When you make the choice to become a volunteer, it is important to review the committees listed below and select those committees you feel you would be best suited. Upon selection of each committee that you would like to join, please also be sure to include any relevant information about yourself that would help in the assessment and appointment process. Please note that the volunteer application can either be printed out and completed or downloaded and completed in ACROBAT. That said, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Volunteer Positions Current Available
Monthly Chair
The chair's duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following;
1. In consultation with the Executive Director, CEO or other board or committee members, schedule dates, times and location for meetings
2. Ensure meeting are called and held in accordance with the organizations' mandate, terms of reference or by-laws
3. In consultation with the Executive Director or CEO, and/or other board or committee members establish and confirm an agenda for each meeting
4. Ensure the meeting agenda and relevant documents are circulated to the members of the committee 3-5 days in advance of the meeting
5. Officiate and conduct meetings
6. Provide leadership & ensure committee members are aware of their obligations and that the committee complies with its responsibilities
7. Ensure there is sufficient time during the meeting to fully discuss agenda items
8. Ensure that discussion on agenda items is on topic, productive and professional
9. Ensure minutes are complete and accurate, retained, included and reviewed at the next meeting
Monthly Committee Secretary
Next to the chairperson, the secretary is the most important member of a board, club or organization. It's the secretary's responsibility to schedule meetings, make sure that accurate minutes are kept and follow up with participants afterward, as needed. It's helpful for the secretary to keep a copy of "Robert's Rules of Order" -- the most accepted guide to parliamentary procedure -- on hand at the meeting for the chairperson's reference, particularly if no parliamentarian is present. A secretary's duties related to meetings actually have three phases: planning, tasks to do during the meeting and followup. In this particular case, it would be awesome if the individual that fills this position has court reporting experience. Thus, rather than having to take notes, the individual could simply "record" the meeting so that an individual could later "summarize" what is contained in the transcription. Further responsibilities include:
1. Plan the meeting. Under the direction of the chairperson, send out notice of the meeting to all participants well in advance. Along with the meeting notice include an agenda, minutes of the last meeting and any handouts that will be discussed during the meeting. Provide a paper copy of the agenda, minutes from the last meeting and handouts, even if those items were e-mailed to participants ahead of time.
2. Record minutes during the meeting. Make sure the notes are thorough and easy to transcribe afterward. If it's acceptable to the chairperson and other meeting participants, use a tape recorder to record the minutes. Some organizations require that the secretary read the minutes from the previous meeting so they can be approved by the participants. The secretary is also expected to either take roll call or pass around an attendance register at the beginning of the meeting.
3. Follow up after the meeting. Using the organization's standard minutes template or the one provided in "Robert's Rules of Order," transcribe the notes from the meeting. Then, submit the minutes to the chairperson for approval. If guest speakers were present at the meeting, send thank-you notes to them. If meeting participants were assigned tasks during the meeting, send them timely reminders of those tasks afterward.
Monthly Hall Preparation and Exit Committee
The primary purpose of this committee will be to help prepare the hall for our monthly meetings (chairs, beverages, food and so on) and ensure at the conclusion of the event that all the chairs have been returned to storage, that the area has been thoroughly cleaned up and that when we leave, the building has been secured pursuant to the instructions given to us by the venue's manager.
Social Media Committee
The purpose of your Social Media Committee is to build a team of supporters who agree to amplify our message on social networking sites. Volunteers on this committee are supporters who commit to regularly retweet messages, like updates, post good news and links about the organization. It’s that simple. The Social Media Committee becomes evangelists for the efforts of our nonprofit organization.
Permanent Building Committee
The Permanent Building Committee shall be tasked with the responsibility of executing the construction and maintenance of a new property to house transitional homeless veterans. The Committee shall work with the designated municipality to comply with any necessary codes, designate an architect, shall review appropriate designs for suitability, shall engage any further experts to address various issues such as soil examinations for soil toxicity if needed and so on. Other important tasks which this committee shall oversee are as follows.
1. Demolition of any previous building if property on land purchased proves unsuitable;
2. Excavation, filling and grading of new site;
3. Decision of architect to provide plans for new location, as overseen by this committee;
4. Review of new plans to ascertain that they are in compliance with any municipal requirements.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee, also sometimes known as a Budget Committee will oversee the preparation of our annual budget and will have oversight on the various areas of our organization to ensure their stated goals can be achieved within their budgeted restraints.The Finance Committee shall receive regular reports to ensure how each area has been using its allocations in order to present this information to the full board. The Finance Committee is not to be confused from the Audit Committee. To be precise, the Audit Committee is tasked with checking the work of the Finance Committee and the treasurer in overseeing the financial management of the organization. While some overlap might exist between the Finance Committee and the Audit Committee, the chair of the Audit Committee should not serve on the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee is also charged with a wide range of other responsibilities. It may handle these responsibilities as a committee or through the formation of subcommittees. Our organization shall create a separate Development Committee to oversee fundraising, but as is the case with the various other committees the Development Committee is subject to the rules and restrictions of the Finance Committee.
Grant Writing and Research Liaison
Each and every year billions of dollars are awarded to people and organizations. This money comes from all different sources including but not limited to state and federal agencies and through private corporations and foundations. The federal government typically awards grants to state and local governments, universities, researchers, law enforcement, organizations, and institutions planning major projects that will benefit specific parts of the population or the community as a whole. Equality4Vets2 seeks a group of individuals who will spearhead our ongoing fundraising and operational needs. Reporting to the executive director, this individuals should have an established background in coordinating nonprofit donation strategies and staff/volunteer leadership. The position involves organizing large-scale fundraising initiatives, working with board members, managing the annual fund and building relationships with donors, staff and volunteers.
Cleric, Clergy and Religious Organization Liaisons
At least twice (2) a year, we would like to work with the churches throughout the area to coordinate a special collection aimed at helping us to help homeless veterans. It will be the responsibility of this group of individuals to formulate a letter to provide to the various cleric and clergymen to introduce our organizations, our efforts and a way that we can work with them to create the special collection.
Program Committee
The Program Committee is charged with the responsibility interfacing with the Veterans Administration to address homelessness.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee is charged with the responsibility of liaising with external entities such as the press, the media and any such involvement wherein information regarding the operation shall be disseminated, including but not limited to providing a liaison to the Veterans Administration.
Literature and Signage Committee
Welcome Committee
The purpose of the Welcome Committee is to provide tours of the facility, to explain the various services we provide, to introduce newcomers to those already placed and finally to show the newcomer to their room and to their roommate(s).
Placement Committee
The most important role of this committee is to attempt to place individuals in shared quarters based upon common interests and suitable temperaments. This committee may or may not work in conjunction with the Welcome Committee.
Volunteer Oversight Committee
This committee is tasked with the recruitment of volunteers wishing to work with the homeless veteran population for various functions within the facility. And perhaps the most important placement of these volunteers is to work doing various activities as identified by the veterans.
Benefits Oversight Committee
This committee shall work with the veterans to ascertain first if they are in possession of the necessary benefits and if not, to work with the veterans and the various entities needed to provide them the requisite benefits such as SSI, SSDI, as well as VA Benefits.
Application and Review Oversight Committee
This committee is tasked with the review of any potential new applicant to determine their eligibility for housing. Many times there are mitigating circumstances which may disqualify the applicant and this committee is required to determine this ineligibility.
Grievance Oversight Committee
The purpose of the Grievance Oversight Committee is two-fold: first it is to provide mediation should any dispute occur between or among any resident(s) and to resolve it to the satisfaction of those aggrieved with an eye to their hopeful agreement and to ensure as harmonious living situation as possible for all; second, it is also tasked with the function of reviewing evidence which may lead to the termination of the veteran-resident.
Special Events Committee
This committee is charged with those events not held on a daily basis but are dictated by holidays and birthdays, and include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and various birthdays. Extra special consideration will be given from this committee to Memorial Day and 4th of July given that our population are the veterans.