Volunteer Connection offers
a convenient way to allow volunteers to sign-up for shifts. In an attempt to
make this more relatable I will use the DAT team throughout this tutorial as an
example. The people on this team respond to disasters. For instance, these are
the volunteers that respond to house fires.
Some benefits to using this
include:
· Volunteers can sign-up for shifts at their
convenience.
o
In my
area we ask that DAT shifts for a month are filled before the first of that
month, so we can ensure coverage.
· Volunteers are able to sign-up for shifts in
advance
o
In my
area we offer the DAT Team 60 days in advance.
· Volunteers can see changes to a shift
immediately.
· In regard to DAT; Dispatch will have up-to-date
information immediately.
o
Should
there be a last minute change dispatch will have the information.
o
Should a
DAT member change their contact information, dispatch will have that
information; hence, one example of why it is important to keep profiles
up-to-date.
Each calendar will have
minor differences in wording and various time frames; however, the actions are
the same. Please note that not everyone will have shifts, and only those who would
be volunteering for a shift will be able to view them.
How to sign-up for a shift:
1. Sign into your Volunteer
Connection account at: https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org
2. You will arrive at your
home page. Place your pointer on the My
Shifts tab. If you have any shifts the shifts you can sign-up will appear
in a drop down list. Slide your pointer to the shift you wish to sign-up for
and left click to select. Notice the text changes to red.
3. You should arrive at a
calendar. Just as with groups, you want to look at the heading to make sure you
are on the correct calendar.
4. Locate the day/time you
wish to register for. Shifts can be broken down hourly, daily, or weekly. In
this example the shifts are weekly. In the example below notice the name. This
is for a DAT Lead position. Other options for DAT shifts may include DAT Member
or Shadow. Be sure to select the correct position. Left click on Sign Up when you have located the
correct shift.
5. You should now see the Event Registration page. It will offer
information about the shift/event. Best practice is to always read this page to
ensure you are signing-up for what you intend to and to note additional
information. In the example below additional information is the DAT Phone and
Holiday Procedures. This area can have a minor change in a section or new topics
may be added. Once reviewed, left click on Submit.
6. The Registration Confirmation page should open. Please review, because additional information may be offered. For instance, the example below offers information should one need to cancel.
7. Once you return to the shift calendar you will notice there a color change and “Sign Up” now shows your name. Other volunteers using this calendar can see that you are now volunteering to cover this time frame. In this case, you are on call should the DAT Team be dispatched.
*Additional note for those
in my area; DAT members do not need to submit on call hours, because it is set
to automatically submit on call hours for you. DAT members do need to submit the hours they are dispatched in order
for our area to receive credit for funding.
How to cancel a shift:
1. Locate the shift you
need to cancel on the shift calendar and left click.
2. The Event Registration
page will open. Notice the submit button now reads “Cancel Registration”. Left click on “Cancel Registration”.
3. If successful, a confirmation page will open.
*Reminder: While on call
hours do not need to be submitted, be sure to submit the hours you actually volunteer
so your area can receive the maximum amount of funding possible.
