Arizona State University workshop B6 at the 20th IAVE World Volunteer Conference Panama 2008

Volunteer Information and Referral Services at Arizona State University
presents
A Virtual Volunteer Center Workshop
IAVE 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008

Volunteer Information and Referral Service’s (VIRS) mission is to promote civic responsibility through volunteerism.  What originally was a small, university program to provide volunteer information and referrals to Arizona State University and community is now the only comprehensive volunteer information and referral Central Arizona.  Arizona State University continues to support this program as part of their mission of embeddedness.

In January, 2008, VIRS partnered with VolunteerMatch* to provide expanded and improved services for agencies, governments, etc. who wish to post volunteer opportunities, and those looking for such opportunities. In January 438 local agencies were listed and now we have over 600 in the metropolitan area and over 1,000 agencies statewide.  The agencies update their own information any time there are changes, and people seeking volunteer opportunities find these with ease. 

Our virtual volunteer center also provides volunteer news, opportunities for ASU constituents to record their volunteer hours.  They become eligible for the President’s Volunteer Award,  and assist’s the university capture the community involvement of the employees and students. 

This site is used by the entire community, including Department of Economic Services, the Arizona and local court systems, public and private schools, and many other groups and individuals.  The program is managed by two part time volunteers with a yearly budget of $2,000.00.  The University provides office space and machines and well as marketing and computer support.  The Lodestar Foundation paid for the services of VolunteerMatch. 

This type of program is especially helpful for supplying information about volunteering to people is a large geographical area at little expense.  Virtual Volunteer Centers can be managed anywhere there is access to a computer and someone to build the program.

*VolunteerMatch is a National database of organizations needing volunteers that provides the framework for matching the volunteers with the volunteer opportunities.  It also provides reports on activity on the site: the number of volunteers committing to different agencies, the number of university people and the number of community people using the site, and more.

Workshop Outline
Introduction:  Who I am and how the Volunteer Information and Referral Services program became what it is today.

Why have virtual volunteer programs?

• It costs almost nothing once the web program is established.
• An unlimited number of agencies can be registered and post their volunteer needs.
• Programs involvement can expand through the growing number of partnerships.
• Volunteer coordinators and managers are given information and assistance in recruiting volunteers.
• It is not labor intensive.
• Through e-mail contacts from the website individual questions.
• Volunteer news and links can be updated.

How do you create a virtual volunteer program?

•  Evaluate your program needs.
• Recruit those who need to get the program established and maintained.
• Locate agencies who want to be a part of the program.
• Get the word out.

Demonstrate Volunteer Information and Referral Services website

Questions from the aucience

Design your own website project for 4 or 5 groups if there is enough time
http://volunteer.asu.edu 

Promoting civic responsibility through Volunteerism
Pit Lucking, Coordinator pit.lucking@asu.edu
Volunteer Information and Referral Services 602-496-1262
Phoenix, Arizona
United States of America