New Volunteer New Volunteer OrientationOrientation

New Volunteer New Volunteer OrientationOrientation

Asha SeattleAsha Seattlewww.ashanet.org/seattle

Agenda

• What is Asha?• Why volunteer for Asha?• What are the volunteer

opportunities?• How to get started?

Asha Seattle

What is Asha?• Asha is a non-profit organization

dedicated towards socio-economic change in India mainly through the medium of education.

• Issues we address include (but not limited to):– Education– Health Care– People’s Campaign

• Bhopal, RTI, …

– Women’s issues– Micro-credit Schemes Asha

Seattle

What Makes Asha Unique?

• 100% volunteer driven– YOU define Asha!

• Zero overhead – 100% of donations sent to partner groups

• Flat organization structure – only functional roles

• Decentralized, but synergized, chapter decision making

Asha Seattle

Asha is rated #1 charity in the category of international relief and development

Why Volunteer for Asha?

• Make a difference!• Become socially aware – Learn and

educate others• Contribute at your convenience level• Follow your passion - start your own

initiative• Enjoy a good peer group

Asha Seattle

What can you do?

SupportPartnersSupportPartners

Raise FundsRaise Funds AdvocacyAdvocacy

RaiseAwareness

RaiseAwareness

EducateYourselfEducateYourself

AshaAsha

You can bring in new ideas, too

Asha Seattle

You can do more …• Administrative activities:

– Finance– Event / Talk organization– Webpage maintenance– Newsletter coordination– Project coordination– Chapter coordination– Asha Tea / Merchandise sale

• Create Learning Aids• Design Publicity Material• Take part in day to day activities

Asha Seattle

What can you do?

SupportPartnersSupportPartners

Raise FundsRaise Funds AdvocacyAdvocacy

RaiseAwareness

EducateYourselfEducateYourself

AshaAsha

You can bring in new ideas, too

Asha Seattle

Learn• Do we know what the issues are?• What we think we know may not be right!• What we do:

– Share your learning• emails, Asha Patrika

– Workshops– Attend talks– Discussion in meetings/email lists

Asha Seattle

Research, present and discuss various issues

Educate• Organize:

– Talks– Movie/documentary

Screenings– Debates– Newsletter articles

• Partner with other like-minded organizations

Asha Seattle

Organize awareness raising events, write articles

What can you do?

SupportPartners

Raise FundsRaise Funds AdvocacyAdvocacy

RaiseAwareness

RaiseAwareness

EducateYourselfEducateYourself

AshaAsha

You can bring in new ideas, too

Asha Seattle

What Does it mean to be a Project Steward?

Asha Seattle

Contribute/be part of a project’s life cycle!

Project Identification / Creation

Project Evaluation

Project StewardshipFew things to keep in mind

• It’s a two-way relationship• Equal relationship• Good communication is key

– Phone call/letters/site visits/emails• Learn and disseminate information• Commitment

Asha Seattle

What can you do?

SupportPartnersSupportPartners

Raise Funds

Advocacy

RaiseAwareness

RaiseAwareness

EducateYourselfEducateYourself

AshaAsha

You can bring in new ideas, too

Asha Seattle

Advocacy• Our best goal is:

– To make our existence unnecessary

• Large impact policy changes are key• Few campaigns we have participated /

currently involved:– Text book review– Justice for Bhopal– Right to Information– Right to Education

Asha Seattle

Coordinate campaigns, help with publicity, research

Fund Raising and Events

• Fundraising– Give Campaign– Marathon– STP– Golf

Tournament

• Signature Events– AllGoRhythms– Geetanjali– Asha Tea

Asha Seattle

Help coordinate events, organize, publicize, day of the event work

Get Started!• Have specific interest?

– Let us know– Get involved

• Haven’t made up your mind?– Come to our bi-weekly meetings– Find out more about all the different things

we are working on– Find a specific work that matches your

interest and skill

• Talk to us, we can help!

Asha Seattle

You can make a Difference!

• It doesn’t matter if you are a new volunteer– You have the same “power” as

anyone else in the group– If you are passionate about

something, get your proposal to a meeting and take it from there – drive and lead

– Spearhead new directions• Examples: Asha Sanctuary

Asha Seattle

Resources

• New Volunteer Document– Overview– Common Acronyms – Reading Material– Who is who and Contact Information

Feeling overwhelmed?

- We’ll get you a buddy!

Asha Seattle

Our Hope

Less of this…

Less of this…

more of this…

more of this…