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Volunteer Language Bank
Madison County is home to a wide diversity of cultures. English is not the primary language for many of the county’s residents. The Volunteer Language Bank enables residents to participate more fully in the local community. The program provides Madison County's social service and non-profit agencies, schools, and medical offices with volunteer translators and interpreters. Language Bank volunteers will be asked to help others when filling out school or medical forms, at doctor’s offices, at parent-teacher conferences or with other social service appointments. They may also help translate written material.
If you are fluent in English and another language, have understanding of and sensitivity to cultural considerations and ability to relate well to professional staff and limited English-speaking clients, you can help. The time commitment for any volunteer will vary depending on the assignments. Volunteers can be involved in one-time assignments, short or long-term projects.
The Volunteer Language Bank was created as a partnership vision between HandsOn Greater Huntsville and National Children’s Advocacy Center.
Business Volunteer Council
Many local businesses encourage their employees to be involved in the community.
The Business Volunteer Council…
- encourages, educates, and connects businesses that support employee volunteer programs as a business strategy
- offers partnerships between businesses and the nonprofit community for mutual benefit
- nurtures a networking relationship with other community minded businesses
- meets monthly to discuss current volunteer needs and ongoing opportunities.
Employees of the Business Volunteer Council member companies donate their personal time participating in volunteer opportunities and projects of their choice. Through the Business Volunteer Council, employees can choose to participate in volunteer activities individually or with their families; participate in organized, one-time, group volunteer projects designed specifically for the company; and participate in quarterly projects arranged in advance.
Employees of BVC member-companies donate their personal time participating in volunteer opportunities and projects of their choice. With regular communication offered by HandsOn Greater Huntsville, employees can choose to participate in volunteer activities individually or with their families or participate in organized, one-time, group volunteer projects designed specifically for the company.
Through “done in a day” type projects or projects with a duration of just a few hours, employees have the opportunity to address a wide range of community needs. Even busy employees can share a few hours on a one-time basis to make an impact in their communities. Family projects are especially meaningful, giving employees a chance to work together without sacrificing family time.
Youth Programs
HandsOn Greater Huntsville is pleased to present volunteer programs that engage youth in volunteerism.
Youth Volunteer Corp – A 12 month program that offers volunteer projects after school and on weekends for middle and high school youth ages 11- to 18-years old. HandsOn Greater Huntsville operates the only Youth Volunteer Corps in the state of Alabama, and it has more than 700 registered members.
The Youth Volunteer Corp Leadership Council consists of over 29 high school volunteers who serve as ambassadors to promote volunteerism and recruit volunteers, research, design, and implement Service Learning community wide service projects and participate as site leaders for Youth Volunteer Clubs.
National Youth Service Day (NYSD) – HandsOn Greater Huntsville is the lead agency for the state of Alabama (one of only 51) for this largest day of service in the world. Millions of young people across the country participate in tens of thousands of service and service-learning projects – serving, learning, leading, and celebrating the contributions that youth make to their communities year-round.
Disaster Services - Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
HandsOn Greater Huntsville has rallied Madison County's voluntary organizations to form a coalition called Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, more commonly known as VOAD.
VOAD unifies Madison County’s voluntary organizations:
· To better prepare Madison County for disasters
· To aid in the recovery from disasters
· To mitigate the effects of disaster
· To enable local organizations to come together and coordinate efforts in case of most any emergency or disaster
The VOAD mission is to foster more effective service to people affected by disaster through cooperation in mitigation and response and avoidance of duplication of effort. VOAD is not an operational organization in and of itself. Rather, it is a coalition of various volunteer organizations with formal disaster response plans. These organizations share with each other information about their capabilities, resources, and special areas of expertise.
Training
HandsOn Greater Huntsville is your resource for training on topics pertaining to volunteers, volunteer management, fundraising, disaster relief and assistance, and more! HandsOn Greater Huntsville, in conjunction, with The Points of Light Institute, offers the Volunteer Management Training Series and partners with the Non-Profit Resource Center of Alabama (NRCA) in providing many trainings regarding volunteer education and career development. Many sessions qualify to fulfill CFRE education requirements. For more information, please contact HandsOn Greater Huntsville.
- Volunteer Management Training
- Board Connection Training
- Disaster Relief & Assistance Training
- Youth Leadership Training
- Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Training
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT TRAINING
The Volunteer Management Training is offered to businesses, organizations and nonprofit agencies. The interactive curriculum is based on research and effective practices in volunteer management and is presented in an easy-to-use format with a focus to increase the effectiveness of your volunteer program by making a better use of your volunteers, allowing you to achieve greater results, and learning the latest in volunteer management.
Topics include:
- Planning a Volunteer Program
- Recruiting & Placing Volunteers
- Orienting & Training Volunteers
- Supervising Volunteers
- Evaluating a Volunteer Program
Focuses can be on:
· Volunteer Management Training Series (VMTS)
· Faith Based Volunteer Management Training Series
· Campus Compact – Service Learning satellite office on campus
· Youth Volunteer Corp training to High School Youth on Leadership
· Volunteer Language Bank – how to recruit/place non-English speaking volunteers and how to place bilingual volunteers effectively with non-profits and government offices.
· Service Learning Impacting Citizenship (SLIC)
· Grassroots Leadership Training
· Business Volunteer Council – how to build $$$ and volunteers.
BOARD CONNECTION TRAINING
The Board Connection Training is offered to member businesses and nonprofit agencies with a focus on building a strong board of directors.
Topics include:
· Give, get, or go - how to build a strong board
· Board responsibilities
- Board Governance - recruitment and referral to non-profits
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TRAINING
Corporate social responsibility in the form of employee volunteer programs creates a win-win situation for businesses, employees and the communities in which they serve. Developing leadership skills in employees is growing in importance. Guidelines for Success: Creating, Developing, & Strengthening your Employee Volunteer Program will explain how to teach leadership development through volunteerism while supporting the community as well. Learn how to create an Employee Volunteer Program or strengthen your current program through this informative presentation. Ensure the growth of your company by attracting and retaining leaders who have the capacity to solve modern business challenges.
DISASTER RELIEF AND ASSISTANCE TRAINING
The Disaster Relief and Assistance Training is offered to agencies that assist in a time of disaster.
Topics include:
- Managing Volunteers in Times of Disaster
-
Volunteer
Reception
Center
(VRC) simulation training exercise
- State Volunteer and Donations Management (FEMA trained)
CERTIFIED FUND RAISING EXECUTIVE (CFRE) TRAINING
Certified Fund Raising Executive Training is offer to boards of directors interested in increasing their organization’s annual gifts.
Topics include:
- Planned Giving
- Annual Giving
- Major Gifts
- Special Events
Presidential Volunteer Service Award
HandsOn Greater Huntsville is a certifying organization for The President’s Volunteer Service Award, which is a
U.S.
Presidential recognition program for Americans of all ages who contribute a significant amount of time to volunteer service. President George W. Bush established USA Freedom Corps in January of 2002, and he called on all Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves. One year later, he created the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to help recognize the contributions of
America
's volunteers. The Council strives to promote and recognize outstanding volunteer service and raise awareness of the many ways in which Americans can help meet the needs of individuals within their communities and around the world. The Council brings together leaders from business, entertainment, sports, education, government, nonprofits, and the media, each of whom has demonstrated a commitment to service and volunteering in his or her own life. The program recognizes youth, adults, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period.
Those eligible are:
N Youth ages 5-14 who have completed 50+ hours of service
N Youth ages 15-25 who have completed 100+ hours of services
N Families/Groups who have completed 200+ hours of service
Within each age group there are Bronze, Silver, and Gold level awards based on the number of volunteer service hours. Recipients receive an official President’s Volunteer Service Award Pin, a personalized signed certificate of achievement, and a signed note of congratulations from the President of the
United States
as well as a letter from the Council on Service and Civic Participation.
In 2007, HandsOn Greater Huntsville distributed 378 awards through local schools, businesses and nonprofit agencies.
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