FAQs
About the Virtual Volunteering Project
http://www.glaucoma.org
Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) is a national not-for-profit organization working to protect the sight and independence of individuals with glaucoma through research and education, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
GRF involves volunteers offline in a variety of functions: project planning, events, fund raising, outreach, information and referral, operations, communications, research coordination, and general office tasks.
GRF uses the Internet for recruitment and ongoing correspondence with volunteers, many of whom are based in cities around the U.S. and help educate their communities about glaucoma and the resources available for those who are diagnosed with it. Laura Deaton, the former Communications and Outreach Director, used the Internet to interact with online advising volunteers around the U.S. about volunteer recruitment and program outreach strategies.
As of summer 2000, GRF was interested in using the Internet to orient and manage off-site volunteers, and to build more project management, volunteer orientation and evaluation into their Web site. GRF was, at that time, also looking into ways to create virtual components of its phone support networks. For an update on how GRF is currently involving online volunteers, please contact them through their web site.
The quotes below are from John Bergeron, the Foundation's former volunteer manager.
"GRF has grown to include many offsite volunteers and I thought the VV project would provide a great resource for setting up the project. In addition, the project fit in with our organizational philosophy, which encourages collaboration." In particular, the Glaucoma Research Foundation uses the Virtual Volunteering Project resources to develop a better system to manage its offsite volunteers and staff working in other affiliated offices and remote locations.
"I've printed out many of the 'tutorials' and shared them with staff. It has been great to have Jayne's personal assistance from time to time. The resource or activity I could really use assistance with the most right now in working with volunteers ONline is: a system for teaching accountability to volunteers-making them check in once a week, etc. The resource or activity I could really use assistance with the most right now in working with volunteers OFFline is: staff training-volunteers as the essential direction for future organizational growth."
John was an active participant in CYBERVPM, a discussion group for online volunteer managers, and shared many of the online and offline documents he developed to evaluate and manage volunteers via this listserv.
As of summer 2000, a section of the Glaucoma Research Foundation Web site was devoted entirely to potential and current volunteers, and offered a good example for other organizations who want to communicate with all volunteers, particularly those in remote offices. The section included:
- information on the various GRF affiliate groups around the U.S.
- a list of short-term projects for outreach volunteers that can be done from home
- a volunteer survey form (for potential volunteers)
