[Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Advice for newbies, orientation material, city database merged

[Ally Miller]

All-
To follow on David's email, 'newbies' and even 'oldies' should look at:

1) Manila Folders that are marked "Volunteer Computers..." - these folders tell you a bit about the computers and the purpose, how to help search for family, register for FEMA, etc. - same as on the volunteer site, but some notes added as new info is found.

2) WHITE BINDER with section marked "FAQ's".  These pages are marked with headings such as "FEMA", "BENEFITS", "JOBS", "CONVENTION CENTER" etc. - hopefully with a logical heading ;)
Each page has only 1 question.  The answer is recorded with a date next to it.  As you can imagine (or have experienced), answers change regularly, so keep informed of the most up to date answers using this binder, and record any different answer WITH THE DATE (that's why only one question per page).  This should especially be helpful for shift leaders.

In addition, there are now folders for each handout, with the ORIGINAL marked.  We should make copies as we run low.  

ALSO, for Shift Leaders and anyone really:
The WHITE BINDER now has sections labeled:
- Daily Log: to record any notes you would like to share with fellow volunteers/shift leaders
- Computer Fixes: like the Yahoo error, rebooting, etc.
- FAQ's (see above)
- Convention Center Info: about the facility
And a couple more I can't remember right now :)

Please record info in this so we can continue to share at the center as well as on this forum.

Thanks
Ally



-----Original Message-----
From: katrina-it-volunteers-bounces at soaustin.net [mailto:katrina-it-volunteers-bounces at soaustin.net] On Behalf Of David DeMaris
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 4:40 PM
Cc: katrina-it-volunteers at soaustin.net
Subject: Re: [Katrina-IT-Volunteers] Advice for newbies, orientation material,city database merged


On Sep 12, 2005, at 12:05 PM, Julie Newton wrote:
>
> **Is there any kind of orientation or should new volunteers expect to 
> hit
> the ground running?  There should be others around that have been 
> working, at least, the previous shift.  I think that's what the Shift 
> Leaders are for.  Try to find someone like that before you get 
> started.  Also as noted in a previous e-mail it's good to know where 
> the chaplains and counselors are located before you start. 
Things are much more organized now - it looks about like what we 
dreamed up a week ago Sunday but didn't have the space to really 
organize.

There is some orientation material on www. austinfree.net, several .doc 
files way down at the bottom past the instructions on how to schedule.  
These were also posted on the wall at the old public terminal location, 
  and (I hope) they are in the 3 ring Volunteer Organization binder . 
This binder is on the table  set up near the (movable) wall/door at the 
public terminal area.   There is a nice organized table of handouts 
now.  There is a large whiteboard where we can advise each other of 
important news of the day/changes.   This is in hall 4 where 
registration was earlier in the week, near the cafeteria entrance.

I also put in the 3 ring binder on Sat.  a 4 page FAQ "unofficially" 
produced by one of the RC volunteers, with all kinds of answers to 
questions you're likely to be asked by people.  It is now 9/12 in 
section tabbed FAQ in the orientation binder.  It may all be out of 
date/misinformation, but it is the best misinformation we have! There 
are dates when each Q/A is true.

One thing we were concerned about earlier and telling people in the 
orientation is apparently no longer true.  The on duty manager in the 
IT control room says that the city database was uploaded/merged to the 
red cross.



>
>  
> _______________________________________________
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> Volunteer info: http://www.austinfree.net/katrinavolunteer.htm
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David DeMaris  demaris at well.com

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