Providing a weekly update on what you are doing with regard to your online volunteering assignment is critical to the VV Project. We can't interpret Internet silence -- are you doing well? Are you unhappy with this assignment? Are you content and working away? Are you in need of assistance?

Regular reporting is also important because, if you cannot complete an assignment, we need to know so we can give the assignment to someone else. All of our volunteer assignments in some way contribute to our work in meeting our mission. Every volunteer assignment is important to us.

As we mention frequently, each Friday or Monday, depending on your preference, you should email vv@serviceleader.org and tell her:

• what assignment you are working on

• how many hours you've worked on this assignment (even if it's none)

• what percentage of the assignment is left to do (are you half done? 75% done?) and how "on track" you feel

• any problems/obstacles you've encountered in completing this assignment, or any comments in general you would like to make about the assignment (loved it, hated it, learned a lot, etc.).

 
OTHER CHAPTERS IN THIS HANDBOOK

• Your Committments in volunteering with the VV Project
  What you are getting into. This is also part of an email orientation you received from us upon completing the online application. It is included here for reference, and for other agencies interested in creating their own online orientations/handbooks.

• Volunteer Agreements/Code of Conduct
  BY REPLYING TO THE ORIENTATION, you agreed to the policies outlined in this chapter! These are our detailed policies regarding volunteers at our agency; MOST of these are NOT included in your online orientation. These policies cover the definition of a volunteer, confidentiality, copyright issues, when additional screening is necessary, inappropriate communications, when volunteers can represent the VV Project, online safety, ending your role as a volunteer with the Project and dismissal of a volunteer.

• Assignments
  How you get assignments, and what it's like to work with us. Again, you received this earlier as part of our email orientation.

• General tips for volunteers working on virtual assignments
  A must read whether you volunteer with us or another organization via the Internet.

• Dos and don'ts for technical assistance volunteers
  If you are advising staff or other volunteers with a particular expertise as part of your volunteer experience, this is a must read.

• Recognition of your efforts
  There are various ways we say thanks and keep you up-to-date on our efforts.

• Resources and Tools for Online Volunteers
  Suggestions for using web search engines, shareware, freeware, and other resources and tools to help you undertake an online assignment successfully. Most were authored by online volunteers themselves, based on their own experiences.

The Virtual Volunteering Project http://www.serviceleader.org/vv/