Volunteers

From FGVwiki

Volunteering at Free Geek Thanks for offering to volunteering at Free Geek! We are almost entirely volunteer-based, so your help means a lot. Anyone may participate, as long as they can make it to our facility to volunteer. No computer experience is required; we'll teach you everything you need to know. If you need a computer: After 24 hours of service, volunteers qualify for a free computer, a class on how to use it. We also hope that you learn a bit about computers while you're volunteering. This is called the Computer Adoption Program.

If you don't need a computer but still want to volunteer: Yay! Your help is appreciated too!

WHAT DO VOLUNTEERS DO AT FREE GEEK?

• Receiving where you'll take in equipment from donors

• Evaluating where you'll test computers to see if they can be re-used or not

• Dismantling where you'll take apart computers for recycling

• Sorting where you'll sort computer parts

• Testing where you'll test different parts

• Cleaning where you'll help organise and clean up the kitchens, bathrooms, and general areas

You also have the opportunity to do some special tasks, like help out in the Thrift Store, do data entry and other administrative work. There are other things that need doing too – if you have special skills, please let us know!

STARTING YOUR SHIFT; VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

Sign in: When you arrive, sign in including your volunteer ID. Ask staff where you should go next.

Sign out: When you are finished for the day, tidy your workspace, tell staff you're done and sign out. If you leave the building during your shift (to get lunch etc), you should sign out, and then sign-in when you come back.

Scheduling:

We'll schedule you for your first shift. After that, you can sign up for a shift on the schedule clipboard by the phone desk. You can also call in during Free Geek hours. You can volunteer regularly, or not, it's up to you. We're flexible! Volunteer hours are 11-6, Tues-Sat.

Add/change a shift: Talk to a human to do this please. Call us during open hours, or drop by.

Canceling a shift: If you aren't able to make it for your shift, please phone us at least 24 hours in advance so another volunteer can take your place.

PARKING

Bicycles: There are bike racks in the front and rear of the building.

Cars: Please find street parking. The parking lot in front of our building is our neighbour's, so don't park there as they will tow you! The Free Geek parking lot (in the lane behind our building) is reserved for people dropping off computers.

TAKING BREAKS

BREAKS: We encourage you to take 15 minute breaks during a 3 ½ to 4 hour shift; this time is not deducted from your hours. Take Breaks!

FOOD: Eating food is only permitted in the kitchen or outside. Remember to wash your hands before you eat, to keep dust, allergens & residue from getting in your food. You can have a beverage with you while you work; try to put it in a place where it won't get tipped over. Coffee is by donation. You can keep your lunch in the fridge.

SMOKERS: Please note that according to new legislation, and for the consideration of others, you may not smoke within 6 meters of any entrance or air intake.

HEALTH AND SAFETY, RAH RAH RAH! Please stay safe, and alert a staff member if you see an unsafe situation that needs attention. We ask the following of you while you're here: If you are cut at Free Geek and it bleeds (even a tiny cut), tell staff right away! Do not access the First Aid Kit yourself; ask for staff assistance.

If you hurt yourself, even if you think it's minor, tell a staff person immediately! This kind of communication provides us with valuable feedback to make Free Geek safer, and enables our First Aid attendant to evaluate the situation.

Gloves are mandatory when working in the warehouse. We have gloves available for purchase by donation. You can bring your own but they must be sturdy and free of holes.

If your back or ankle or anything else starts hurting while you're volunteering, let us know and we'll have you do a different task, or help you find a stool, etc.

Wear comfortable shoes (no open toes or sandals allowed). Watch your step, as things get moved around a lot. Keep pathways clear of stuff (computers, stools, buckets, etc) at all times.

When you lift things, don't bend over to pick them up. Bend from the knees and keep your back straight. Don't be shy to ask for help!

If you need any special consideration at all, let a staff member know so that we can work with you and help you get the most from your volunteer term.

If you have a cold, we ask that you stay home & take care of yourself. If you feel a cold coming on while you're in the space, try to wash your hands a lot, and consider leaving early.

Keep your bag in the bag cabinet, and hang your coat in the kitchen. Do not keep your bag in the kitchen or at your workstation; this is a tripping hazard.

Free Geek is a safe, inclusive, respectful place. We don't allow harassment, abusive language, violence, theft, or other destructive behaviors here. Help keep our organization fun and inviting for all! If you feel uncomfortable with someone's behavior, let staff know.

Please follow Free Geek policies and instructions given by our staff while you're volunteering. This helps keep Free Geek a safe place. If you have questions about policies or practices, ask us! Stealing or violent behavior will get you immediately banned from Free Geek.

ADOPTION: GRADUATION FOR COMPUTER ADOPTERS

Once you finish your 24 hours, let us know and we will arrange a time with you to take the Computer Adoption Class. It's an introduction to computers, and to using Ubuntu, the operating system we install on GeekBoxes. You'll receive your "new" computer at the conclusion of the class, so it's important you arrange a way to get it home. We require this class of all Adopters. Even if you have some computer experience, Ubuntu is a bit different, so we want to be sure you understand how to use it. After graduation, you are more than welcome to keep volunteering with us if you like!

ADOPTERS: WHAT KIND OF COMPUTER DO THEY RECEIVE?

We call the computer we give away a GeekBox. It runs the Ubuntu GNU/Linux operating system, and has software installed for word processing, using the internet, listening to music, and other activities. The current specifications are as follows:

Processor: Pentium 4 2.4 GHz (“GigaHertz”) or better 512 MB of RAM Hard drive: 40 GB or so DVD rom & CD-RW, floppy drive, sound card, video card Internet ready with network card & modem if required

        Comes with: 17” CRT Monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers

Adoption Policy: Members of the adoption program can get their first computer after 24 hours of volunteering at Free Geek. Subsequent computers can be obtained only once per year, after another 24 hours of service. Please

Note: GeekBoxes are the only systems we offer through the Adoption Program. You cannot volunteer for components, other kinds of systems, or laptops.

VOLUNTEER DISCOUNT IN THE COMPUTER THRIFT STORE

If you need additional computer equipment or parts (like a printer, or more RAM), you can purchase it at our thrift store downstairs. If you have volunteered at least 12 hours over the last 90 days, you get a volunteer discount of 40% off the price. (This discount does not apply to bulk sales, laptops or LCDs.)

COMPUTER HELP FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS

Every Wednesday is our Open Source Help Clinic, a free drop-in night for hardware questions, as well as free and open source software questions. It's at Free Geek from 6.30pm-9pm. Always check our website to see if it is on as scheduled.

We offer workshops on different topics, for everyone from beginners to more advanced computer users. You can check our website for more information, or ask staff. Workshops are free for volunteers.

Please don't ask us for technical support during the day, since we're busy with Free Geek's day-to-day operations!

STAYING IN THE LOOP

Our website: If you want to stay posted about upcoming workshops, events, and meetings, you can check our website http://freegeekvancouver.org

Our mailing lists: The Announcement list goes out once or twice and month, and will tell you about upcoming events. The General list is for discussion about topics and issues of interest to Free Geek. For more info on subscribing to our mailing lists, go to our website.

Our monthly meeting: Free Geek's monthly meeting is open to all. It happens the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 6:30pm, at Free Geek. If you are interested in learning more about how our organisation runs, or how consensus works, or you want to participate in discussions and decisions, you are welcome to attend. More info is on our website.

STAFF

Staff are here to help. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to make your experience at Free Geek more enjoyable!

Full-time Staff

Geoff Bowers (Build Coordinator)

Jessica Mason (Volunteer Coordinator)

Dave Floyd (Warehouse Coordinator)

Tim Adkins (Sales Coordinator)

Part time Staff

Tyler Hamilton

FREE GEEK COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY CENTER 1820 Pandora St. (2 blocks north of Hastings, between Commercial & Victoria) 604-879-4335 http://freegeekvancouver.org OPERATING HOURS: Tues-Sat 11am-6pm, closed Sun/Mon (& closed statutory holidays) QUESTIONS? ASK US!!! Thanks for helping Free Geek!