Volunteer Handbook

Blue Skies publishes their volunteer handbook online in order to encourage accountability for all volunteers. Everyone from donors to clients to other volunteers know what is expected from all volunteers at all times when working and representing Blue Skies Mutual Aid, Inc.

Blue Skies Mutual Aid, Inc

Volunteer Handbook July 2022 Edition

Introduction

Thanks for joining Blue Skies Mutual Aid, Inc! We sincerely appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to make Gaines County a better place to live for all. As a volunteer for our organization you will represent Blue Skies to your peers, to donors, and most importantly to clients that seek out our assistance. This handbook serves to put into writing all policies and procedures that all volunteers must abide by at all times while working with us, whether you’re on the Board of Directors or a Support Volunteer. By following these policies and procedures we help create an environment that encourages integrity, teamwork, nondiscrimination, and confidentiality.

Conflicts of Interest

Situations may arise where there may be a conflict of interest for a volunteer, which is a situation where the a volunteer may have the opportunity to abuse their position with Blue Skies for their own personal gain or advantage at the detriment of the organization. It is the responsibility of said volunteer to inform the Administration Director if a situation appears that could give the appearance of a conflict of interest. The purpose of this policy is to ensure no unethical behavior takes place, donors have trust in the organization, and to protect the organization’s 501(c)3 status.

Also, no one on the Board of Directors may be immediately related to each other nor may they or any immediate family member profit from any relationship with Blue Skies Mutual Aid, Inc. All directors are also required to recuse themselves from any decision that may give the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Nondiscrimination

At Blue Skies we value all volunteers and clients as unique individuals, and we welcome the variety of experiences they bring. As such, we have a strict non-discrimination policy. We believe everyone, volunteer or client, should be treated equally regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law. All volunteers have the right to work in a safe environment, free of bullying, discrimination, physical danger, or harassment of any kind including sexual harassment. All clients have the right to be treated professionally and with kindness, regardless of circumstance.

Confidentiality

As a volunteer for a nonprofit that often assists very vulnerable people, you must keep all client’s personal information confidential. This includes their name, anything they may be struggling with such as addiction or poverty, their contact information, and any aid or services we provide to them. This is extremely important for everyone but particularly important for when we assist domestic abuse victims, teenagers that are pregnant, those struggling with addiction, those without a home, and anyone under 18 or over 65 years of age. The personal information or situations of clients must stay within the organization, the only exception being in a life-threatening emergency or if someone on the Board of Directors makes the decision that it’s in the best interest of the client.

The personal information of other volunteers, including their contact information, must also be held confidential. Please refer all inquires to official contact channels such our email at info@blueskiesma.com, our Facebook page, or other public contact information.

Interpretation and Penalties

All definitions, translations, or interpretations of this handbook will be decided by the Administration Director, who should always be available to contact. The Administration Director has jurisdiction over anything related to volunteer recruiting and so has jurisdiction to decide what everything in this handbook means, within the confines of the law and ethical behavior. It is also up to this director to make sure this handbook is up to date, accurate, and a physical copy is given to every single volunteer.

If an accusation of breaking the handbook occurs it is the duty of the Administration Director to investigate the claim in a timely manner. If a volunteer is found to have broken any of the policies or procedures in this handbook the first offense shall be a verbal warning, the second offense will consist of removal from any client-facing positions or tasks, and the third offense will consist of denial of all volunteer opportunities for 6 months. If an offense is egregious enough, the Administration Director may deny all volunteer opportunities for said volunteer for life. Examples of actions that will result in an immediate ban from volunteering and possible criminal or civil charges are physical violence, threats of violence, bomb threats, sexual assault, and fraud.

Conclusion

We know everything in this handbook can be intimidating to read or difficult to understand so please don’t hesitate to talk to someone on the Board of Directors if you have any questions or concerns. Like we said in the beginning: by following these policies and procedures we help create an environment that encourages integrity, teamwork, nondiscrimination, and confidentiality. By following this handbook we create a welcoming and ethical environment where people feel safe and heard. If you believe there to be an error or have a recommendation for this handbook please reach out to the Administration Director. If there is ever any issue with anyone, even on the Board of Directors, please feel free to contact any one of the directors or leaders from any department. Thank you again for joining our team at Blue Skies Mutual Aid, Inc! The future is brighter with you here!