Help Wanted


From: "Howard Cunningham"
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 19:34:10 -0400

-----Original Message-----

Hello -

Following is a description of assistance needed in a "back room" at the American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E Street NW.

Jeanne Rexroad and I are doing the scheduling of volunteers to assist in the Resource Technology area. This office handles, on the NATIONAL LEVEL, requests from Red Cross Service Areas [NOT CHAPTERS] for communication and computer resources. These are typically cell phones, blackberries, 800 numbers, computers, servers, hand held radios, base radios, etc. There are two types of knowledge that is valuable: Telephone and Computers.

Due to the learning curve, this basic knowledge is critical. Secondly, the self starter (motivated) volunteer is very important. Thirdly, the ability to become a repeat volunteer is also important. The first time volunteer is almost totally a learning process. The second and third time is significantly more productive.

Again, this is American Red Cross volunteer work, not limited to nor requiring an amateur radio license, ARES membership, etc.

Yes, there are hams in the office and interpersonal communications skills in a crisis management environment (tact) are important.

The days may be long, but can be split. The need is for 3 people, two with emphasis on telephone calls (answering, message taking, advice providing, etc) and one person.working on computer issues (lost passwords, configuration issues, etc.)

Jeanne and I are doing the scheduling for the next week - September 5 thru 9. We do not know what the requirements will be beyond Saturday September 9th. Several volunteers have pulled long days, and we would like to offer half days or whole days so as to accommodate volunteers. Several Red Cross employees have recently gone for three days on three hours sleep. We need to provide relief and assistance.

The volunteer for mornings should plan to arrive by 7:30 am, as there is usually a rush of calls starting around 8 am and lasting for a couple of hours. There is another peak activity period in the early evening hours.

The entire day could last from 7:30 am until 10 or 11 pm. If someone wants the whole day, that's OK. However if you would rather only work half a day, that makes a lot more sense to me. Some volunteers have come in from Clarke County Virginia, in addition to the local (DC, MD, VA) area.

As mentioned earlier, Jeanne and I are doing the scheduling out side of ARC Headquarters as they are frankly too busy to worry about such things.

If you are interested, after reading the above, Please e-mail me :

Your Name
Home Phone
Cell/other Phone
City or County & State
When you would be available
When you would NOT be available.

We have a spread sheet of the time slots and will get back to you as we have openings that match your availability.

Oh, yes, Lunch and Dinner are provided (it's good food). Parking is provided.

This announcement is for limited distribution to ECs who can recommend known persons with the requisite abilities. There is no need to re-transmit it on club or ARES reflectors as our requirement is for a very limited number of volunteers.

Thank you,
Dick Harman
WA4USB

Page Last Updated, 09/07/05

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