Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a member to volunteer?
No. Membership is bigger commitment that involves financial support. While most of our members are regular volunteers, we certainly appreciate the time and energy of those who are not yet ready to make a membership commitment but still want to help.
How much time does it take to be a volunteer?
That’s entirely up to you. While the training for some roles does take a little time, the amount of time you volunteer depends our your availability and willingness. When you register as a volunteer, you are given the opportunity to inform us about when and how frequently you are available. The role coordinators use that information when looking for a volunteers.
Some roles require training. How do I become trained?
Depending on the number of interested volunteers, training is either done in groups or one-on-one. Notices about upcoming training sessions will be highlighted on the home page (in the public area) and, if you have registered as a volunteer for a role (and indicated you are willing to be contacted by the role coordinator), you will receive e-mail notifications of any planned training sessions.
Does taking the training for a role imply a commitment?
No. Many of our members will attend training sessions to deepen their understanding, but don’t always become a volunteer for that role. If you are unsure whether you want to volunteer for a role, the training sessions are a great way to see if it might be right for you.
I want to volunteer but none of the roles seem to match my skills/interest. Are there other roles?
Yes. The roles listed on this site don’t require any particular talent or skill and could be taken on by anyone motivated to do so. If you have some special skills, such as web/database development, group facilitation and publicity/marketing, there are other roles that may be of interest. If you would like to learn more about such roles, please contact the Center Coordinator.