We welcome volunteers from the Verde Valley Ambulance to our team. In keeping with our desire to make a perfect match between neighbors' needs and volunteers' preferences, we've created a new kind of service. We're calling it a "Neighbor Check-in." The idea is that our new volunteers can drop in on neighbors in their area, say hello and find out how things are going, perhaps do a safety check or service a GAP unit, and maybe change a light bulb - and still be able to leave immediately to respond to an ambulance call.

But, as often happens, our new volunteers' first service turned out to be totally unexpected. A neighbor with terminal lung disease had been trying to relocate to a downstairs home for over two months and was running out of time and energy. They teamed with volunteers from the Clarkdale Fire Department to move our neighbor in one afternoon!

As you probably know - we've grown dramatically over the past two years. Since 1999 we've held steady at only 2.5 paid staff - even though we're now serving at least 400% more neighbors than we did then. Recently, this growth is accelerating. For example, in 2009 we served approximately 850 neighbors and now - in 2012 - we expect to serve at least 1,575 neighbors.

 Our Board of Directors, at its meeting in June, voted to increase staffing capacity to enable us to continue serving the growing number of adults in need throughout the Verde Valley region. At our current rate of growth we can expect to serve 490 new neighbors this year alone! Additional staff will allow us to recruit and coordinate more volunteers necessary to serve the growing need for our services now and in the years ahead.

More information about openings is posted on the website. We would like to fill these positions as quickly as we can and we look to you for referrals of people you know who would fit well into the family. If you're interested in one of these openings, or you know someone who might be, please contact us at HR@vvcaregivers.org. We welcome your input - and your application!  

Operations Manager: Responsible for daily coordination of all programs and services provided by VVCC and assists with volunteer recruiting, orientation and training. This is a full-time, exempt position and directly supervises two employees. Starting pay is $18/hr.

Guardian Angel Program Assistant: Coordinates the work of 15-30 volunteers to install and maintain the Guardian Angel personal security alert system in 600 or more households. Manages inventory, and completes all required data entry. Assists with recruiting and training volunteers. This is a part-time, regular position at 20 hours per week. Starting pay is $13/hr.

Dispatcher/Call Center Coordinator: Schedules and coordinates the work of 15-30 volunteers to fill 20 or more shifts each week to answer phones and dispatch volunteers to fill neighbor service requests. Handles problems that arise daily regarding service requests and special needs. Call volume averages 80-100 calls per day. Provides training and individual coaching and support to volunteers serving on the phones and other office duties. Assures accurate and timely data entry and supports the effective use of the CARE database system. This is a part-time, regular position at 25 hours per week. Starting pay is $13/hr.

Development Manager: Works in conjunction with Executive Director to manage the daily development activities, including the annual fundraiser, direct mail appeals, individual donor and cultivation activities, planned giving, and affinity marketing. Assures fundraising materials and communications activities are developed and implemented. Starting pay is $18/hr.

Just a couple of reminders about mileage reimbursement: reimbursement is triggered when you fill out the miles portion of your monthly volunteer log. If you don't want reimbursement, either don't fill out this section or indicate "Do not reimburse" on your log.

Reimbursements are processed and checks cut once each month. In order to receive a check in July, please have your log into the office by Thursday, July 19th. Mail, email, fax, or carrier pigeon are fine. Checks will be mailed the following week.

When does your service get uncomfortable? What kind of circumstances do you have trouble dealing with? When have you considered or taken action to decline service to a particular neighbor because of your relationship?

Boundary issues are part of daily life, but they can take new twists when we're in service to others. The important things to remember are to stand back and observe yourself and the situation; to ask for advice or help when things aren't clear for you; and to not force yourself to go against your intuition.

Service is a great opportunity for learning - and for healing. Let's be in the conversation around boundaries together!

Thank you to those of you who are using the website to select service requests you'd like to fill.

Volunteers are beginning to call or email to ask about and accept services they've seen online. This clearly makes it easier for you - and it's a huge help for request desk volunteers in the office!