5.5. SR 07-11-2011Item #5_5.
MEMORANDUM
~c.iver
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Lauren Wipper, Human Resource Representative
DATE: July I I, 201 I
SUBJECT: City Volunteer Program Update
At the May 9, 2011 City Council meeting, discussion took place regarding the utilization of
volunteers and what was yet to be done to implement this program. It was noted that
position descriptions needed to be prepared as well as a volunteer handbook.
Staff has prepared position descriptions for all of our current and desired volunteer
positions. A list is attached noting which positions we currently have and others that are
desired.
I have begun work on a volunteer handbook, however, have only had an opportunity to
begin gathering information to this point. I have also been in contact with Mark Mathison
from Gray, Plant, Mooty and he has indicated a number of items that should be considered
and included as we implement this more formalized program.
At an earlier City Council meeting, council members were asked to consider possible
candidates willing to be our volunteer coordinator. It would be great help to have a
coordinator on board to facilitate the writing of a handbook as well as other items that
should be accomplished.
I will be available at the July 11 worksession for discussion on how to proceed with this
program.
New Volunteer Opportunities
°Deparl:ment
Tit[ ` Divisit~n ' Brief Description df.lab
cleanER City Wide • Volunteers will choose one location from parks, storm
ponds, neighborhoods, and landmarks and be responsible
for picking up trash at that location.
Volunteer City wide • Run mail, pick up supplies, pick up vehicle parts, deliver
Couriers council packets, deliver mail/packages to other cities or
entities.
Volunteer City Wide • Go through archives and compile, organize, and print
Historian significant historical events.
Economic Community • Assist the division with day-to-day activities and special
Development Development, projects.
Assistant Economic
Development
Buckthorn Community • Educate homeowners on identifying buckthorn, conduct
Busters Development, Buckthorn removal on City property.
Environmental
Invasive Community • Identify potential areas of invasive species infestation from a
Investigators Development, list compiled by City staff.
Environmental • Present information to schools or civic groups regarding
invasive species.
Energy City Community • Help to further the goals of the Energy City Commission
Ambassador Development, through educating the public about resource conservations
Environmental and leading tours of renewable and sustainable
(Energy City) demonstration sites.
Hip Historian Community • Share stories or skills about Elk River's history to groups of
Development, all ages, lead tours to show historic sites and share local
Environmental lore.
(Historic
Preservation)
Office Support Finance • File and/or scan into Laserfiche accounts payable
documentation in an organized file system.
Disc Golf Park & Recreation, • Assist with projects and maintenance of the disc golf course.
Course Parks
Volunteer
Hillside Park Park & Recreation, • General park maintenance and event prep and take down.
Volunteer Parks
Woodland Park & Recreation, • General park maintenance.
Trails Parks
Volunteer
Golf Course Park & Recreation, • Clean debris, pine needles, branches, garbage from golf
Clean Up Pinewood course.
• For significant clean-ups events Pinewood utilizes a STS work
crew.
Administrative Park & Recreation, • Assist recreation staff in general administrative functions.
Support Recreation
Marketing Park & Recreation,
Material Recreation
Delivery
Park Ranger Park & Recreation,
Recreation
Special Events Park & Recreation,
Aid Recreation
Teen Leaders Park & Recreation,
in Training Recreation
Compost Site Public Works,
Supervisor Streets
• Deliver miscellaneous marketing material to key locations
around Elk River to maximize marketing efforts.
• Supervise usage at various park locations. Provide
information, report inappropriate behavior and park
maintenance needs.
• Opportunities vary depending upon event. Examples are
managing games at Fright Night or handing out water at
Hillside City Park events.
• Assist in teaching youth programs, supervising youth, and
developing class curriculum.
• Verify users as Sherburne County residents by asking for
identification if vehicle does not have a properly displayed
permit.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Department,
Tide ' ~ Division.. Brief Description of Job
Energy Expo Community • RSVP volunteers assist staff with Energy Expo event.
Development,
Environmental
Blood Drive Health Rewards • Greet and check in donors and serve refreshments.
Volunteers Program Committee • Currently utilize volunteers from RSVP.
Health Fair Health Rewards • Assist with manning booths on the day of the Health Fair.
Volunteers Program Committee • Currently utilize volunteers from RSVP.
Adopt-A-Park Park & Recreation, . Volunteers clean and help maintain a park that they've
Parks adopted.
Park Park & Recreation, . Assist with projects and clean up.
Maintenance Parks • Currently utilize volunteers from STS, Boy Scouts, Girl
Volunteer Scouts, MN School of Business, Wright County Probation
Work Program, American Legion
Golf Instructor Park & Recreation, • Assist in teaching children the etiquette and basics of the
Pinewood game of golf.
• Currently utilize volunteers.
Program Park & Recreation, • Deliver program guide to key locations around Elk River.
Guide Delivery Recreation • Currently utilize volunteers.
Youth Sports Park & Recreation, • Organize and rum team practices and games.
Coach Recreation • Currently utilize parent coaches.
Activity Park & Recreation, • Run activity from beginning to end. Set up equipment,
Leader Senior Programs organize participants, clean area after program.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Baker Park & Recreation, • Bakes items for activities.
Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Blood Park & Recreation, • Take blood pressure for seniors during scheduled times.
Pressure Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Checker
Bone Builders Park & Recreation, • Set up area and lead group of exercisers through the Bone
Leader Senior Programs Builders Routine.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Ceramics Park & Recreation, • Give instruction on ceramics techniques and processes.
Instructor Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Computer Park & Recreation, • Help maintain mailing lists, budget information for advisory
Assistant Senior Programs meetings, and newsletter printing.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Computer Park & Recreation, • Assist participants with computer basics on aone-on-one
Mentor/Club Senior Programs basis by appointment.
Leader • Club Leader facilitates semi-monthly group meetings.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Coordinator's Park & Recreation, • Answers phones, prepares mailings, filing, and typing. Takes
Assistant Senior Programs reservations for outings. Other miscellaneous office work.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Craft Assistant Park & Recreation, • Assist group in completing a craft project.
Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Craft Group Park & Recreation, • Suggests craft ideas, help prepare materials, devise step-by-
Facilitator Senior Programs step procedure, demonstrate how to make project.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Entertainer Park & Recreation, • Perform entertainment for a special event.
Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• On-going recruitment of volunteers.
Front Desk Park & Recreation, • Assist Activity Center staff with basic office procedures and
Assistant Senior Programs secretarial duties.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Light Park & Recreation, • Dusting, vacuuming, moping, watering plants, small
Maintenance/ Senior Programs reorganizing/construction projects.
Repairs • Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
MAC/NAPS Park & Recreation, • Use personal vehicle to transport food to the Pine
Driver Senior Programs Tree/Cone Manor Apartments in Zimmerman. Help load
and unload food packages.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
MAC/NAPS Park & Recreation, • Check in participants and direct them to which food is theirs
Volunteer Senior Programs to take. Call participants who have not picked up their food.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Newsletter Park & Recreation, • Help fold and tape newsletter. Affix mailing label and sort
Assembler Senior Programs for mailing. Door-to-door delivery at Guardian Angels
apartments.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
Quilt Maker Park & Recreation, • Make quilts with other group volunteers.
Senior Programs • Currently utilizing volunteers through .RSVP.
Reader's Park & Recreation,
Theater Senior Programs
Assistant
Coordinator
Reader's Park & Recreation,
Theater Cast Senior Programs
Member
Reader's Park & Recreation,
Theater Coach Senior Programs
Reader's Park & Recreation,
Theatre Senior Programs
Presentation
Moderator
Reader's Park & Recreation,
Theatre Senior Programs
Special
Projects
Scrapbook Park & Recreation,
Volunteer Senior Programs
Silver Stars Park & Recreation,
Senior Programs
Silvertones Park & Recreation,
Director/ Senior Programs
Accompanist
Silvertones/ Park & Recreation,
Bell Ringers Senior Programs
Special Events Park & Recreation,
Volunteer Senior Programs
Police Reserve Police
Officer
Squad Mob Police
• On-going recruitment of volunteers.
• Assist with event and practice schedule, ensure appropriate
props are at each event, prepare new props, manage
paperwork.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Attend and participate in scheduled Book Ends practices and
make group reading presentations at schools.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Guide the cast through readings of scripts and coach
performance.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Prepare introductions and follow-up questions for
presentations, lead the BookEnds through warm up and
review prior to performance, manage performance.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Variety of special projects. May involve costume or prop
preparation or transportation of such.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP:
• Design and make scrapbook pages of Senior Center events.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Assist with set-up, sign in participants and take payments.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Direct senior center choir at practices and performances,
accompany on piano, help select music.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Sings with a group at various engagements. Attend
practices.
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• On-going recruitment of volunteers.
• Variety of activities - staff an information booth, provide
rides to participants, assist with clean up, assist in the
kitchen, host/hostess, take pictures
• Currently utilizing volunteers through RSVP.
• Assists in the enforcement of local, state, and federal laws.
Participates in patrol, crime prevention, emergency
response, and public assistance duties.
• Currently utilize reserve officers and have on-going
recruitment.
• Cleaning interior and exterior of squad cars.
• Help maintain garage by cleaning, taking out garbage and
recycling, and cleaning floor drains.
• Currently utilizing Elk River High School Volunteer Work
Crew with lob Site Supervisor.