Volunteer Agreement
We can’t tell you how much we appreciate you offering your time, energy, and expertise as a volunteer. We are a mostly volunteer-run organization that relies on its members to achieve its mission. From our heart: thank you.
We want this to be a great experience for you, and for everyone with whom you’ll interact as a volunteer. With that intention, we have compiled a short set of basic expectations for both you and us. As a volunteer for PDXWIT, you represent our organization both in your volunteer duties and outside of them. By volunteering with PDXWIT, you indicate that you fully understand and agree to these rules.
What you can expect from us
On-boarding
Our on-boarding process is thoughtful and thorough. We do it because we want to ensure a good fit for both sides.
Matching
We will do our best to offer you volunteer opportunities that align with your interests, skills, and strengths. Please know that the volunteer program will always be evolving, and we may not have the perfect fit available right away.
Mutual Agreement
We will provide you with a role description that outlines the specific duties and time commitment for your role. This will allow you to fully understand expectations and decide if the role is a good fit for you.
Orientation
We will introduce you to your volunteer role and — when applicable — to new aspects of your role.
Support
If you have questions about your role, or if you need support in order to fulfill it, you are always welcome to reach out and can expect us to be responsive. You are not expected to expend any funds for the benefit of the organization, and please do not do so without prior approval.
Openness
When you have ideas for PDXWIT to help us fulfill our purpose or improve the experience of being a member, we are all ears. A lot of our programs have organically grown from member ideas and initiatives. To that end, we also conduct quarterly surveys for our volunteer team, to keep a pulse on how the program is working.
What we expect from you
We are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and religion (or lack thereof).
Start at the Front
As a part of our on-boarding process, all new volunteers begin with a “starter role” which is an event-based role, such as assisting with check-in or other Event Operations tasks. Events are a crucial aspect of our organization and we feel it is important that all volunteers have experience in that aspect of our mission.
Timely, Responsive, Committed and Engaged
Be on-time to events or other commitments you’ve agreed to be involved with.
Complete deliverables as agreed upon.
Be engaged and committed to the work you’ve agreed to do.
Use the tools we provide for you to use in your role.
Speak up if you are unsure of expectations — or cannot complete them, have ideas for improvement, or ways we can increase value to the organization.
Support others in their roles.
Let us know if there is something we can do to make the volunteer experience better for you.
Represent PDXWIT in Your Public Actions
Represent the best of PDXWIT in your words and actions.
Be a leader for diversity and inclusion.
Be thoughtful in your word choices so as not to inadvertently exclude others.
Be respectful of people’s opinions and ideas even if they are different than your own.
Be respectful of the resources provided by or belonging to the community.
Practice Confidentiality
Any and all information disclosed by PDXWIT to volunteers is protected information, whether in oral, written or other tangible form, and whether designated as confidential or not.
Projects volunteers have created and/or collaborated on are the property of PDXWIT. Volunteers are welcome to reference their involvement in PDXWIT related activities but do not own the materials created.
Depending on their role, volunteers may have access to organizational information, including donor lists and contact information, financial records, process outlines, etc. and PDXWIT expects that this information will not be used or shared outside of the scope of volunteer duties.
What if it doesn’t work out?
If at any point either you or PDXWIT come to believe that the volunteering arrangement is not a good fit, we will respectfully part ways. A member of the Board will discuss any concerns you or the organization may have about your role.