Volunteer Positions Available through SOAR 55

Check out these interesting new volunteer positions from SOAR 55, just in time to enrich your life in the New Year!

1.  IMMEDIATE NEED!!
 House Manager:
Assist fundraising event producer with evening-of-performance support activities. Responsibilities to include managing show ushers (I.e., making sure they are in the right places and have programs to distribute), assisting patrons as necessary, be the point person for the catering people and generally being an extra set of hands. No experience necessary, just a willingness to help out. The House Manager will need to attend the dress rehearsal on Monday, December 3rd, 5pm to 8pm at the Sorenson Center at Babson College in Wellesley. Immediately afterward he/she is invited to join the cast and crew for a rehearsal night dinner at the home of Venturing Out's Executive Director (also in Wellesley). On the day of the performance, the house manager needs to be at the Sorenson Center at 4pm and remain throughout the event which will end at approximately 9pm. For more information about the event, visit http://www.venturingout.org.fundraiser.

The event is a major fundraiser for Venturing Out, hosted by Babson College on December 8th. The Venturing Out program teaches entrepreneurship skills to pre-release inmates and parolees throughout Massachusetts. The fundraising event is comprised of a play, "The Castle," originally performed off Broadway and now debuting in Boston. The play was written by four formerly-incarcerated women and men and originally performed by its authors; in this Boston production, several of the actors bring authenticity to their roles as they draw poignantly from their own periods of incarceration. The show will be followed by a panel discussion, "From Offender to Entrepreneur," and will explore the theme of entrepreneurship as a viable road to economic self-sufficiency. The panel will be moderated by WBUR's David Boeri and features Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian. Complimentary coffee and dessert follows in the atrium. VIP reception begins at 6pm. Show at 7pm.

Call Laura Winig, Executive Director at 617-279-2421 or lwinig@entrepreneur101@comcast.com

2.  TIME SENSITIVE!
Tax Prep for Military Service Members, Veterans and their Families

Assist military service members, veterans, military retirees and their families with completing their tax returns. Prepare tax returns in IRS sponsored program using easy-to-use-software.

Training: One-day training held between Jan 9 and 13, 2012 (Training at Wellesley location)

Requirements: Computer knowledge, financial or accounting aptitude or experience

Hours and time: flexible

3.  URGENT NEED!!
Food Bank Volunteer:
Working with the Newton Food Pantry, help Newton Community Service Center's (NCSC) affiliated families in need of emergency food assistance and provide a welcoming and supportive environment. Includes a variety of administrative duties such as handling intake applications, supervising the assembly of food bags with/for families in accordance with Newton Food Pantry food listing, organizing and stocking food pantry for ease of distribution and by date of purchase and preparing weekly inventory of food products in the NCSC pantry.

Site: Newton Community Service Center

Qualifications: Dependable, organized and people-oriented

Hours: 6 hours a week Days/Hours needed: Mondays: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM and Wednesdays: 3:00PM - 6:00 PM

4.   Healthy Aging Course Instructor

The volunteer lay leader will help the individual class participants improve their understanding of how to manage their nutrition, diabetes or chronic disease. Instructor will co-lead at least 2 six-week sessions.

Site: Springwell

Qualifications: Individuals with an interest to help seniors manage their nutrition, diabetes or chronic disease, also the ability to deliver material to a group of individuals in an effective way, lead discussions as well as some lecture.

Hours: One 2.5 hour class per week for 6 weeks.

Training: Springwell will provide a 12-hour training

5.  Webmaster

Work alongside staff at an innovative community-based organization that empowers Newton adults over 60 years of age to remain in their homes, apartments, condos, or Independent Living settings with practical services, health and wellness activities, handyman and household chores, social, educational events and transportation. Newton at Home activities and events serve to create a sense of community and engagement as do many intergenerational volunteering opportunities for members and non-members, in the home, the school and in the wider community.

Webmaster duties include: updating, maintaining, and troubleshooting the web site; adding, updating, and removing content and links (including images, photos, and articles); updating the monthly Calendar; maintaining programs and events, including registration and attendance; suggesting ideas, planning, and implementing changes to the website design.

Site: Newton At Home

Qualifications: Desired skills include: database management; content management systems; understanding marketing campaigns; understanding and acceptance of teamwork and customer service and principles of privacy and confidentiality

NAH uses ClubExpress (www.clubexpress.com) as host for our website. ClubExpress (CE) has extensive capabilities to manage the web and its contents. When possible, we use CE tools to build web content, but, when we need to, we can use HTML to create and modify pages.

Hours: Flexible

6.  Youth Outreach Coordinator

Work alongside staff at an innovative community-based organization that empowers Newton adults over 60 years of age to remain in their homes, apartments, condos, or Independent Living settings with practical services, health and wellness activities, handyman and household chores, social, educational events and transportation. Newton at Home activities and events serve to create a sense of community and engagement as do many intergenerational volunteering opportunities for members and non-members, in the home, the school and in the wider community.

The Youth Outreach Coordinator will recruit volunteers from area colleges and universities; high schools; and youth groups such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and church and synagogue youth groups. These volunteers aid Newton At Home through direct services to members, such as physical help around the home, teaching someone how to program a cell phone or DVR, and helping someone set up a new computer. The Youth Outreach Coordinator would also recruit younger adults, who qualify, to provide transportation to members to places such as the library or supermarket. Other youth volunteer opportunities might include office administration such as data base development and entry.

Site: Newton At Home

Hours: Ongoing volunteer position with flexible hours, estimated to require 5-10 hours/week

Qualification: Someone who has experience with and enjoys working with teens and young adults.

Training: Newton at Home has a general 2 hour orientation for all volunteers. Further special training will be provided by the Coordinator of Volunteers.

7.  Nonprofit Volunteer Coordinator
Assist a nonprofit organization in developing or expanding their volunteer program. Typical duties include: helping identify volunteer needs of the organization, writing Job Descriptions, recruiting volunteers, interviewing and matching volunteers to appropriate assignments; providing training/orientation to new volunteers; providing support to the volunteer team and record keeping

Qualifications: Prefer candidates with Personnel/Volunteer recruitment, training or management experience. Strongly prefer candidates who have volunteer experience.

Skills: Ability to multi-task, attention to detail and follow-through, enterprising, ability to work independently and as part of a team, organized and computer literate

Training and Support: Three 2-hour sessions and two 2-hour post-placement sessions provided by SOAR 55. Next training January/February, 2012.

Hours: Able to commit to one year and to contribute 5-10 hours a week.

8.  Development Coordinator

Assist SOAR 55 in our efforts to raise funds from individuals and corporations. Work closely with SOAR 55 Director and Development Committee to support activities around donor contributions and coordination of a plan of action for approaching local businesses and corporations.

Qualifications: Prefer candidates with experience in fundraising or marketing; detail oriented with ability to see big picture; strong communication and interpersonal skills; excellent organizational skills; and works well independently and within a team structure.

Training and Support: Orientation provided by Director and Chair of Development Committee

Hours: 5-10 hours a week on average, ability to commit to minimum of one year.

For a comprehensive listing, please visit our website at www.ncscweb.org/programs/soar55