Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. 2013-2014 Volunteer Orientation Packet Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc 1313 W Mount Vernon Ave. Phone 414.272.5462 Fax 414.272.5060
Dear Volunteer, Welcome to Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful! We are very excited to have you as a volunteer. Volunteers play an integral role in this success of KGMB, the largest volunteer organization in Milwaukee. You have joined forces with others wanting to make a difference in their community. Whether it be a continuous opportunity helping in our office or a one time opportunity at a cleanup, your time and effort is invaluable to our success. We understand that your time is precious and we appreciate whatever commitment you are able to make. Volunteers lead by example and then become leaders among our community. You, as a volunteer, will be the driving force that carries this environmental message. There are a wide variety of needs that our organization has and a variety of topics and areas of interest for you to explore. We appreciate you sharing your time and talents with us as you learn about different aspects of sustainability as well as sharing this knowledge and passion with others. I would like to thank you once again for taking the initiative to volunteer with KGMB. I appreciate that you work to help us succeed here in Milwaukee and also make a difference in our global environment. Every action counts! I cannot wait to work with you here at Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful. Sincerely, Analiese Smith Community and Education Coordinator 2 P a g e
About KGMB Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. (KGMB) is an award winning, private, non profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 1983, it has been affiliated with Keep America Beautiful, Inc. since 1985. We are not a public or governmental agency. KGMB has a strong history of responsiveness, renewal and innovation. KGMB uses a unique combination of community improvement programs like the Great American Cleanup and environmental education programs to accomplish its goals. Mission To promote sustainability through clean, healthy, and beautiful communities for generations to come. Our Vision for Success Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful will be successful when individuals are active stewards for sustainable community activities. Our Values Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful s board of directors, staff, and volunteers will respectfully fulfill our mission and enthusiastically realize our vision through a commitment to: Innovation promoting and implementing creative and effective services Diversity fostering inclusion, collaboration and equal opportunity Education teaching the principles and value of sustainability, and environmental stewardship Accountability accepting personal responsibility for results Leadership working for the common good Our Goals To help communities improve their economic, environmental, and social well-being. Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful will initiate, collaborate, and promote programs in partnership with its communities that address: Neighborhood cleanup and beautification Waste reduction, reuse, and recycling Environmental education Environmental forums Renewable and efficient energy use Resource conservation 3 P a g e
What We Do at KGMB Help Keep Our Community Clean, Healthy & Beautiful Thousands of tons of litter are cleaned up annually from Milwaukee County parks, river parkways, public lands and neighborhoods through KGMB facilitated cleanup campaigns, such as The Great American Cleanup, which occurs every spring from March through May. Focusing on litter cleanup and prevention, waste reduction, recycling, beautification, and anti graffiti keeps our communities clean, healthy, and beautiful. Provide Programs and Assistance for Business Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful works with hundreds of businesses and industries locally and nationwide and serves as a resource, reaching out to an even greater number. Programs include the Annual Environmental Business, Industry, & Government Seminar, which provides an annual forum for education and interaction among business, industry, and government each spring. Educate Our Children Children learn the concepts of reduce, reuse, recycle, compost, and litter prevention through KGMB tours, conservation of natural resources, field trips, and educational outreach booths throughout the year. Activities emphasize interactive hands on, minds on experiences. Educate the Community and Provide Access to Resources Facilitated by KGMB, the Milwaukee Environmental Education Resource and Tour Center (MEERTC) serves all sectors of the community for public use. KGMB serves as a community resource, answering thousands of questions annually for those calling the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful hotline at (414) 272 5462. Keep Community Service and Volunteerism a Priority Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the metropolitan Milwaukee community. Thousands of volunteers join in KGMB programs and community service and outreach activities. Recognize Leadership in Our Community Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful Programs such as the IDEAL Awards gives KGMB an opportunity to thank businesses, organizations, volunteers, members, and others in the community who dedicate themselves to working together. Their efforts benefit our community and help further the mission of Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, Inc. 4 P a g e
Volunteer Program Opportunities There a wide variety of volunteer opportunities at Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful. KGMB will work with you to identify a best-fit opportunity based on your interests, needs, and availability. Beautification KGMB strives to make the our corner of the world a more beautiful and healthy place. Participating or organizing a cleanup is one way to help make this vision a reality. We also have a community garden at the Lynden Hill Urban TREE House site as well as a 3 acre outdoor space to serve as a model outdoor urban green space. Maintaining this outdoor space as well as the spaces and garden beds around our offices is a great way to help us while also getting some sunshine! Communications KGMB loves to utilize wonderful wordsmiths to write press releases, articles for our e-newsletter and a variety of other writing opportunities. In addition to long-form writing, communication volunteers may help KGMB maintain and grow our online presence through updating our website, working on our social media plan, or creating rich multi-media presentations and videos! Education KGMB does a wide variety of outreach to work with school-aged students. Work with a KGMB educator to present programming to our partner schools or consider becoming an Education Leader to help develop and independently present curriculum. These experiences are an especially wonderful resume builder for anyone interested in a career working with children. Grant Research Enter the exciting world of grant writing! Assist KGMB staff in researching grants, researching reports and research that supports grant outcomes, and writing or editing narrative copy. Outreach and Activism KGMB wants to share and encourage Milwaukee area residents to become more sustainable. We look to connect with residents and students who can make sustainable changes in their lives, donors that can help us financially support our mission, and other interested volunteers like yourself who can share their time and talents to spread the word about being green! Special Events KGMB is a part of several special events every year. As a special events volunteer, you can help plan family friendly events such as The Great American Cleanup Kick Off, Greenwish Village at Irish Fest, or Keep it Bootiful. You can either assist with day-of activities as a one-time volunteer or join KGMB staff in planning these fun, community events. 5 P a g e
Becoming a KGMB Volunteer General Volunteer Application This brief application allows us to better understand your interest in KGMB and will allow us to best fit your availability and your interests with our current opportunities. This application is especially interested in those that wish to volunteer regularly. Interview & Orientation A short interview with the Community and Education Coordinator to determine who you are, what you want to contribute to KGMB, and make sure that a permanent placement meets the needs of everyone involved. It also allows us to orient you to KGMB. You will learn about programs we offer, tour our facility, meet our staff and learn about your role in the organization. On-Site Training A brief training will happen on your first day volunteering or on site for one-time volunteer opportunities. You will meet the direct KGMB staff you will be working with on this day if you have not already had an opportunity to meet them. Volunteer Survey At the completion of your time with KGMB we would appreciate you completing a volunteer survey. For our organization to have a successful volunteer program, we need input from volunteers on how to continue to create a fun, positive environment for those who dedicate and give their time. Volunteer Communications Quarterly E-mail Newsletter Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful publishes a quarterly newsletter for volunteers, donors, and other supporters. It features upcoming dates, current volunteer needs and wish lists, and articles on KGMB programs and outreach impacts. The newsletter is distributed via e-mail. If you would prefer a hard copy, please let the Community and Education Coordinator know that this is your preference. Volunteer Recognition KGMB owes a lot of our success to our dedicated and hard working volunteers. Special opportunities and recognition events occur sporadically. Volunteer spotlights also are included in the quarterly e-newsletter. If you need additional volunteer verification or a letter of recommendation, please let the Community and Education Coordinator know. 6 P a g e
Volunteer Expectations & Policies Age Requirements Many of our opportunities happen off site of our office location. The minimum age to individually volunteer is 16. We ask that all minors complete a Minor/Parent or Guardian Release form. Attendance All volunteers are asked to track their time via our volunteer binder. This information is needed to track volunteers' earning incentives and to write grants for funding. It is your responsibility to track your time in this binder. If you need a copy of this sheet at the end of your service for verification, please ask the Community and Education Coordinator. If you cannot make your volunteer time, please call at least 24 hours prior to your assigned time slot. You may call the KGMB office at (414) 272-5462. This will allow us to try to accommodate for the absence if necessary. If cancellations persist from a continuous volunteer, the volunteer will be asked to meet with the Community and Education Coordinator to reassess the schedule or the involvement of the volunteer at KGMB. Decorum The KGMB office is causal with a laid back atmosphere. Although we are casual, please do not wear any profane or inappropriate clothing. For opportunities outside the office remember to wear comfortable footwear and clothing that is appropriate for the weather or situation. KGMB is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Please be sensitive and respectful of various backgrounds, cultures, and viewpoints. As a volunteer you represent the Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful organization as a whole. As an ambassador from the organization to the rest of the community, please be positive and respectful during your volunteer time. Questions and Concerns If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with your direct KGMB project representative. If your question or concern is not resolved, please contact the Community and Education Coordinator, and then the Executive Director. KGMB Office (414) 272-5462 @kgmb.org Community & Education Coordinator Analiese Smith (414) 272-5462 x104 asmith@kgmb.org Executive Director Joe Wilson (414) 272-5462 x103 jwilson@kgmb.org 7 P a g e