Animal Welfare Professionals

How often, and when, do you all host your Volunteer Orientations?

I'm switiching up our process to have them take place prior to starting any training.

My question - Is every Saturday too often? Should it be the first and last Saturday of the month instead? 

Here's my plan:

Steps to Become a New Volunteer

1. Complete Your Application: Submit an application to express your interest in volunteering.

2. Application Review: We'll review your responses and determine eligibility.

3. Receive Your Invitation: Eligible applicants will get an email with details about volunteering options and an invitation to create an account in our volunteer software. 

4. Sign Up for Onboarding: Use your new account to register for a mandatory 90-minute Onboarding class, held each Saturday from 10-11:30am at CAC. 

5. Attend the Onboarding Class: Join us at 10275 N. Atlas Road for the session, where you will:

• Tour the facility

• Attend a CAC orientation

• Sign your Volunteer documentation and a Limited Liability Waiver

• Pay the $15 registration fee

• Receive your first volunteer shirt (included in the registration fee)

Thank you for your guidance and insights!

Anita Parisot

Volunteer & Event Coordinator

Companions Animal Center

Hayden, Idaho

Hi Anita,

I used to offer orientations twice a month (in -person) and follow up dog and cat trainings four times a month (in-person). I've since changed that and we now offer orientation with dog and cat training taking place right after only twice a month. Trainings are always full and we are set to hit a record this year (last year was our biggest record). We hold one training via Zoom in the afternoon so families with kids that want to volunteer can go through training when school gets out and we we hold one Saturday training a month in-person. We hold the Sat one in the morning so that new volunteers have all afternoon open (a lot end up staying to volunteering right then and there). I try to be very aware of how our community operates, school hours and closures (35% of our volunteers are under 18yrs of age) and work schedules. I try to be as flexible as I can so that our community has ever opportunity to get involved. 

Hopefully that is helpful!

How often, and when, do you all host your Volunteer Orientations?

I'm switiching up our process to have them take place prior to starting any training.

My question - Is every Saturday too often? Should it be the first and last Saturday of the month instead? 

Here's my plan:

Steps to Become a New Volunteer

1. Complete Your Application: Submit an application to express your interest in volunteering.

2. Application Review: We'll review your responses and determine eligibility.

3. Receive Your Invitation: Eligible applicants will get an email with details about volunteering options and an invitation to create an account in our volunteer software. 

4. Sign Up for Onboarding: Use your new account to register for a mandatory 90-minute Onboarding class, held each Saturday from 10-11:30am at CAC. 

5. Attend the Onboarding Class: Join us at 10275 N. Atlas Road for the session, where you will:

• Tour the facility

• Attend a CAC orientation

• Sign your Volunteer documentation and a Limited Liability Waiver

• Pay the $15 registration fee

• Receive your first volunteer shirt (included in the registration fee)

Thank you for your guidance and insights!

Anita Parisot

Volunteer & Event Coordinator

Companions Animal Center

Hayden, Idaho

Thank you! I thought every Saturday may be too much. 

This is a BIG change as we've not asked them to have an orientation prior to volunteering in a long time. It was standard practice, but changed after a new coordinator took over. 

Hi Anita,

I used to offer orientations twice a month (in -person) and follow up dog and cat trainings four times a month (in-person). I've since changed that and we now offer orientation with dog and cat training taking place right after only twice a month. Trainings are always full and we are set to hit a record this year (last year was our biggest record). We hold one training via Zoom in the afternoon so families with kids that want to volunteer can go through training when school gets out and we we hold one Saturday training a month in-person. We hold the Sat one in the morning so that new volunteers have all afternoon open (a lot end up staying to volunteering right then and there). I try to be very aware of how our community operates, school hours and closures (35% of our volunteers are under 18yrs of age) and work schedules. I try to be as flexible as I can so that our community has ever opportunity to get involved. 

Hopefully that is helpful!

How often, and when, do you all host your Volunteer Orientations?

I'm switiching up our process to have them take place prior to starting any training.

My question - Is every Saturday too often? Should it be the first and last Saturday of the month instead? 

Here's my plan:

Steps to Become a New Volunteer

1. Complete Your Application: Submit an application to express your interest in volunteering.

2. Application Review: We'll review your responses and determine eligibility.

3. Receive Your Invitation: Eligible applicants will get an email with details about volunteering options and an invitation to create an account in our volunteer software. 

4. Sign Up for Onboarding: Use your new account to register for a mandatory 90-minute Onboarding class, held each Saturday from 10-11:30am at CAC. 

5. Attend the Onboarding Class: Join us at 10275 N. Atlas Road for the session, where you will:

• Tour the facility

• Attend a CAC orientation

• Sign your Volunteer documentation and a Limited Liability Waiver

• Pay the $15 registration fee

• Receive your first volunteer shirt (included in the registration fee)

Thank you for your guidance and insights!

Anita Parisot

Volunteer & Event Coordinator

Companions Animal Center

Hayden, Idaho

How often, and when, do you all host your Volunteer Orientations?

I'm switiching up our process to have them take place prior to starting any training.

My question - Is every Saturday too often? Should it be the first and last Saturday of the month instead? 

Here's my plan:

Steps to Become a New Volunteer

1. Complete Your Application: Submit an application to express your interest in volunteering.

2. Application Review: We'll review your responses and determine eligibility.

3. Receive Your Invitation: Eligible applicants will get an email with details about volunteering options and an invitation to create an account in our volunteer software. 

4. Sign Up for Onboarding: Use your new account to register for a mandatory 90-minute Onboarding class, held each Saturday from 10-11:30am at CAC. 

5. Attend the Onboarding Class: Join us at 10275 N. Atlas Road for the session, where you will:

• Tour the facility

• Attend a CAC orientation

• Sign your Volunteer documentation and a Limited Liability Waiver

• Pay the $15 registration fee

• Receive your first volunteer shirt (included in the registration fee)

Thank you for your guidance and insights!

Anita Parisot

Volunteer & Event Coordinator

Companions Animal Center

Hayden, Idaho

I really like this protocol. We are a new shelter and currently do not have a protocol in place and some days it is overwhelming trying to juggle volunteers that want to help so much and our regular duties. Thank you for sharing your system!

Hali

How often, and when, do you all host your Volunteer Orientations?

I'm switiching up our process to have them take place prior to starting any training.

My question - Is every Saturday too often? Should it be the first and last Saturday of the month instead? 

Here's my plan:

Steps to Become a New Volunteer

1. Complete Your Application: Submit an application to express your interest in volunteering.

2. Application Review: We'll review your responses and determine eligibility.

3. Receive Your Invitation: Eligible applicants will get an email with details about volunteering options and an invitation to create an account in our volunteer software. 

4. Sign Up for Onboarding: Use your new account to register for a mandatory 90-minute Onboarding class, held each Saturday from 10-11:30am at CAC. 

5. Attend the Onboarding Class: Join us at 10275 N. Atlas Road for the session, where you will:

• Tour the facility

• Attend a CAC orientation

• Sign your Volunteer documentation and a Limited Liability Waiver

• Pay the $15 registration fee

• Receive your first volunteer shirt (included in the registration fee)

Thank you for your guidance and insights!

Anita Parisot

Volunteer & Event Coordinator

Companions Animal Center

Hayden, Idaho