The nature of the web, and the Internet overall, is that "anyone" can publish, and get their comments and opinions out for everyone to see. Many volunteers see the Web as an opportunity to talk about organizations they have been involved with first hand. Some will create their own web pages devoted to their experiences working with an organization. Most of these web sites are quite positive about the organization; a few, however, are negative.
For the most part, independent volunteer web pages are positive, and provide an excellent way for your organization to reach more people. Visitors to these sites see your organization from an "unofficial" point of view, and may find the message more powerful because it's coming independently from a volunteer, rather than the organization itself.
Some organizations have actively discouraged volunteers from creating their own web pages about volunteering, even if positive, and have asked some volunteers to remove their pages altogether. Such action, however, can be perceived negatively by other volunteers, and perhaps even the general public -- your organization could be seen as trying to suppress comments about your agency that you don't directly control, and this can create a feeling of mistrust (certainly, if the web site promotes falsehoods, or makes libelous statements about an agency or its staff, proper legal action SHOULD be pursued).
Most organizations choose, instead, to ask volunteers who launch their own sites to make sure that it's clear on the site that it is NOT the official web site of the organization, to mention on the site that the statements made on the volunteer's web site may not reflect the views or mission of the organization, and so forth.
Below are examples of web pages by individuals that highlight their volunteering experiences, or promote volunteering at certain organizations. Most are positive; a few are negative.
This volunteer describes a 1997 fundraising project to fund a medicinal herb garden for the Dogon people of Mali, West Africa. It talks about the significance of this project, the Dogon people, how funds have been raised in the past, and the history of Peace Corps activities in Mali.
Previous Peace Corps volunteers answering questions of others interested in the Peace Corps. It even has a page listing reasons why a person should not join the peace corps:
For Peace Corps volunteers who get assigments to Russia.
A site by a Virtual Volunteering Project online volunteer to highlight where and how people under 18, particularly in the Palm Beach County of Florida, can find community service opportunities.
A site by a Virtual Volunteering Project volunteer to promote click and give sites, and web sites that provide extensive databases of volunteering opportunities.
Maintained by Jerry Wright, designed for backpackers or campers interested in volunteering to work on backcountry projects, such as new trail construction, trail relocation, erosion control or brush trimming. Information is indexed by region, and by particular categories, such as "Extended trips in the United States " and "Trips for Teenagers." Also includes testimonials by Jerry about his experiences on such trips.
Volunteers for Reform was established by a group of American Red Cross Disaster Services volunteers who say they "were terminated by their local chapter (Southeastern Pennsylvania) when they attempted to comply with the Code of Ethics by making chapter management aware of inappropriate behavior displayed by a paid staff member." This web site is an illustration of how volunteers can, potentially, use the Web against an organization.
A storytellers web-page for volunteers. Great information for new volunteers.