VOLUNTEER SERVICES
BLUEGRASS AREA CHAPTER
AMERICAN RED CROSS 

We are pleased to see that you are interested in the mission and services of the American Red Cross! We know you’d love to jump in and help. Our volunteer opportunities can be challenging, educational, and fun. The volunteer self-assessment below will help you decide if the American Red Cross is the place for you. More specifically, it will help you clarify your volunteer goals and determine your ability to make a commitment at this time.

If you would like to skip the self-assessment and go directly to the volunteers opportunities page, click here.

VOLUNTEER SELF-ASSESSMENT 

STEP ONE: CLARIFY YOUR VOLUNTEER GOALS

Please read over these questions and think about your response to each. You do not have to provide answers. These are for your planning and decision making purposes only.

1. What are your reasons for volunteering? Most prospective volunteers walk through the door with a commitment to the mission of our organization, but have secondary motivations as well. Think about what these might be. Are you seeking to: Develop social networks and make new friends? Develop skills in leadership or communication? Obtain work experience while looking for employment? Fulfill a personal need to help others?  Provide specific talents or skills to build your resume? Obtain training to improve your self-confidence? It is important to know what these motivations are so we can find a position that will provide these benefits for you.
    

2. Do you have time to make a commitment? Too often volunteers will have great intentions but are unable to follow through with their commitment. Think about your priorities – family, friends, work, religious or civic commitments – where does the Red Cross fall in terms of your other priorities? Modern life is very busy. We must acknowledge this and be realistic about how much time we have to devote to certain causes. Think about how much time you have to give in a week or a month. Please make sure our staff is aware of your time constraints. We don’t want to overburden or under-utilize you.
    

3. Are you willing to take classes before you begin volunteering? Almost all Red Cross opportunities require that you take classes before you begin to volunteer. We do our best to make trainings available at varied times to accommodate all of our volunteers, but sometimes it’s not possible to make it convenient for everyone. Make sure you know what training is required for the position you’re interested in and if it will work into your schedule.
    

4. Are you comfortable working with people who are different from you? Volunteering for the American Red Cross involves working with people of different ages, sexes, socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds. We help all people, regardless of these differences.

STEP TWO: WORK OUT THE DETAILS

Now it’s time to really decide what kind of volunteer opportunity would suit you best. As before, read over these questions and think about your answers.

1. What kind of volunteer opportunity are you looking for? Here are some options to think about. These can overlap quite a bit, but they should provide a starting point in your considerations. Do you want…
    

• An individual position with a certain number of hours per week
• An individual position with on-call hours periodically
• An individual position that would only be needed in times of disaster
• An individual position that would be needed on a weekly or monthly basis
• An individual position that would only be needed seasonally (like a fundraiser or a summer youth program)
• An individual position for a one time event (attending a health fair or a parade)
• A one time project for an individual (interviewing a veteran for an historical exhibit)
• A one time group activity for your club or organization
• An academic internship for a semester
• A position on a task force or team
• A leadership position
• A position coordinating a specific program
   

2. What are your time constraints? Is your schedule set each week or is it variable? Are you a student with a different schedule each semester? Are you retired and set your own schedule? Do you work full-time? Think about your week. What times tend to be the best for you?
    

3. What skills, talents, and abilities do you possess? Don’t be modest! Everyone has something to offer! Here are some examples:
    

• Writing and editing skills
• Leadership skills
• Public speaking ability
• Teaching skills
• Computer skills
• General clerical skills
• Finance or accounting skills
• Fundraising experience
• Artistic ability
• Public relations experience
• Language skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Casework skills
   

4. What are your preferences? Everyone is different. Think seriously about these factors:
   • Do you enjoy working with others as a team or working independently?
   • Do you enjoy working with children, teenagers, seniors?
   • Would you prefer to be a “worker bee” or act in a leadership position?
   • Are you able to handle stressful situations?
   • Can you be empathetic to others’ needs?
   • Do you prefer clearly outlined instructions or do you prefer to work without a lot of supervision? (Or somewhere in between?)
   • Can you work with people that have different personalities and backgrounds?

STEP THREE: REVIEW THE OPTIONS

Thank you for taking the time to complete this assessment. Our Volunteer Services department is dedicated to helping volunteers fit into our organization in a way that is satisfying to the volunteer and beneficial to the organization as a whole. If you have a passion for our mission, we have a place for you! 

By completing the assessment above, you have now thought about your preferences and time constraints and can now choose the most appropriate type of volunteer opportunity. We have divided our opportunities into several categories to help you find the best fit. You can click on each type to learn more. 

Long Term
Positions which require at least one year commitment and training. 

Occasional
Positions which allow you to volunteer occasionally for short term assignments, not on a set schedule. Commitment level varies depending on assignment. 

Seasonal
Positions which may require training and a commitment, but only on a seasonal basis. 

Internships
Unpaid internships are available in a number of different fields. You must call to set up an interview. 

One Time
We have opportunities for individuals and groups to help for a one time event or need.

STEP FOUR:  MAKE A DECISION

Do you see something that appeals to you? Your experience with the American Red Cross starts with the orientation. With the exception of “One Time” volunteer opportunities, you must complete the Red Cross orientation prior to starting. You can complete this in two ways:

 ATTEND THE INFO SESSION

Attend the prospective volunteer information session, offered the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 -6:30 PM at the chapter office on Newtown Pike. Please call (859) 253-1331 or email arclexky@redcrosslexky.org to pre-register. There will be plenty of time for individual discussion of your interests. 

VIEW THE ONLINE ORIENTATION

If you cannot attend the info session above, click here to view our online orientation. This will guide you through a short history of our organization, our local programs and services, and how volunteers fit into the American Red Cross. Once you complete the orientation, if you would like to pursue a specific position, or meet with the Director of Volunteer Services to explore your options, call (859) 253-1331 or email merideth@redcrosslexky.org to schedule an appointment. Prior to the appointment, you can download the following documents: 

Enrollment Form

Code of Conduct

Intellectual Property Agreement

Please bring these with you to your appointment. If you cannot print them, we can provide them for you in hard copy form when you arrive.

NOT SURE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING RIGHT NOW?

It’s perfectly okay if you do not see something that suits your interests and talents at this time. We know that you care about our important mission. Please remember that as we continue to grow, new and exciting options for volunteering will become available. In addition, there are many other ways to support us. Here are some options for you to consider:

• Be Informed – Email xxx to receive our chapter newsletter. Find out what the Bluegrass Area Chapter is doing and tell your friends, co-workers, and family. Be our advocate in the community.
   
• Support Our Work – Click here to learn how you can make a financial or in-kind gift to the Bluegrass Area Chapter. We are completely funded by private donations and need the support of our community to fulfill our mission.
   
• Attend Our Events – By receiving our chapter newsletter, you will be invited to all chapter events, including our annual Disaster Blaster! Held on May 18, 2006, this exciting annual fundraiser takes place at the beautiful Keeneland Entertainment Center.
   
• Take Our Lifesaving Classes – We offer a wide variety of First Aid and CPR classes to help community members be prepared to save a life. Our calendar is available online by clicking here. All revenue from the classes goes right back into our programs and services.
   
• Help Us Prepare – We are always willing to speak to a community group about disaster preparedness. Invite us to your next club, church, or employee meeting. Email disaster@redcrosslexky.org for more information.
   
• Help Us Reach Out – Do you know of someone who has a family member in the military? Does that person know that the Red Cross can reach their deployed loved one in case of an emergency? Do they know that we host a monthly meeting for family members of deployed servicepersons? Tell them to visit our website and click on Armed Forces Emergency Services.

One last thought…there are many organizations in the Bluegrass Region that are in need of volunteers. Two great ways to find them are:

Volunteer Match – www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteer Solutions – www.volunteersolutions.org