, driver s license expiration date, life insurance beneficiary or volunteer assignment. To not engage in political or religious activities while representing yourself as a Senior Corps/RSVP volunteer. PLEASE NOTE: In some cases, RSVP volunteers prefer to keep up with their own service hours. An Individual Hours form is available and can be used for this purpose. This form must be signed by one of the station supervisors you work under and sent in to our office on a monthly or quarterly basis. WHY DO WE NEED YOUR VOLUNTEER HOURS? The federal government requires us to keep track of all time spent volunteering as a means of assessing our performance. It indicates that you are an active RSVP volunteer and thus allows you to participate in our annual recognition event and receive our bi-monthly newsletter. It provides proof that you were volunteering in case of an insurance claim. It allows us to share with our funders required quantitative data. It provides information to our legislators about the types of volunteer work and number of hours of service. This information assists them in deciding the amount of federal 5

6 monies appropriated for ALL RSVP projects in the U.S. (There are over 600 such projects.) It helps RSVP promote seniors as active, contributing members of their communities. S.W.A.T. TEAM - Seniors with Available Time. Many times throughout the year, our volunteer stations need help with a one-time project or special event. This can encompass a team of 2 50 or more volunteers. Some of these projects/events are annual walks, oyster roasts, large bulk mailings, historic tours, etc. We utilize personal telephone calls from staff and our contact list to recruit help for these projects. If you furnish your address, you are automatically put on this project list. If you prefer NOT to be included, all it takes is a reply to our and your name will be removed. VOLUNTEER SEPARATION. Causes for relinquishing a volunteer from the program includes, but is not limited to: Extensive or unauthorized absences Misconduct Inability to perform assignments Refusal to accept supervision Break of confidentiality Not following rules/regulations at their volunteer station. RSVP exists to serve YOU, its volunteers. We are here to help make your service to the community as rewarding and as appropriate for you as possible. Please feel free to call at any time you may have any questions or special needs. THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING! 6

7 Office Locations and Contact Information Main Office Berkeley County Pam Dillon Patricia Horry Director 8085 Rivers Avenue 136 Rembert Dennis Blvd. Suite F Moncks Corner, SC N. Charleston, SC t.horry@hotmail.com , ext. 381 (843) Fax: (843) Pam.Dillon@redcross.org * * * * * * Charleston County Colleton County Marlene Williamon Jenniemae Price 8085 Rivers Ave., Ste F 217 S. Lemacks St., Ste. 417 N. Charleston, SC (P.O. Box 634) , ext. 380 Walterboro, SC Fax: (843) (843) Marlene.Williamon@redcross.org Call to Fax JPriceRSVP@Lowcountry.com * * * Dorchester County Cathy Quenga 218 S. Main Street Summerville, SC RSVPDorchester@yahoo.com (843) (cell) (843) Please note that our s work part-time, normally Monday-Thursday, 9 am-2 pm. They are in the field quite a bit, so if you call and they are not in, please leave a message and they will return your call as soon as they can. Our main office is open Monday-Friday from 7 am-3 pm. 7

Miles City RSVP STATION HANDBOOK

Miles City RSVP STATION HANDBOOK RSVP is sponsored by the City of Miles City MILES CITY RSVP VA Medical Center 210 S. Winchester Ave. Room 225 Miles City, MT 59301 Telephone: (406) 234-0505 FAX: (406)